Should I install a Roamerdrive?

[Marce]

I have a brand new Roamerdrive sitting in its box unopened. Someone suggested I ask the forum whether it's worth installing it on a LWB Series 3 with the 2.25 litre petrol engine.

I bought the overdrive it because on our first decent road trip, from Melbourne to Adelaide and back via the Grampians and the Coorong, on long flat stretches of highway without a headwind it cruised at 95kph without fuss, and I wasn't flooring it - not even close. I understand these engines are quite happy to sit on 4000 rpm for hours at a time, but it seems to "want" a fifth gear at these speeds and the high rpm engine whine is pretty hard on the ears even for a Series. Also, I assume dropping the revs with an overdrive MIGHT reduce fuel consumption a bit on long haul trips. Finally, there's the alleged benefit of splitting 3rd and 4th gear with the overdrive on highway ascents (high range) and off road (low range).

I'm running 235/85/R16 tyres, the original Salisbury diff and as far as I know everything else is standard. I've recently fitted a set of extractors which mildly improve the engine's performance - it holds top gear better climbing gentle hills, for example - and I plan to swap the 8:1 compression ratio factory head for an ACR skimmed and ported 9:1 head. That's about it for the performance mods. I'm not inclined to install a modified camshaft because I'm worried it might compromise low-end torque, unless people on this forum can persuade me otherwise (perhaps it depends on how the cams are modified).

All opinions are appreciated but I'm particularly keen to hear from people who've actually installed a Roamerdrive on either a modified or unmodified 2.25 litre petrol engine running on a LWB Series.

So, Roamerdrive: is it worth it or not? If not I might send it back unopened and get a refund.

[Red90]

Yes. They are great.

[goingbush]

I installed a new Roamerdrive on on my '73 Series3 lightweight (SWB ) original engine running 700-16 tyres . makes no difference to economy or top speed but reduced engine noise considerably . Worth it just for that . Really has no practical use in Low range but useful to drop back out of overdrive for highway inclines or headwinds .

Removed and sold it when i took the internal combustion engine out and installed an electric motor , (Electrics are more efficient at higher rpm) .

[Markf]

I had a Fairy overdrive in my SIII diesel. Made no difference to the fuel consumption but it was handy to be able to split 3rd and top. The biggest advantage was the noise reduction. That was incredible.

[JDNSW]

I fitted an overdrive to my 109. Note that I have a 7:1 head. I find that it will not pull the overdrive except on dead flat ground or with a tail wind, so it is rarely used. Most of the noise at 100kph is wind noise since replacing the bar treads, and engine cannot be heard at this speed, as a result of a careful program of ensuring all firewall holes are sealed and fitting a strip of door seal along each side of the bonnet.

Body type will also affect results - I have a ute cab with deluxe trim, and a 3/4 canvas, which probably provides a fair bit of drag.

[goingbush]

I fitted an overdrive to my 109. Note that I have a 7:1 head. I find that it will not pull the overdrive except on dead flat ground or with a tail wind, so it is rarely used. Most of the noise at 100kph is wind noise since replacing the bar treads, and engine cannot be heard at this speed, as a result of a careful program of ensuring all firewall holes are sealed and fitting a strip of door seal along each side of the bonnet.

Body type will also affect results - I have a ute cab with deluxe trim, and a 3/4 canvas, which probably provides a fair bit of drag.

Curious what tyres you have now John. My loudest noise now is tyre noise , Im not conscious of any wind noise probably due to soft top ?? but I'd like some quieter tyres .

[Cap]

Interesting thread. I have a fairey od sitting ready to be installed for my 2a swb. I too was told they basically only really work on the flat with the 2.25 (mine is diesel which some say is even worse).

Without hijacking thread, just curious on your post John about seals on side of bonnet. Got any pics?

[Marce]

Thanks for the comments.

If a 2.25 can only pull 4th gear overdrive on a LWB on dead flat roads or with a tail wind or down hill that's not a deal-breaker for me. Once you get off the east coast and the Great Dividing Range there are long stretches of flat (the Nullabor for example). Dead flat/down hill/tail wind could easily account for 50% of driving conditions on long road trips.

I've seen those Series/Defender bonnet strips advertised on Ebay. Do a search and you should find them.

[Red90]

If the engine is in good shape it should pull fine in OD.

[mick88]

With a Roamerdrive you can use it in all gears, and both high and low range.
I installed one in my swb S3 about 7 or 8 years ago and it's been brilliant.
It did whine/howl a bit for the first thousand or so kays which I was told to expect,
but once it seemed to bed itself in with the mating gear it quietened right down.
I also have 3.54 diffs, so the revs are right down, but I do have one of those motors
(with a few more horses) that everyone seems to dislike. ;)
My tyre size is a lower profile, about 29-30", so nearer to 7.00 x 16.
With the drive train running slower cab noise is minimal (for a series LR), fuel economy
is excellent. We even tow our 700kg camper trailer in overdrive on flat country.
We have probably done at least 60-80 thousand kays since installing the unit.
My only thoughts on one for a series running a stock 2.25, to make them more user friendly,
is that they should be available with a couple of different choices of reduction, say 15-20%
as well as the standard 28%, as that is a reduction of about 1120 rpm at 4000, which is
a big drop, especially for a LWB with a 2.25 engine. Probably ok in an unladen shorty.


Cheers, Mick.