Thread: Series 2A with an OLD 202!

Provided you've checked the electricals (plugs, points, leads, dizzy) a compression test would probably be a good start. Take it from there.

Could need a new head gasket, valves, or the head skimming, or even have stuffed valve springs.
Rings could be leaking, or even broken. This could require extensive honing if the cylinders are scored.

Lack of torque would indicated loss of compression to a degree I would have thought.

You could always put a Landy motor back in it

Either in dire need of a proper tune up or it is plain worn out. Too many conversions were done by buying a well used engine from a wrecker or a Trading Post back yarder and just bunged in as is. Rarely were any given a thorough rebuild and some simple modifications to suit them for the radically different application.

Cheers for that, it helps to get an idea of where to head next.

Dont mind pulling it apart really.
ill have to rebuild the carby and ive got a 186 sump with a centre bulge to go onto it to help with any oil starve it might get. so new rings and gaskets will be a start.

Just want to get it on the road first!!!

Dont want to throw too much money at it really. At the end of the day its an old HJ motor on an Old land rover. I dont want to keep up with modern traffic.

Where is the fun in that??!

Originally Posted by pop058

Lack of torque would indicated loss of compression to a degree I would have thought.

You could always put a Landy motor back in it

Yep, spend the money on a Landy motor instead. Getting rid of the Holden six in my IIA was the best thing I have ever done for it.....

A 202 in top condition should make about 90-100kw at around 4400 revs. That's OK but they don't have that much grunt at lower revs. If it doesn't blow smoke (after idling= valve stem seals, constant = rings) and there are no rattles from the middle or knocking from the bottom it should be worth some TLC. If the carby hasn't been modified and the hills are steep it may stall or flood or both. Fuel filter can be a problem also. Once the head's off it should be easier to make a judgment about its worth. Also have a look maybe at the dizzy gear - if it's old nylon, replace it.

cheers

As it is at the moment the engine starts every time (no smoke during start, none during idle) no knocking from low end or middle. The carby needs to be rebuilt (leaks alot) and during the rebuild i plan to adjust the carby for steeper inclines. Im just surprised at the lack of torque the motor has. First step to do compression test then rebuild carby, then see how we go.

The chain accelerator linkage is the first thing to go, only allows for use of 3/5ths of the motor rev range.

The car originally had a rover 6 cylinder motor, which although may be nice to have if i were to keep it original, i havent heard very positive reports about.

A holden 202 that breaks is easier to source parts for than a rover engine is what im thinking.

And as for 4wd capabilities it is posible to adjust a 202 to prevent carby flooding and oil starve.

I'd reckon if the compression's bad there's usually smoke or fouled plugs, but anyway if it runs smooth with no obvious beat and you pull one plug lead out at a time, and the difference is consistent and strong for each cylinder, then that's a good sign. Timing is another possible issue, and some of those motors had adjustable tappets. Work Guides - Holdenpaedia has some useful info, as well as how to set those pesky adjustable tappets.

Good luck.