My 2.25L series 2a gets EFI and a Supercharger!

Unfortunately this project has come to the end of the road :(
Whilst I was really looking forward to getting stuck in to this (having already acquired my throttle-body, ECU and injectors) I finally had to rebuild the gearbox.

I've got a couple of teeth missing from 3rd on the layshaft, so I've gotta get a new layshaft in and a rebuild kit. I've taken the overdrive of and the transfer case apart to give it all a good clean, and will be putting in nice new seals and bearings throughout. :)

I was actually looking at selling old Bruce once I had completed the rebuild as its just not comfortable/efficient enough for a lot of the long drives I do (was looking at perhaps a Subaru Forester or Impreza wagon), but myself and my girlfriend just love him way too much. Looking at the two garage spaces at my folks place with Bruce half-disassembled and gearbox components everywhere, you just have to wonder how many cars there are in the world that you can pull to pieces like this and completely rebuild back to "as-new".

So with this in mind, we have a new plan to allow Bruce to stay with us. This plan involves many upgrades to improve his comfort, efficiency and reliability.

* 200di conversion, gradually building towards Tdi. With the series box freshly rebuilt and the somewhat similar power/torque for the 200di/Tdi engine, the box should have no problem holding up (I don't go 4x4ing much, and when I do its pretty gentle, to the box will be treated very gently)
- Whilst I could fully rebuild my 2.25 petrol, its still 1950s technology.
...and yes, I have Salisburys.

* High-Ratio transfer case overdrive - this will be replacing the Fairey Overdrive. Without the straight-cut Fairey gear, the freeway will be without that constant WHINE that we all love and hate. The gearing will be taller but the 200Tdi should overcome that.

* Disc-Brake upgrade - perhaps ZEUS, but realistically any kit that allows us to use Landrover rotors and pads

* Larger Tyres - perhaps just a set for when we're on a long freeway trip. Just gently stepping the ratio up a tad - this can be done with a little trial and error by borrowing sets from some mates. The disc-brakes should have no problem with a small increase in tyre diameter.

* Interior Upgrade
- New dash (still metal and completely reversible back to the old one) to allow for much better electrical wiring
- New seats (perhaps Defender or Disco?)
- Sound proofing, I know its still going to be noisier than a defender, but it will make a big difference on the long drives. Perhaps the Exmoor moulded flooring etc. My girlfriend will be happy not to have to wear the lawn mowing earmuffs!!

* Parabolic Springs

Now I know what some of you will be thinking... "just go out and get a defender for that money!"
But my opinion is this -
* I know my car inside and out, and know its history pretty far back.
* I've pulled a lot of it apart at various times and can diagnose any problems he has very quickly.
* Anything I put on (discs, parabolics, and essentially my rebuilt gearbox) I know the condition of. I will get a lot of mileage before any things need work.
The only real unknown will be the 200dt/Tdi engine to some extent, but at the moment my 2.25 is a bit of an unknown too, showing its age.

the easy way to do what your after since you dont offroad much is go and get yourself a disco/deefer/rangie axles set and slide those under the series by means of replacing the suspension mounting bits on the disco/deefer/rangie axles with the ones from the series. (assuming you want to keep the leafs.

this gets rid of the requirement to fit a non standard Tcase, gives you the brakes you want and since your faffing with the suspension lets you setup the parabolics in one shot.

the 200tdi derated a little will comfortabley push it around with the 3.54 gears in the diff and wont kill the gearbox if you're carefull with the noisey pedal in the lower gears.

Hi BlackKnight,
Yeah I'd like to keep the leafys. Your idea sounds good, what's the standard ratio in the Salisburys that I have? (all I know is that they're Salisburys, I would imagine they're standard - whatever that was...)
Also, would I be able to keep my prop-shafts or would that require customs?

The main reason I was thinking the above was that it can all be done in small and (relatively) cheap installments while keeping the car on the road.

Cheers, Lachy

Hi SeriesKid,

The standard diff on a 2A should be 4.7, Defender and other later ones are 3.54 I believe. Problem with this change is that your low range changes as well so if you need a "low" low for 4wding then you lose it.

You probably only have a Salisbury in the back and the front would be a standard Rover. Have a look at the shapes and length of the nose to be certain. This should be the same as a Defender I think but that would be worth looking into more or asking someone who knows for sure :). The Salisbury is longer than a Rover diff so if you change from one to the other there are changes in propshaft required.

TimJ.

what he said.

Hmm, I might keep with the overdriven t-case, or even swap the Fairey for a Roverdrive. Anyone here got a Roverdrive? I think their internal gears are helical rather than straight-cut like the Fairey.
This would keep my low-range, whilst not often required, does get used a little.
Plus, I want anything I do to be "easily" reversible.

it doesnt get much easier than cutting the mounts off of a dead series axle and welding them to the disco/deefer/rangie ones. all of about 14/17 bolts and 2 pipe fittings to swap them back to the original stuff.

you might consider the 4.11 diff ratio. which the series box will happily push and the 200tdi is equally happy with.

Hi Serieskid,

Just wondering as well what you are going to do with the parts you have for fuel injecting (throttle body, injectors,ECU). If you want to sell them could you PM me a price as I might be interested.

TimJ.

Hi Tim, the ecu and injectors went back to my mate who I got them from, as I hadn't paid him yet, I think he was going to eBay them. I'll give him a call to see if he still has them. As for the throttle body, I was having issues finding a simple EFI throttle body to use. All the little jap ones had crap coming out everywhere, ended up just grabbing an AU falcon one from the wreckers just as a starting point, but its way to big to use (1/4 throttle would be equal wide-open-throttle for the Landy engine). Best bet for throttle body might just be to use your Landy carby (with the guts ripped out), and fit a Throttle-Position sensor to it... It would look nice and stock :)

What happened with this project?