Thread: 2.6 Engine Improvements

Cookey I admire your persistence
I was running similar extractors on a 2.6 back in the early 1980s it wont stop the valve burning but gives them a little more go.
I could cruise at 105 Km/h without an overdrive with nice torque in the bottom end.
If you want a new carby I have one in the markets section you can have cheap if you want it.
Duane

Regular maintenance of the tappets prevents the exhaust valves burning. It was only ever an issue in civilian versions because the Military actually adjusted them when they were supposed to, whereas most owners and Mechanics couldn't be shagged taking the manifold off once a year to do the job properly.

It gave the engine an unjustified bad name.

You can also help the exhaust valves by opening up the clearance slightly.
In my experience in the many 2.6 Land Rovers I had including every modification under the sun you couldn't stop exhaust valves burning.

I tried tappets every 10000 ks
Stellite Valves
Upper cylinder lube
Extractors
Blue printing the motor completely.

I have a soft spot for them so I do wish you luck
You can believe what you like but this was what I experienced.

The Army had plenty of issues with them at least in the time I had an interest in the subject

Originally Posted by bacicat

Put me down for a set of the extractors Cookey. . Ceramic coated would be awesome - how much extra for that?

You are way too talented - love the work on the valve guides - how much work was it fitting the new valve stem seals? Is the top of the guide turned down like a modern guide and the seal just pops on?

Could be a good mod to do, I think my lathe skills could run to doing that.

I did mine on a 2 litre in situ. The cutter comes with a guide and just run it in a battery drill. really quick, then the seal slips over the outside. No more O rings.

If either of you guys want the new carb I have I will give it to you just PM me your address and I will post it to you

Thanks Duane for the offer of the carby---PM sent.
My feeling is that the 2.6 usually runs fairly hot, not helped in any way by the low gearing and very restrictive intake and exhaust systems. Add to that, the later pollutionised models had lower compression, revised valve and ignition timing and a non-adjustable carby. This only lowered the power output even further, making the engine work much harder to achieve the same result. They also run a bit lean up in the rev range, which results in a further increase in combustion temperatures. My aim is to lower the temperatures in any way that I can, starting with vastly improving the gas flow both in and out of the cylinders. The ceramic coating of the exhaust manifold/headers/extractors cuts down radiated heat by up to 50%, while improving gas flow at the same time. Remember, the engine intake draws all air from under the bonnet, right beside the radiator in fact. The original engine design, while being somewhat unorthodox, actually gives very good combustion from it's hemispherical shaped chambers, so my plan is fairly simple. Help get plenty of cool (read dense) air into the engine, get the mixture right, compress it to a healthy figure, ignite it at the right time and get it out of the exhaust in the most efficient way possible. A power increase of 50-70% without any loss of low down torque will make it a great old Landy to drive.
Watch this space.....
Cookey

Originally Posted by bacicat

Put me down for a set of the extractors Cookey. . Ceramic coated would be awesome - how much extra for that?

You are way too talented - love the work on the valve guides - how much work was it fitting the new valve stem seals? Is the top of the guide turned down like a modern guide and the seal just pops on?

Could be a good mod to do, I think my lathe skills could run to doing that.

Gav, the valve guide mod is very simple. Just turn down the original guide to accept the new seal. these seals are fantastic and if your machining is accurate they can be pushed onto the guide using your fingers.




and here is a preview of the new disc brake set up




cheers, Cookey

Love those callipers! 5 minutes to do a pad change.

Let me know when you have a kit ready to go - I'll be up there in a flash to buy it.