Thread: series 2a

Welcome to the forum and LR ownership

Originally Posted by thomson

I am a new owner off a 2a . I have traveled most sealed roads around Australia in a 1965 Commer camper .I would like to do some tracks and with that in mind I have bought a 2a with Holden power . the plan is to put a Isuzu maybe a 4bdit.in it .I know nothing about this motor or car .I will be towing a 1 ton van . Any input would help ,will the drive train take it ,is there a conversion kit, is there a disc brake set up ,who should I face to face with all that sort of input would help .I have restored many cars built race cars etc , but I must admit I have no knowledge of car computers . many thanks

The gearbox and transfer case of the Series 2a will not stand the 4BD1. You would need to replace them with the LT95 out of a Stage 1 (or 110/Perentie) - there are other alternatives, but this is the easy one, although it will require significant panelwork on the floor and transmission tunnel. It will also require full time four wheel drive, and, again, the thing to do is to get the front axle out of a Stage 1.

The rear diff, if a Rover axle, will not stand the 4BD1. You need a salisbury axle, optional on the last of the 2a lwb, standard on Series 3 lwb. This raises the question of diff ratios. You probably want the 3.54 rather than the 4.7 that came with most Series Landrovers, although if towing all the time the 4.7 may be better.

"Cookey" (on this forum) is making a disc brake kit for Series Landrovers. The alternative is to fit the wider 11" brakes from the six and V8, and a brake booster.

Disc braked axles from Disco/Rangerover have been fitted to Series Landrovers, but there are two basic problems.The first, and lesser one, is the wider track, requiring wheel arch extensions.The second is that the steering linkage, particularly the track rod, occupies the same space as the leaf springs. There are solutions, but none are very satisfactory, and getting engineering approval today for most of them is doubtful. (The best solution is probably coil spring conversion.)

John

I would recommend a 300tdi conversion instead. They have more than enough power to do what you want to do. It will probably still be a good idea to upgrade the rear axle.

Aaron

Especially if towing, I would upgrade the rear axle to a Salisbury, if a previous owner has not done this. (I have been running my 2a 109 for nearly 25 years with a Rover rear diff, and have only broken one diff and no half axles. But it has the original engine, and I only do occasional towing.)

John

So it seems the 4Bdit is out of the question ,what did the 300 tdi come in ,what does tdi stand for?, is it an easy fitment?is it computer controlled? where would you find one ?and what was best year for that motor. It is all a learning curve

The 300tdi is the last of the four cylinder Land Rover engines, which started with the 2 litre diesel of the SII. It will just about bolt up to your SIIa gearbox. The easiest way to find one would be in a Defender or Discovery. The Discovery would be cheaper, but apparently you will need some fancy exhaust work if you use the Discovery exhaust manifold and turbo. The 300tdi is the last of the Land Rover mechanically injected engines, fitted to vehicles in the 1990's.

Aaron

So it looks like I will have to do some research on the 300 motor and look at a car that has that fitted. if anybody out there has a complete motor and accessories contact me.

Info on conversions here 300TDI into 6cyl SIII 109

A lot of these conversions have been done in the UK and Steve Parker even has specially manufactured exhausts etc. available.

200Tdi seems more popular (& simpler) but as spares become harder to get the 300Tdi is becoming more common.

Best of luck,

Colin