1985 County Advice....

[county1985]

Thanks for letting me join!
After many years of saying to the missus that i wanted an old Land Rover one day, finally purchased on last weekend Its a 1985 County 110 with the V8 rover engine. Luckily no chassis rust!...2 small rust spots on one pillar, but easy to weld and fix
The engine however has me a bit worried!....it idles beautifully...nice V8 rumble....But when driving, it has a lack of acceleration and a backfire that occurs when letting the clutch out after changing gears! First question:...the battery is buggered, wouldn't even charge after being left on the charger over night....Has just enough to start the car. Could a dead battery and a weak alty cause these symptoms?? I am thinking not enough power to the fuel pump, so low fuel=lean mix....
The second question is...how do you engage the diff lock ???...i can find the hi/lo range selector, but the only other selector looking thing i can see is a knob in the middle between the front seats (???)!!!
Apart from that, she is registered, so overall I am happy and looking forward to restoring the old girl

[clive22]

Hi


I'm guessing you have twin 175 strombergs. Sounds like a lean mix. Pull a fuel feed line off the first fed carb and check there is plenty of fuel.

Check the fuel filter is clear (in fact replace in any case as good maintenance) and pump are working properly. Check pump earth.

Check all the vac lines are sealed and fully connected. Check brake booster is OK blank and isolate to do this. This may be a vac leak.

Whip top of carbs and check rubber diaphram is excellent condition. Replace if not. Top up damper oil.

Check needle and seats (this is my guess) and check they are not partially blocked with rubbish. You will need to remove N&S to do this.

Check timing is ignition advancing OK? Lots problems are ignition that can look like carbs.

Low range and locked on a 5 speed LT85 is up a to the right.

Clive

[county1985]

Thanks Clive
I will investigate all these ideas on the weekend!...Actually forgot about a possible vaccuum leak, but that would make sense!
I did not quite get what you meant about the diff lock....It is a 4 speed box if that makes any difference??....

[Bearman]

Thanks Clive
I will investigate all these ideas on the weekend!...Actually forgot about a possible vaccuum leak, but that would make sense!
I did not quite get what you meant about the diff lock....It is a 4 speed box if that makes any difference??....

Hi County 85 and welcome. That's a nice solid vehicle you have there. The button you mentioned in between the seats is the centre diff lock switch on the 4 speed (vacuum operated) The previous poster was thinking it's a 5 speed which has a different hi/lo/difflock lever.

[85 county]

and its vacuum actuated, so check the lines there as well

[county1985]

Thanks Guys...much appreciated!
I figured that the knob must have something to do with the diff lock as it was the only knob i could find Lol!! I guess pull it out activates it.
yes, she is a nice strong car....Actually great condition considering the age. paint faded as you would expect, but a good lack of chassis or firewall/floor pan rust which would have being my major concern!
I am looking forward to getting her restored and running well

[85 county]

Thanks Guys...much appreciated!
I figured that the knob must have something to do with the diff lock as it was the only knob i could find Lol!! I guess pull it out activates it.
yes, she is a nice strong car....Actually great condition considering the age. paint faded as you would expect, but a good lack of chassis or firewall/floor pan rust which would have being my major concern!
I am looking forward to getting her restored and running well

yeppa and then you could slap a super charger on it or a couple of turbos and NOs

[county1985]

Ha ha...thanks mate but would rather she just runs well enough to take fishing ...prefer simple and original!

[BilboBoggles]

With a Rover v8 - one common place for them to wear very quickly - is the Cam. and lifters. Once the cam lobes wear down then the engine will develop little vaccuum and will lack power. I had a Rover V8 that drove very well - perhaps a bit low on power but I had nothing to compare to - but it had two completely round lobes. This meant one of the cylinders was not firing, still quite hard to tell really. the early pollution control cams are apparently the worst for wearing - which means mid 80's.

Anyway one way to check is to pop the rocker covers off and watch the pushrods as the engine idles. A completely buggered cam will show little movement of the rockers or pushrods. One that is starting to be completely buggered will show the pushrods moving up and down but not rotating. If it's OK then the pushrods will be rotating as it open and closes the valves. I bet you will find at least some worn cam lobes and perhaps one or two completely round ones.

If you pop the rocker cover and find tons of black crap in there - then it's not worth putting a new cam and lifter in it, the engine is badly neglected and might be cheaper to source a used Discovery V8 etc.

If it looks nice and clean - and you have a worn cam shaft - then it's relatively easy to run a new cam and lifters into it.

[85 county]

AHHH just driving on the beach then??

cam and a holly