Series 3 Engines

**Michael2** · 16th September 2006, 08:51 AM

Go for the Land Rover 2.25 Petrol. Unless you go to a high speed transfer case or diffs, the holden motors aren't much good. My series Landy's with 2.25 petrols cruised at 100kph (on the flat), albiet they slow down up hill. The 2A I had with a 186 could spin wheels at the lights, but cruised at 80kph & occasionally broke axles.

There are some cheap improvements that can be made to the 2.25 to gain performance, which are the subject of a previous thread.

I've had a Nissan 3 litre & 5 speed, but the woes that came with the adaptor cost me lots of money. Don't go there.

If you can afford a whole engine - gearbox - transfercase transplant, then go for a 200Tdi. This will give you economy, reliability and a gearbox that's much better for long distance work. The Series box on a very long trip will require frequent checks of oil level and the straight cut teeth on the transfer case whine in low range. These things aren't an issue for local driving, but get tiresome on a long distance trip.

Your Landy will be worth more with a Land Rover motor & gearbox in it. Once it's been played with and had organ transplants from other makes, people will be reluctant to buy it (should you ever want to sell it).

**Bigbjorn** · 16th September 2006, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by djam1

Brian err wow a Perkins 6-354 in a Land Rover that would be fantastic
It would probably be slow but it would be unstoppable and BL@@DY heavy.
I recall these engines from my childhood on the farm and have seen these engines do 30000 hours with out issue.
Any pictures??

No pictures. I saw this around thirty years ago, when I worked at Leyland Truck & Bus, Brisbane.We were the LR/RR distributors. The LR with Polly Perkins was in the workshop. I don't recall what for. The grille & radiator had been moved forward to accomodate the Perk. The power steering was probably fitted as a result of the increased front axle mass. Perk. 6-354's seem to live forever.

A lot of people tried a lot of different engines as repowers in LR's. A lot of the combinations were quite improbable and not a good idea. Most likely occurred because the owner had that engine hanging around or was given it. I still consider the best repower for a Series 3 is a Chrysler Hemi 6. Weight, dimensions, reliability and durability, low & high speed power outputs, all in its favour.

**timberwolf_302** · 16th September 2006, 12:42 PM

I notice no one has mentioned a Rover V8 with an LT95 (unless i missed it). That would be great in a Series LR. The Rover V8 is a tough, smooth punchy engine that sounds great and has the potential to be reasonably good on fuel. The LT95 is just plain bulletproof. And considering the Stage 1s were like this, it should be an easy task.

If I ever get a SII/III I will be considering this option as a bit of a project. Put in a 1:1 high transfer gear and an overdrive, combined with the 4.11:1 axle ratio, you will have a excellent crawl ratio in Low, and a good highway engine speed.

Of course, I have nothing against the 2.25L 4s. I would play with one for a while before I decided to part with it for the V8.

**Bigbjorn** · 16th September 2006, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by timberwolf_302

I notice no one has mentioned a Rover V8 with an LT95 (unless i missed it). That would be great in a Series LR. The Rover V8 is a tough, smooth punchy engine that sounds great and has the potential to be reasonably good on fuel. The LT95 is just plain bulletproof. And considering the Stage 1s were like this, it should be an easy task.

If I ever get a SII/III I will be considering this option as a bit of a project. Put in a 1:1 high transfer gear and an overdrive, combined with the 4.11:1 axle ratio, you will have a excellent crawl ratio in Low, and a good highway engine speed.

Of course, I have nothing against the 2.25L 4s. I would play with one for a while before I decided to part with it for the V8.

I didn't consider a V8 as a repower option as in Qld. registration charges are based on number of cylinders. Fours are cheaper than sixes are cheaper than eights.

**Bigbjorn** · 16th September 2006, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

I didn't consider a V8 as a repower option as in Qld. registration charges are based on number of cylinders. Fours are cheaper than sixes are cheaper than eights.

What could be a good choice for a repower, but may be hard to find is the 3.5 litre lightweight in-line six made by Isuzu for Thermo King. Used to power refrig. units on pantechs and reefer semis. The engines in traditional use for this purpose were too heavy for the newer lightweight frig. bodies and were pulling the fronts out of the vans. This is a brilliant design but may be difficult to locate. Perhaps a few calls around truck and trailer wreckers & rebuilders, or frig. shops.

**George130** · 16th September 2006, 04:56 PM

The friend knows where he can get a 2.25 landy engine for $100. Was rebuilt about 5 years ago and has sat in the shed since as the owner didn't want to pay up. He also has a rover V8 sitting around. This will all depend on what the car costs as at the moment they have hinted at $1500 but has has offered them an old car he want's to get rid of.

**timberwolf_302** · 16th September 2006, 05:42 PM

I didn't consider a V8 as a repower option as in Qld. registration charges are based on number of cylinders. Fours are cheaper than sixes are cheaper than eights.

Ah, of course. I didn't think of that. But the LT95 still would be a good G/Box to use for other engines.

crossy · 16th September 2006, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by timberwolf_302

Ah, of course. I didn't think of that. But the LT95 still would be a good G/Box to use for other engines.

Trouble is fitting it in - without loosing the classic series look.
+ the whole full time 4x4 rubbish and the fact that its a power sapping setup.

**rangieman** · 16th September 2006, 06:37 PM

Just one thing about fitting a LT95 it will be constant all wheel drive and the unis in the swivel housings wont be up to the job
so maybe a stage 1 diff and housing swap which runs cv,s will do the job

so if it falls back on cost the best option will be standard running gear

**Slunnie** · 16th September 2006, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by crossy

Trouble is fitting it in - without loosing the classic series look.
+ the whole full time 4x4 rubbish and the fact that its a power sapping setup.

You can make it fit and maintain the recessed grill. You'll need to move a few things though (eg, front X-members and the steering relay). Its a hell of a lot of extra work for an engine transplant to save the recessed facia.

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