Hertfordshire Lanes?????

I got outbid on a 3.5efi that sold for £57 on flebay.

jai_landrover said:

No need for megasquirt Andy has pushed 212 bhp from carbs from a 3.5 bags and bags of of torque efi although it can be settled with there really is no need can use mega jolt and be perfectly waterproof and it costs £300 ish almost half ms

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Having no experience of either, I'm happy to go along with what's right, if it's Mega Jot instead and it does the job that's fine.

jai_landrover said:

3.9 opens you up to pourous blocks slipped liners and a whole world of hurt stick with 3.5 it'll transform the motor!

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Fine by me, I read that the original casting moulds were getting worn 20 years ago causing the problems you mention. Reliability is the key, 3.5 is more than plenty.

Spyderman said:

Fine by me, I read that the original casting moulds were getting worn 20 years ago causing the problems you mention. Reliability is the key, 3.5 is more than plenty.

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its the taking out of an extra 200 thou to fit 3.9 liner that leads to problem it leaves a very thin ali bore with a steel liner pressed in with 3 -4 thou interference fit , also machine tolerances for lr meaned liner might not be even completley center of ali bore wall making some even thinner in parts

jamesmartin said:

its the taking out of an extra 200 thou to fit 3.9 liner that leads to problem it leaves a very thin ali bore with a steel liner pressed in with 3 -4 thou interference fit , also machine tolerances for lr meaned liner might not be even completley center of ali bore wall making some even thinner in parts

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So you recon the original 3.5L on carbs is a better bet too then?

Spyderman said:

So you recon the original 3.5L on carbs is a better bet too then?

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Hey Spydie!! going to get a proper engine at last then! Good for you. I've had no issues with the 3.9 but generally, the opinion is the 3.5 is pretty much bullet-proof.

I'm sure Andy will see you right but do have a careful think about cooling, you can't really afford to let a V8 get hot, they really don't like it. Protect electrics as much as possible but you've seen mine swim so a couple of easy precautions and you'll be O.K. apart from that all you need to decide is if you're going carbs or efi. EFI gives a bit more power and better economy but carbs don't need electrics to work so there is a bit of a trade off there. hat said there is no reason not to start with carbs and then swap to efi later if you want to (or the other way around)

All the best and all that.

Hi Kev, long time no see.

I don't think power is going to be an issue no matter which I go for, carbs are probably the way to go and they sound better too. Andy prefers carbs, I'm in his very capable hands so I'm happy with whatever he says. Induction noise is how to make a V8 sound like a V8.

Like you I want reliability, over fancy power boosting stuff, keep it as stock as possible apart from the Mega Jolt to get it waterproof and do away with the normal let down item of a wet distributor.
I need to do a list of things that stop V8's in water and address them to see if we can make it as good as possible, I realise it's never going swim like a diesel, but when I have done that, it's new oils in diffs, new fan, new alternator, new starter motor. I ask myself is it worth it? I've done all of that, time comes to drive around the deep water and just play in the mud, which I prefer anyway.

If it's distributor-less running coil packs then that's about it for water proofing
My discovery (Thor engine) runs coil packs and I've never had a problem running it in water I even leave it running when I jet wash it off after a day out in the mud
The only time it stopped working was after a bit of wading and that was because it sucked a load of water into the engine but unlike a diesel once you get it started again it's find no bent rods

Megajolt and intake it will swim like a diesel no problem!

Cooling needs o be sorted a viscous fan and decent rad will be fine electric is grand however in comparison unreliable as yours has proved to not like dunking!

jai_landrover said:

Cooling needs o be sorted a viscous fan and decent rad will be fine electric is grand however in comparison unreliable as yours has proved to not like dunking!

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Reliability is the key, viscous fan is the way to go if it fits, I would have left my fixed fan on mine but it didn't fit, so had to go electric. I'll spend what I need to on a rad, don't want any overheating issues. Series will take a pretty large rad so I'll go for the biggest I can fit in.

A couple of us are going laning over essex sunday if anyone is interested.

Farrar said:

A couple of us are going laning over essex sunday if anyone is interested.

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any more info on this bud? I'd like to come along.

Ill sort meeting place out on friday and pm you. Be 10 start.

Farrar said:

Ill sort meeting place out on friday and pm you. Be 10 start.

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Thanks, that would be great. I was planning to go to Yarwell but I keep hearing about these essex lanes.

I've been trying to find out what part of essex you guys cover on these trips and what the terrain is like etc.

anyone been down the lane in ashridge? heard there is one that is a good hour long. and you pull up to a gate ring number and give reg plate and the guy tells you where the key is.
also wondered if anyone had done the lane starting on cholesbury road going to hastoe?

As the roadmap that's only 2 miles, an hour? Didn't know there was one there

Intriguing, just street viewed it and it says that it only open between May and October for vehicles and bikes

Footpath Maps: free online ordnance survey map and public footpath finder UK i use this site which has all the relevant open byways marked on here. but cant see it