Lightweight S3 with Ford Banana Diesel - which Engine would you swop too?

bluebossa · Jul 14, 2022

So, back again... after several years without a Lightweight, I just moved house - got a bigger Garage and won the battle with the trouble and strife to get another Lightweight...

So I bought a T Reg S3 on eBay yesterday - fitted with a Ford Diesel 2.5 Banana? Engine fitted.

While it pulls well and gets it up to 50 - it sounds like a bag of nails, is ear deafening and sluggish...
My previous Lightweight was the traditional 2.25 Petrol - I remember getting it to sit at circa 70 on a long straight motorway run...

So to my question:

If I was to go Petrol - which Engine would you go too?

Seems like 2.25 Engines are fetching a small fortune today - circa £2k...

Any others that fit straight in and cheaper to attain and bolt up to the standard box?
Thanks in advance... pics attached...

Wolf Pack · Jul 14, 2022

Personally, I stay with the 2.25, but I prefer originality.
I'm sure you could get a 2.25 petrol much cheaper than£2k.
FB Marketplace, one of the online Lightweight groups, or place an ad here in the sales and wanted.
Are you happy doing your own engine work, or are you looking for an engine that's already been reconditioned?

300bhp/ton · Jul 14, 2022

I don't really see the appeal of the 2.25p is was outdated when introduced in the SII. And it really wasn't all that many years ago you couldn't give them away.... .I mean not even for £25 for an entire running engine.

If you want the own the vehicle to drive about, you'd be way better off fitting a Rover V8. A known conversion, pretty easy to do. Will likely do better mpg than the 2.25p and give more power, torque and a wonderful soundtrack.

Flossie · Jul 14, 2022

Banana engine has an inlet manifold shaped like a bunch of bananas.
For your info. They run on chip oil too I believe.

bluebossa · Jul 18, 2022

Wolf Pack said:
Personally, I stay with the 2.25, but I prefer originality.
I'm sure you could get a 2.25 petrol much cheaper than£2k.
FB Marketplace, one of the online Lightweight groups, or place an ad here in the sales and wanted.
Are you happy doing your own engine work, or are you looking for an engine that's already been reconditioned?

Thanks @wofpack - I'll join that Marketplace.... see what I can find... seem crazy on Ebay... Here's one currently listed for £1,000
LAND ROVER 2.25 PETROL ENGINE - SERIES IIA AIRPORTABLE | eBay

bluebossa · Jul 18, 2022

300bhp/ton said:
I don't really see the appeal of the 2.25p is was outdated when introduced in the SII. And it really wasn't all that many years ago you couldn't give them away.... .I mean not even for £25 for an entire running engine.

If you want the own the vehicle to drive about, you'd be way better off fitting a Rover V8. A known conversion, pretty easy to do. Will likely do better mpg than the 2.25p and give more power, torque and a wonderful soundtrack.

With you - was thinking a 3.5 might be nice... but you have to sort Brakes and Suspension to cope I think too?

I will be only doing low mileage so not sure the MPG is that much of an issue...

bluebossa · Jul 18, 2022

Flossie said:
Banana engine has an inlet manifold shaped like a bunch of bananas.
For your info. They run on chip oil too I believe.

Thanks Flossie - saw that though mine doesn't have that inlet so maybe it isn't a Banana Engine, 2.5 Diesel Transit is what I was told - noisy old thing, works fine though to 50 mph.

Turboman · Jul 18, 2022

bluebossa said:
So, back again... after several years without a Lightweight, I just moved house - got a bigger Garage and won the battle with the trouble and strife to get another Lightweight...

So I bought a T Reg S3 on eBay yesterday - fitted with a Ford Diesel 2.5 Banana? Engine fitted.

While it pulls well and gets it up to 50 - it sounds like a bag of nails, is ear deafening and sluggish...
My previous Lightweight was the traditional 2.25 Petrol - I remember getting it to sit at circa 70 on a long straight motorway run...

So to my question:
View attachment 269355 View attachment 269356

If I was to go Petrol - which Engine would you go too?

Seems like 2.25 Engines are fetching a small fortune today - circa £2k...

Any others that fit straight in and cheaper to attain and bolt up to the standard box?
Thanks in advance... pics attached...

If you post a picture of the engine from the other side, it might be easier to identify it.

Ford diesels are quite good. I would just stay with that as long as it is running OK. Sound deadening mat or ear plugs for the noise.

2286 petrols are actually available if you avoid the internet, and ask around among old Land Rover people, many of whom are old giffers like me who don't do much on the internet. Old Giffers are commonly found at Classic Shows and Rallies.

We bought a running 2286 petrol for my wife's Series for 50 quid a couple of years ago, it needed a few shells and so on, but no major work, and is still running.

300bhp/ton · Jul 18, 2022

bluebossa said:
With you - was think a 3.5 might be nice... but you have to sort Brakes and Suspension to cope I think too?

Shouldn't need too. People have been putting Rover V8's in Series Land Rover's since at least the 1970s.

Turboman · Jul 18, 2022

300bhp/ton said:
Shouldn't need too. People have been putting Rover V8's in Series Land Rover's since at least the 1970s.

Series brakes are quite good. Ours has been uprated to the 11 inch drums all round, and I can lock the front wheels easily, no servo.
As far as I can remember, a V8 alone doesn't give massive performance in a Series, unless the gearings are increased as well by one of the several means available.

kermit_rr · Jul 18, 2022

I'd do 3.5 v8 if i was going to change it, get a nice cam in while i was at it. It won't go much faster but will be nice to drive

bluebossa · Jul 18, 2022

Turboman said:
If you post a picture of the engine from the other side, it might be easier to identify it.

Ford diesels are quite good. I would just stay with that as long as it is running OK. Sound deadening mat or ear plugs for the noise.

2286 petrols are actually available if you avoid the internet, and ask around among old Land Rover people, many of whom are old giffers like me who don't do much on the internet. Old Giffers are commonly found at Classic Shows and Rallies.

We bought a running 2286 petrol for my wife's Series for 50 quid a couple of years ago, it needed a few shells and so on, but no major work, and is still running.

Thanks Turboman - that is also good advice... yep I think prices are off the scale a low mileage Engine from an S3 is going for just under £2k?!!

Got a picture of the other exhaust side of the Engine here it is if it helps... runs and starts fine... so yep "leave alone - do nothing" is the other option!

Turboman · Jul 18, 2022

bluebossa said:
Thanks Turboman - that is also good advice... yep I think prices are off the scale a low mileage Engine from an S3 is going for just under £2k?!!

Got a picture of the other exhaust side of the Engine here it is if it helps... runs and starts fine... so yep "leave alone - do nothing" is the other option!
View attachment 269596

Maybe a 2.5 4 cylinder out of an 80s Transit?

The plate on top of the rocker box might inform you more?

Going to tag @lynall , see if he can add anything further to that.

bluebossa · Jul 18, 2022

300bhp/ton said:
Shouldn't need too. People have been putting Rover V8's in Series Land Rover's since at least the 1970s.

Yep, aware - what does the top speed move too? I'll dig around on the conversion kits, much easier and cheaper to get hold of by the looks of it...

Definitely make it a different vehicle and an interesting project too...

bluebossa · Jul 18, 2022

Turboman said:
Maybe a 2.5 4 cylinder out of an 80s Transit?

The plate on top of the rocker box might inform you more?

Going to tag @lynall , see if he can add anything further to that.

Thanks - 2 Ticks let me get a photo but that would make sense...

lynall · Jul 18, 2022

I had a s1 with a york diesel, now that was utter carp, I blew it up, so fitted a di in its place, great engines but do make a 200tdi seem quiet!

bluebossa · Jul 18, 2022

bluebossa said:
Kinda looks more like re-build Data to me?
Unless you are an Engine Guru...

Thanks - 2 Ticks let me get a photo but that would make sense...

bluebossa · Jul 18, 2022

kermit_rr said:
I'd do 3.5 v8 if i was going to change it, get a nice cam in while i was at it. It won't go much faster but will be nice to drive

Yep seems like the consensus on that is good, I've always fancied a V8 series... going to read up on what's involved... post links if you know if any but sure there will be some stories on this forum somewhere...

bluebossa · Jul 18, 2022

lynall said:
I had a s1 with a york diesel, now that was utter carp, I blew it up, so fitted a di in its place, great engines but do make a 200tdi seem quiet!

York Diesel, yep maybe it's one of those, I don't know Ford Engines so still trying to identify it... 2.5 Four cylinder Direct Injection DIESEL Ford that's all I know.

Turboman · Jul 18, 2022

Nice try, but no banana(s)!

See if you can find an engine number, it should be stamped into the block.
If you can find it, google search it, there will be a list of Ford engine numbers, and what they were originally fitted in, on the net.

Lightweight S3 with Ford Banana Diesel - which Engine would you swop too?

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