Question regarding speed

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85Santana3

85Santana3

Active Member
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Location
Canada
I have a 1985 series III (4 cyl. & fuel) with unknow milage (probably 250-300,000 km) which I feel drives with less speed than normal.

I checked some online sources and apparently the top speed of S3 should be around 110 km/hr. Mine goes up to 80 and has a hard time pushing past that. I have done a lot of eninge work including change of pistons, carb, cylinder gasket, rings, valve washers, tune up , etc. and still am going slow.
I had a jeep YJ before and my land rover feels like I am driving he jeep in 4x4. Is this normal or should I be doing somethingabout it?

Another question is " is this truck always in 4x4 or goes to 4x4 when I use either the yellow or red sticks?'

thank you in advance
 
We have had this subject before, speed and Land Rover do not belong in the same sentence. A thread a little while ago was averaging out at around your speeds.
I find my series 3 diesel will happily cruise at 45/48 MPH just under your 80 KPH.
It will go a little faster but noise tells you it is not happy and you lack mechanical sympathy.
The series is two wheel drive until you put the yellow knob down or select low ratio by pulling red knob back. To disengage four wheel drive pull red knob back and then forward, the yellow knob should pop up. Read Stickys "what's all them knobs for?"
Do not run a series in four wheel drive on tarmac you will kill it, read the plate on the bulkhead re tyre wear by using four wheel drive on the road.
 
thanks for clarification guys.
One more question
if it is 2 wheel drive till you pull the yellow stick then why would some people install a hub releaser to make it go smoother or faster? This was suggested to me by some local mechnics. How does a hub relaser help a 2 wheel drive car?

ps tire size is k
 
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85Santana3 said:
thanks for clarification guys.
One more question
if it is 2 wheel drive till you pull the yellow stick then why would some people install a hub releaser to make it go smoother or faster? This was suggested to me by some local mechnics. How does a hub relaser help a 2 wheel drive car?
Click to expand...

it means front wheels dont have the drag of turning diff and prop ,but its so little i wouldnt bother with freewheeling hubs
 
Without fettling the engine it felt like I was screwing the nuts off it to get 60mph. With an overdrive you can get about 25-30% more (I have a rover drive). With ACR skimmed and ported head, hi-torque cam, DMTL carbs and 3.54 diffs 65mph is quiet and comfy, 75mph a bit noisy, 85mph+ not too bad but engine is revving. It will go up to 100mph but not really recommended on safety grounds I once did a panic run to a ferry at 90mph on the continent and it was hairy.

Of course a LWB and hard top will be a bit heavier than an 88 with tilt and may still struggle. For the one I'm rebuilding I'm considering splashing out on an ACR 2.8 petrol block for a bit of extra power but not sure I can justify the cost...

First thing would be an overdrive - I can recommend Roverdrive but they are not cheap but have the advantage that you can use them as a splitter in any gear so with 3.54 diffs once you're rolling with over drive engage 1st gear+overdrive+3.54 is like original 2nd, and 2nd like 3rd and so on, on hills with a bit of fancy shifting you can go half a gear at a time and keep the revs at optimum...
 
Mines a series 3 2.25 petrol completely standard with fairey overdrive. It will make 60 ish at a push but is happier between 40 and 50, drums all round will make you think about speed in a whole different way.
 
2 1/4 petrol ambulance, no O/D, cruise at 55-60mph, happy enough (no vibration) at 65mph but revving. Only 50,000 miles though.

Will fit FWH because I have some and would like an O/D when the money appears.
 
You want a racing car?

Ditch your Landy and get a Slitty that might last you a couple of years before it needs replacing!

Otherwise tune the engine properly and you should get 75mph ... whatever that is in those foreign calamities.
 
foreign calamity oldseadog ?! doesnt sound like a friendly comment explain yourself. Interestingly enough one of these foreign calamities owns the Land rover brand now.
 
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85Santana3 said:
foreign calamity oldseadog ?! doesnt sound like a friendly comment explain yourself. Interestingly enough one of these foreign calamities owns the Land rover brand now.
Click to expand...
We British use the Imperial system of miles, yards, feet and inches, whilst the foreigners use Kilamaties and mitres and all sorts of stuff that doesn't make sense, and unfortunately, with our politicians speding most of their time overseas at our expense, we have got to use that same foreign rubbish over here! :director:
 
I am the last person on earth to stop anyone complaining about their goofy adminitration.
Well, the question of speed is answered and I feel better about my landy thanks everybody.
 
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