S3 109 improvements advice.

Hello again Boys and Girls.

Buddy is back on the road


I've searched for threads on improvements to be made regarding better gearing, braking and lower noise levels but threads seem to run out earlier with no real conclusion from the topic poster.

Over the next few months I'd like to make some rolling improvements without cutting and chopping. I'm looking for 'easy' bolt off-bolt on jobs.
Buddy is fitted with an '86 Defender 2.5na 12J engine and has the S3 gearbox. Used mainly for Sunday drives and the odd LR camping meet.
So here goes…

I'm looking for and bidding on an overdrive, is there anything else I can do to help the gear ratio?

Sound levels are high (aren't they all?) but if I'm going to drag the misses out to club meets I need to do something more that give her a pair of earmuffs. How effective are the soundproof and carpet kits from Paddocks or does anyone know of a kit that works? Also worried about water ingress if we go through water. Are they removable easily enough?

Brakes are also a concern, is it possible to change the drums for discs? I know there is a kit for about £600 out there but £££££ WOW! Perhaps whilst bolting on another axel, prop etc to improve the gearing it's possible to also use the braking system from the donor vehicle?

If anyone has links to tutorials or they have carried out such alterations please let me know.

Hopefully as this thread develops and improvements are discussed In can uploads lots of pics to help anyone else who needs it [emoji3]
Fanks[emoji7]

Try Exmoor Trim for soundproofing kits, both in the engine bay and inside the cab. Does your brake systeme have a servo fitted? If not worth considering, they were an optional extra when ordering S3's new, but can be obtained from Paddocks/ Craddocks. Overdrive will improve speed. Do you have FWH on the front? They also stop the front drive shafts and prop shaft turning when driving, reducing both wear n tear and drag. My dream set up would be the 2.6l straight six petrol engine as used in the S3 1 Ton but they are like hens teeth and need the right bulkhead to fit the engine bay. A lovely engine but one that needs TLC as head can warp. The only other alternative is to start to defenderise the whole power train (engine, gearbox, axles etc) but u might as well go an just buy a 90 or 110?

Hi John. Dont have a servo
So I shall look into that.

Have Free Wheelers. Although never sure which side of the fence to sit on using them. NRGSERV suggests not using them because the shafts won't get oiled. Or maybe I miss understood him.

Looked at that kit whilst searching the threads last night and thought I'd best ask about before ordering as its twice as expensive as Padcocks. Do you know how efficient it is?

I thought about a Defender before I got Buddy but I think I'd miss the 'classic' appeal.

I think that I got my SIII ratios just about right with an OD and diffs from a 90. That was with a 200tdi engine. I reckon that the OD unit will be all you need to get the best out of a 12J engine.

Brakes wise, a set of drums that you have on a 109 are pretty good when they are in good condition, but do require more fettling than discs. I wouldn't have changed them on my car. The servo suggestion is a good one.

I changed mine from hard to soft roof, and found it to be a lot more quiet! I've followed quite a few threads on fitting sound deadening stuff, but none actually finished with any great improvements as I recall. It isn't a simple subject, and proper acoustic killing materials are very expensive. I'm doing some on my 'project', but I'm years away from that point.

Thanks. I'm definitely looking into adding a servo. Perhaps I should reassess the gearing and soundproofing after the OD.

matter of opinion on free wheeling hubs, personally I don't like them as the upper steering swivel relies on splash lubrication from the rotating universal joint in the swivel housing.
brake servo would make a difference on pedal pressure, and you should have a vacuum pump already on the 12j engine (2.5 n/a) but as already said, the drum setup needs to be looked after more frequently.
sound deadening? there's that much junk in the back of my disco its noisy anyway.
yer could allus get a pair of dogs, a child, a missus, then the motor noise pales into insignificance

nrgserv said:

matter of opinion on free wheeling hubs, personally I don't like them

yer could allus get a pair of dogs, a child, a missus, then the motor noise pales into insignificance

Click to expand...

Yep using your advice from LZ11 regards the FWH

And on the other … ticked box, ticked 5 boxes( although now all grown up phew!)and tick- hence reason to lower noise levels [emoji11]
.

Servo complete on eBay £17 with one day to go. I can't believe I had a job selling one only 2 months ago.

you could do comfort improvements, say adding a rear heater like an old smiths

No one sits in the back. It only has 3 seats. It turns out I need more than just a servo. It's not as easy as just bolting one on apparently.

Heres the set you probably need land rover, series 2, 3, Brake Servo, Brakes | eBay

Re using 109 brakes on an 88 , dont get carried away by going the whole hog and fitting 1 ton / 6cyl set (wider tls) as they are fantastic in the dry but are too much in the wet. You have to be very gentle with them ( I fitted to a 2a i rebuilt in early 70s with V8 ). FWH do make a difference when you only have a 2.286 diesel in the winter , otherwise dont make much difference. Re o/d the fairy one worked well , and was reliable , but that was a long time ago and they haven't been made for quite a while now. Ashcroft to a high ratio transfer gear conversion .

ref 6 cyl , heads not a problem in normal operation ,that said , they have a habit of wearing the quill shaft (oil pump/dizzy) gear , and IIRC they are NLA , also you need to be meticulous on adjusting the exhaust valve clearance regularly , otherwise burnt valves are common . HTSH

Sorry disregard the bit about fitting to 88 just reread and its a 109

Nice. Thanks il keep an eye on the eBay listing.

I'm hoping to test and purchase an OD next weekend. So I will see if that helps when fitted.

As for fitting a 6cyl I'm keeping the 12J. And you've scared me a bit with all those abbreviations [emoji15]. I need to read up more [emoji433]