Series 3 engine swap advice

swisstoe said:

The main objective is a simple and reliable engine with carburettor and maybe contactless distributor that can be adapted to your needs for little money.
''Sod it'' go with the 2 1/4 or the 2.5 petrol...

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I do actually have access to an original 2.25 petrol. Maybe this rather than the diesel with a nice SU carb on it.

ratrodmog said:

I do actually have access to an original 2.25 petrol. Maybe this rather than the diesel with a nice SU carb on it.

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Yes keep it simple! by the time you've done all the hard work before reaching engine fitment, that 2 1/4 petrol will be the easy option and will add value.
Anyway show us some pictures of this work in progress, we all like pictures of series vehicles especially rotten ones...

Buy the petrol. They are hitting £1200 on e-bay and you can fit it and drive with liitle work and with no fears of being penalised for diesel or loose DVLA modification points that you may want in future.

Chopz said:

What's wrong with the 2.25 diesel?
I would not start fitting other engines as you will lose the series experience
My diesel is not bad on fuel for a old classic and is plenty fast enough with the write diff's and a pump tweek

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Stock diesel is a slug. There really is no defending one, even if you own one. I’m not saying they are bad vehicles. But they are SLOW!!!!

marjon said:

The MPI is only a Rover T16 engine common in the 8/6/4/2 series rover cars and some with turbo

So plentiful spares. Only problem (which would be the same for your choice) is engine to gearbox/bellhousing

Not sure of the series box, somebody else may know how strong they are.

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Plenty space at front so shouldn’t affect exterior look with the set back grill.

J

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Spares might be ok. But actually finding an engine is a lot more hard work.

Colthebrummie said:

I agree, once you start driving a series near its top speed, the experience gets very exciting. Mine is hard enough to keep in a straight line at 40, at 60 it's a fairground ride. Having said that the brakes are pretty good, I can lock the wheels and stop pretty quick. As for the suspension, you wouldn't know there was any.

Col

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Sounds like there is something wrong with your steering. Ran mine to over 70mph on the 2.25 and it felt fine apart from the gearing. With the Tdi in there I clocked it at 89mph on the gps (and private road).

ratrodmog said:

I’m not opposed to an engine from a different manufacturer. Even thinking a Volvo engine could work? Really I need a little 2ltr 4 banger, maybe with a turbo and enough torque to move the 88. Maybe what I want doesn’t exist but worth spitballing ideas all the same.

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It exists. Just depends on your budget and fabrication skills.

If you want to retain the Series gearbox your choices are limited. Unless you can fab up an adapter plate to mount to other engines.

I’m not sure how easy the K Series will be to fit. I believe it may have a similar bell housing bolt pattern to the T-Series. If so, then it would bolt to an R380/LT-77. But I’ve just not seen or heard of it being done. I know the KV6 is different.

The T-Series I think would be a good shout. Even in NA form. Remember a Series only weighs just over 1300kg. But finding the engine will be a pita. The Discovery Mpi might be a candidate. But fitting a 5 speed R380/LT-77 to a Series is a reasonable faff and you end up with a tiny rear prop. I don’t know, but would guess the T-Series should mate to a Series box. But I’ve struggled to find anyone doing so. On LR4x4 forum there is an old thread of a turbo T-Series 88. But I’m not sure what gearbox it used.

Also while manufacturers might do transverse and longitudinal installations of engines. Sometimes it can be a pita to convert from one to another. Even with simple things like starter motor location, alternator or exhaust manifold.

Rover only ever installed the K Series as a transverse engine. And Caterham didn’t use Rover gearboxes.

Something else to consider is keeping the vehicles identity. Swapping the gearbox and engine may put you close to needing an IVA. If you opt to update the steering and maybe swap the axles you might not score enough points to keep the registration.

Personally if I was doing it again. I’d either look at a T Series in NA form. Or a Rover V8. An RV8 with EFI should easily return 20+mpg on a run. As well as having all the bonuses of being a V8. Plus it’s a known and relatively easy conversion.

If you really want a challenge I’d suggest a Td5. It might be diesel. But a tuned one will generally out perform a 3.5 V8 and give very good mpg. The five pot also sounds pretty good too.

However I’m sure there are lots of other options. Saw a Jag XK 4.2 powered Series One in one of the LR mags ages ago. Or you could probably transplant something like the entire drivetrain from a Jeep Cherokee 4.0 litre.

Discovery 200tdi or 200di is an easier fit

dag019 said:

I can lock the wheels in mine, but that is part of the problem, they are all to happy to lock up and slide. I don't know if it is the shoes I have fitted but I have very little brakes until suddenly you are sliding down the road in cloud of tyre smoke.

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Have you tried chamfering leading edge of brake shoes

300bhp/ton said:

Sounds like there is something wrong with your steering. Ran mine to over 70mph on the 2.25 and it felt fine apart from the gearing. With the Tdi in there I clocked it at 89mph on the gps (and private road).

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There is something a bit wrong with all of it, it's over 40 years old, never restored and only the minimum of maintenance. The dirty great Fairey PTO winch bolted to the front doesn't help the steering much. It's also the 109 station wagon so pretty heavy and a terrible turning circle. I enjoy it the way it is, wayward, for comfort and motorway speeds I use the Freelander.

Col

300bhp/ton said:

Spares might be ok. But actually finding an engine is a lot more hard work.

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That’s strange I would of thought there would be loads of whole rusty cars laying around. But then I have not looked.

Better also to get the non distributor model.


Interesting article

http://www.mr-r.co.uk/tturbo.html

J

marjon said:

That’s strange I would of thought there would be loads of whole rusty cars laying around. But then I have not looked.

Better also to get the non distributor model.


Interesting article

http://www.mr-r.co.uk/tturbo.html

J

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Thanks for the article.

I think 10 years back there were plenty, sadly the scrappage schemes in the UK seem to have taken their toll on cars that would have run these engines.

I was looking earlier in the year and I couldn't find an Mpi Discovery, found only one T-Series engine, but it was from an automatic and missing all ancillaries and no flywheel. And on ebay at that time there only one car with that engine in that I could find.

I did manage to get hold of a bellhousing adapter from an Mpi for cheap, with the plan of finding an engine. But gave up. I'm sure with some luck and timing it is doable still.

Personally I think the T-series would be a lovely engine in a Series. More power than a tweaked Tdi, and more torque than a stock 2.25 petrol. Plus lighter and lot more refined than a Tdi.

Don't go for too much torque or you may keep breaking half shafts.

Col

I was in a similar position to you over 7 years ago when I started to rebuild my 88. Initially thought about converting it to diesel for economy, but decided to stick with the 2.25 petrol, progress the rebuild and see how it went. There was plenty to do that was more important than the choice of engine but having read loads decided to keep the original petrol although not happy with its tired performance.
I then paid a visit to Turners engineering and took their advice about the work that that would be needed and decided on +40 rebore, unleaded gasflowed head, camshaft bearings replaced, big and main bearing shells. Their advice was really helpful and I thoroughly recommend them. I'm still in the process of running the engine in, but the difference is unbelievable and I'm really happy with what I now have, but at the end of the day its your motor.