Series 3 Landrover owner

British Leyland Rover · Feb 17, 2024

Good evening

My Dad had a series 3 when I was growing up and I loved the adventure and waving to other owners. I remember my Dad however having to cycle to work on a few ocassions.
I think it was made around 1980. Sadly it was sold in the late 1990s and apparently the new owner shipped it out to Grenada in the Caribbean.

I have waited nearly 30 years to own one and I finally went for it and recently purchased a 1978 S3 2.25 petrol.

Like most, it has a long list of jobs to be done but the main priority is sorting out the stalling issue. It only makes it a mile or two before cutting out.

I've enjoyed reading through the projects on here, so I'll try and keep the forum updated with the progress and include photos of this one.

Have a great weekend.

Jim

Feral kid · Feb 17, 2024

Looks the biz good luck with it. Good carb clean and few gaskets set of plugs etc will most likely sort it. I have a 1948 ferguson petrol/tvo it ran till hot then would splutter and die but only sometimes. Later found all plug leads had been poorly made and had corroded at the distributor side. New plugs leads and service it has run like a champ since. I would love a 2a or series 3 pick up since my uncle sold a fully restored one about 10 years ago. Even had an overdrive.

British Leyland Rover · Feb 17, 2024

Feral kid said:
Looks the biz good luck with it. Good carb clean and few gaskets set of plugs etc will most likely sort it. I have a 1948 ferguson petrol/tvo it ran till hot then would splutter and die but only sometimes. Later found all plug leads had been poorly made and had corroded at the distributor side. New plugs leads and service it has run like a champ since. I would love a 2a or series 3 pick up since my uncle sold a fully restored one about 10 years ago. Even had an overdrive.

Thanks for taking the time to reply Feral Kid. I've just ordered plugs, points condenser, dizzy cap and a new ignition coil. It looks like it has a Lucas distributor and Zenith carb. I'll see what a good service does.

Whenever I see well looked after examples like your uncles, I appreciate just how much effort goes into getting them like that.

Knappster · Feb 17, 2024

Hi and welcome!

Smart looking landies too!

British Leyland Rover · Feb 17, 2024

Knappster said:
Hi and welcome!

Smart looking landies too!

Thank you Knappster, my dream truck!

steve2286w · Feb 17, 2024

Welcome
Nice landy in the best colour too
Some useful info here , I think the workshop manual has a good section on petrol issues

http://smithies.co.nz/land_rover/

British Leyland Rover · Feb 17, 2024

steve2286w said:
Welcome
Nice landy in the best colour too
Some useful info here , I think the workshop manual has a good section on petrol issues

http://smithies.co.nz/land_rover/

Those diagrams will be very helpful, thanks!
It's incredible to see just how many parts make up even a relatively simple utility vehicle.

steve2286w · Feb 17, 2024

And all the parts numbered in the parts book make ordering a doddle which parts supplier are you using

The other handbook series 2/2a ? Has a great fault finding section which s3 does not

British Leyland Rover · Feb 17, 2024

steve2286w said:
And all the parts numbered in the parts book make ordering a doddle which parts supplier are you using

The other handbook series 2/2a ? Has a great fault finding section which s3 does not

I've downloaded them for safe keeping, they're much clearer than the Haynes manual.

brianp38dse · Feb 18, 2024

Hello and welcome

tidy motor should serve you well

British Leyland Rover · Feb 19, 2024

Between the showers yesterday, my brother and I spent the afternoon replacing as many serviceable items our skills permitted. It's running a lot better, but I think the Zeneth carb will need a service and tune.

1. Drained the fuel tank it had a lot of sediment after 15 years storage.
2. Spark plugs 1 gap needed adjusting.
3. Lucas ht leads
4. Lucas dizzy cap
5. Lucas rotor arm
6. Lucas ignition coil
7. Inline carb fuel filter
8. Cleaned air filter and crank breather case.

The new points and condenser didn't arrive on time, so I'll have to do that next weekend with the fluids change.

We feel like we've made some progress but we have a lot more to do before we are confident taking it out further afield.

steve2286w · Feb 19, 2024

It’s amazing how much ep90 you get through , best buy in 20l drum if not bought already
I’m sure a strip and clean of carb wil improve thinks more , not much you can’t do with manual and WD40

British Leyland Rover · Feb 19, 2024

steve2286w said:
It’s amazing how much ep90 you get through , best buy in 20l drum if not bought already
I’m sure a strip and clean of carb wil improve thinks more , not much you can’t do with manual and WD40

This arrived today!

steve2286w · Feb 19, 2024

Nice one , I have one of these which helps get it in all the filler holes, otherwise big squeezee

bottle with pvc pipe fitted

British Leyland Rover · Feb 19, 2024

Ah yes I'll be needing one of those. I've cut some of my garden hose and added a funnel, but I don't know if it'll work until I've tried it. But for £9.99 I may as well get the pump too.

steve2286w · Feb 19, 2024

Need a lot of patience with a funnel the extra bit pressure gets it in a bit quicker, tappet gaps a nice to do too

British Leyland Rover · Feb 19, 2024

Thanks Steve2286w
I'll add the tappet gap adjusting to the to do list.

British Leyland Rover · Feb 24, 2024

I got stuck in today and treated the s3 to some lovely fresh oils. When starting it up it threw it's toys out of the pram and ran worse, not idling well and running rich. The only thing I can think of is I cleaned out the fuel pump bowl and added fresh oil to the oil filter bath.

1.Clean fuel sediment bowl
2.Engine Change oil 6 liters + 0.85 litre when replacing the oil filter 20w50 oem filter
3.Gear box oil 1.5l ep90 gl4
4. Transfer box oil 2.5l ep90 gl4
5. Fairey overdrive 0.4l ep90 gl4
6. Rear diff oil 1.75l ep90 gl4
7. Front diff oil 1.75l ep90 gl4

I didn't get time to change the points or condensor so I'll give that a try tomorrow. A Zenith carb service kit has been ordered. Hopefully it we'll get there.

British Leyland Rover · Feb 25, 2024

British Leyland Rover · Feb 25, 2024

The points are very worn with no gap.

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