Where to start on Series 2

Themikeyd said:

Hi all and thanks in advance for help/advise.

I have a long wheel base series 2 with a 2.5td engine. It starts and goes and has 2 dicky seats in the back with seat belts for the kids (who fall asleep on every trip despite the noise).


However:

it’s cold start is poor and smokes the neighbourhood out (the bgger in me smiles with guilt).


The engine is very noisy and overtaking (cyclists) is not an option.


The gearbox pops 2+3rd making it hard work/fun to drive.


There’s oil everywhere.


The chassis is very rusty with several welds...although no holes atm.


I’ve accepted the gearbox needs a recon and have been quoted around £1500.


My questions if you don’t mind:


Any easy fixes for the cold start and smoke? Could it be as simple as preheaters?


Are they all slow and noisy? I mean shouting at each other noisy and cyclists on a country road are a genuine issue to get past. Or is something likely worn out?


What could I expect cost wise for a new chassis or can you keep welding them?


What gearbox is it likely to be? I’m wondering if I could learn to recondition it myself. Or am I better off spending money on putting a different engine version and gearbox combo in?


Are there any genuine trusted Land Rover garages near Lewes Sussex. There’s a place called The Thatched Garage up the road, any good?


Thanks again for any help you can offer, sorry to join with a load of questions.

Best wishes,
Mike

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Turboman said:

Try setting the tappets, and changing the glow plugs and valve guide seals. Google Dunsfold.

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Themikeyd said:

Thanks Turboman. I’ll get those on order ASAP.

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Turboman said:

Fuel filter never hurts either, and it is only a few quid for those.

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Themikeyd said:

Excellent thanks.

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Turboman said:

That should be a cheap start on the smoking. If it doesn't help, you might want to take the head off, and have a look at the valves and guides, with a thought to lapping the valves and replacing the guides. And you can have a look at the bores and piston crowns. A lot of these engines are very worn now.

With the gearbox, it might be worth looking around and seeing if you can find a second hand box, £1500 is a lot of money to spend on an old motor.

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Themikeyd said:

WRT gearbox am I better off commuting to a recon or is there an option to do it myself?

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Themikeyd said:

Any idea what gearbox it’s likely to be? I appreciate how ignorant that question is!

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Turboman said:

Not really, if it is out of the Series, it will be 4 speed, if it came with the engine it will be 5 speed. Clean it up and find the numbers on it. You need a manual, and maybe a parts book, and Google is your friend.

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spencer1885 said:

Hi Mike
I'm rebuilding the gearbox for my SWB at the moment
No special tools needed and the parts are very cheap from john Richards surplus
For all the parts needed I'm looking around £140 in total
Not bad for what will be a recon box

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Extreedoc said:

It's good that you are mechanically minded, you need to be with a series LR - or rich.
Rebuild the gearbox yourself, try to get hold of another gearbox and rebuild that so that you can just swap them when the time comes. I use Land Rover Direct for gearbox parts. Don't be afraid of Britpart parts, they are fine. Get the bearings and seals from a local bearing stockist though, don't use Chinese cheap ones. Just take the old ones to your chosen supplier.
Your engine: A compression test might be a good idea; you can buy a diesel compression tester on Amazon for under £30, much cheaper than asking a diesel specialist to do it for you, it may cost you £70 and up...
The chassis: You need to get underneath and go over the chassis with a wire brush and a tapping hammer. Cut off any patches which might have been bodged over a rusty hole. Cut away any rusty bits and let in new steel. Weld them in all round, don't tack weld. Can you weld?

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FlyingPete said:

Britpart do clutches. Might as well get the cover assembly and release bearing while it's apart. Don't forget that you need a series clutch plate not one for a 90/110 2.5td.
If it's the original series 2 gearbox, synchromesh will be on 3rd and 4th only. Might be a good plan to get a series 3 gearbox and rebuild that, then swap then over. Then you'll have synchros on all gears.

Engine sounds like it could be a bit tired, as neglected 19Js often are. In my old 90 I could comfortably do 60 on a motorway, though in a series you'll be limited more by engine rpm unless you have an overdrive.

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FlyingPete said:

Britpart do clutches. Might as well get the cover assembly and release bearing while it's apart. Don't forget that you need a series clutch plate not one for a 90/110 2.5td.
If it's the original series 2 gearbox, synchromesh will be on 3rd and 4th only. Might be a good plan to get a series 3 gearbox and rebuild that, then swap then over. Then you'll have synchros on all gears.

Engine sounds like it could be a bit tired, as neglected 19Js often are. In my old 90 I could comfortably do 60 on a motorway, though in a series you'll be limited more by engine rpm unless you have an overdrive.

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