Original series 3 engine we are getting hard to find now. If I was looking at that eBay one Id ask for compression test readings which is a five minute job and if they were ok, I'd offer £500, £600 top whack. For £800, I'd want one with a garentee and the correct carb.

Col
 
The one on ebay looks like it has an ACR manifold fitted for the SU. This could make it worth slightly more than a standard 2.25 engine but it really does depend on how worn it is. Compression test would help and not smoking or knocking. If all good possibly worth £800 and if it is the ACR carb and manifold you could justify paying a bit more.
https://www.automotivecomp.com/prices/
Power Plus © SU Carb system Series 2A/3/90/110 petrol £823
 
Video of it running might give yous an Idea of its condition. he says he does not have the kit to test compression.
 
border said:
Video of it running might give yous an Idea of its condition. he says he does not have the kit to test compression.
Click to expand...


Well if its what you need and its the only one out there then buy it, see if you can get rad thrown in, the all metal series rads are worth a few quid on their own.
 
lynall said:
Well if its what you need and its the only one out there then buy it, see if you can get rad thrown in, the all metal series rads are worth a few quid on their own.
Click to expand...
Waiting to look at a mates , but doesnt sound to good as been stuck in shed for years, if its no good I will give this guy an offer, can only try .
 
Well here is pic of one in mates shed.been there for some years now, he got it off someone that was going to scrap it after they had stored it for years. Seized Solid, wont move. is it worth the Hassle.?
Ideally would like somthing ready and running .
Anyway spoke to another local who has just scrapped a couple but he does have a 19j turbo there, Recons its mint he bought it a few years back from a Quarry where the defender had been rolled and was written off, was new vehicle with only 7000 miles on the owner took engine out so it has been stored ever since then. Thats the story, and I do trust the guy who has it. he says hes Not really bothered about selling it, but would at the right price.
SO Will this fit in to my series without the hassle of extending and moving other bits about ?? been doing a bit of reading up on them and not a lot of people like them but if its as good as he says it is with only them low miles is it worth taking a chance.
 

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Going to have a look at the 19 j tomorrow, would still rather have the original petrol though. Not sure whether to make an offer on ebay one or not.
 
You are very unlikely to get any series engine that is ready to run unless you buy a recon as these engines are now 50 plus years old. Assume you have to strip and clean up and probably replace rings, shells and do a valve grind.
 
rob1miles said:
You are very unlikely to get any series engine that is ready to run unless you buy a recon as these engines are now 50 plus years old. Assume you have to strip and clean up and probably replace rings, shells and do a valve grind.
Click to expand...
What do you think of the ebay one above ? The guy says he will get a compression test done in the next couple of days. wont be paying the asking price but might just male an offer.
 
The ebay engine started better than mine and it sounds sweet enough despite the SU carb. Wait until the compression test results before making a decision. Although, compression tests dont tell the whole story, a low figure might be down to worn valve guides rather than a worn engine. 5 years ago, you could pick up series 3 engines for about a hundred quid, someone I know got a diesel for fifty. The advantage of the ebay engine is that you know it starts and runs and you get all the ancillaries. If you go to look at it, look for water and oil leaks and signs of mayo in the oil filler cap.

Col
 
Have a look at the exhaust while it is running, some smoke should be accepted at start up but should soon clear. It was not shown in the video but there were no clouds of gas about.
The one in the shed has an open carb so damp could get in seizing it. Even this should be kept as even blocks/heads to redo are getting scarce.
I ran a 19j for years and it was fine until the end at about 126k [ it did work hard towing ] No harder to fit a series than a tdi, often done without intercooler.
My choice would be the petrol, nicer quieter drive and if low miles driven each year mpg not an issue
 
Gonna try and have a quick look at the 19 j today, but would rather have a petrol. If no one else to makes an offer on the eBay one, might get it lot cheaper with a bit if luck
 
I bought mine on the bay for £25 it was on a bank holiday, it's a good time to buy things, no one looks at stuff or buys, that was 25-30 years ago, its still going strong, and it was a series 2 engine
 
I picked up my entire 1981 2.25l s3 109 on an eBay Auction about 12 years ago for just £550. Ran great and is Still my main car today with only the usual wear and tear items replaced over the years as and when needed or I fancy tinkering. Now it seems the engine alone is worth more than that. Amazing.
 
Here is s more info from the seller. Ok, so firstly, I'm not a traditional Land Rover guy, so I've no idea if these are good or bad, I'll just let you have them as I got them. These were taken on a warm engine, plugs out, throttle open. My cylinder order is 1st to the front, 4th at the rear.
Dry 1 135, 2 133, 3 135, 4 135. Wet 1 144, 2 142, 3 146, 4 148.
Obviously I haven't published these yet, asyou were the one that asked for them, so you're the only one with the results.
You should know I did discover a small oil leak coming from under the flywheel. I presume this could be a rear crankshaft oil seal (?), but as I say, it's been stood for some considerable time, so I would be surprised if there were'nt one or two teething problems. How hard is it to change rear crankshaft seal ? and what other problems am I likely to find ?
 
Normally when fitting a replacement engine it would be prudent to renew crank oil seals as its an engine out job if they fail afterwards and as seller says it is normal for seals to leak when run after a longtime standing. Can sometimes be rejuvenated with an addtive but worth renewing in my opinion.
 
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