doobie

doobie

Active Member
I'll looking to do some mods on my series III, looking get a bit more speed but really to reduce the engine speed when crusing in top as it sounds like its going to blow up!

I've read up on overdrives and it looks like an easy but expencive option. Looked into gearbox changes but that looks a bit more involved and also just read on here about changing out the diff's for defender ones.

Any one got any opinions on these mods or any other options?

I also have a 3.something Rover V8 in my shed and a range rover gearbox with a burgered transfer box. I've been considering fitting this but it looks like it would be a real pain in the arse! Also the engine was taken out of the ranger rover because it did 12mpg! :eek:

ta for any help!
 
200 nicker for an overdrive isn't that much compared to the bits you'll need to convert, fit and run a V8. If you wuz going to fit one I'd fit an overdrive too anyways (I am, cuz I get 16MPG out of my V8 at the mo').

Rangie diffs is what you want if you want to go that way. They've generally had a fairly easy life & the ones I've got are 3.54:1.

That sed if you fit more relaxed diffs at the same road speeds you were doing before, yer Landy will be quieter. If you go faster your injun will end up running at the same speed it was before so still sound like it's going to blow up!

All depends what you want from it, how much work you want to do & how much money you want to spend.

Oh, & dunno about faster, but red ones dunt go up hills. Everyone knows that!
 
i is a quick learner - been brushin up on my haggis catchin - they is quick luvvers apparently :D

Sheepshagger_Gold__5646264.jpg
 
cool, think I'll look into changing the diff's as well as an overdrive. was looking for a reasonable project like but not something as major as fitting the v8. quite keen to respray it to give me some hill climbing ability as well! :D

what would be a reasonable price to pay for a set of diff's??

Would a v8 not have too much power for an overdrive? i heard that u could quite easily destroy one if u put ur foot down to hard?!
 
Remember this, if you change diffs for a lower ratio (higher gearing), ALL the gears including low range will be higher.
This means that hill starts (especially with a trailer on) will be much more difficult, and very sore on the clutch.

With an O/D fitted, you can CHOOSE (in every gear, including low range) what to do, and so in DIRECT Drive (O/D OUT) you are geared as originally, whereas O/D IN overdrive, you have the advantage of the usual first gear, and the much higher top gear.

For my money O/D would be a must.

CharlesY
 
Many years ago I fitted a Fairey overdrive to my IIa LWB, its an easy job, you don't even have to drop the box. The result was more 'car-like' gear ratios with the overdrive in high ratio, quieter running and better MPG.
Supposedly you need a special tool to get one of the nuts off/on of the back of one of the gearbox shafts, I just used the standard Landrover two-part special tool - cold-chisel & big-hammer!
Warning, unless the technology has come on a lot since the 1980s, if you fit a brand new overdrive the noise it makes during the first thousand miles or so will be unbelievable, don't panic, it will quieten down.
Also remember the overdrive doesn't share oil with the gearbox, so make sure to check its' oil level now and then.
 
Hi Guys,

A word of caution...

The two suggested methods are good, and each one is fine on its own. However, I would not advise fitting both RR diffs and an overdrive. The power in the 2.25 is simply not enough. The V8, nice idea but go carefully... OK you now have the power in the engine but that power has to arrive at the road via the power-train. We all know the chocolate gear boxes on Series landies. I have heard the SIIA gearbox is more resilient, but the SIII box could blow itself to peices if you start thumping a V8 down through both high geared diffs and an overdrive. It's basically designed for about 80HP, you are now talking quite a few Ponies more...

If you want fuel economy with your upgrade can I advise investigating upgrades to the 2.25 Petrol. There is a guy called Roland at Automotive Remanufacturing Services in Chester who offers quite a package. Tell him Rob from Scotland sent ya.

- high lift cams,
- skimmed high compression head with air flow machined valve inlets
- Through box exhaust as some of the 2.25 power is lost due to exhaust issues. (only about 20 quid...)
- Modified inlet manifold to take an SU carb with a larger venturi.

Last count Roland thought he could raise the std 75BHP to about 110BHP on a SIII 2.25 5 bearing petrol. Dunno how high he has got now.

If you have a Webber carb, ditch it. It's got a smaller bore than even the standard Zenith, although it is a bit more reliable. A K&N air filter in place of the oil bath is noisier but more power again. These are all more modest upgrades but with the smaller engine you should be able to return at least 20mpg, I do... The V8, you are looking at best around 15mpg.

Hope this gives you some ideas,

Cheers

Rob
 
Another caution... Fairey don't make spare parts any more.... Getting very difficult to get, I have a Rocky Mountain overdrive now.
 
cheers folks, thanks for the advice.

I did always think that fitting a v8 to the standard gearbox & drive train would be a bad move. at one point i thought about replacing the engine, gearbox, diff's and fitting better brakes but then reliased i might as well go and buy a range rover and save myself alot of grief!!

i'll have look into the ideas and see what looks the most sensible. :D
 
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