How do guys,
I'm going to re build my 1962 2a later on this year when the weather gets better, I've got a couple of things that I would like peoples opinions on...... I have been debating for a while now which engine do I put in it, at the moment its got a V8 in, the engine has done about 2000 miles on a complete nut and bolt re-build, crank re-gind, new pistons, rings, rods, cam shafts etc, etc....... but with the price of juice only ever going to rise I was leaning more towards a diesel, plus if I'm honest apart from the noise that the V8 makes I don't really rate it that much, don't think they're up to much of road, but thats just my opinion... My landy will only really be used for doing a bit of lamping with and fetching stuff for my allotment and a bit of green laning so was wondering whether to get a donor disco and put a 200tdi in it, but all the disco's on ebay etc have been to the moon and back so seems as though I would have to spend a load of money on re building it first which I can't really justify the money on, or do i just go for a 2 1/4 diesel which is cheaper to maintain cheaper to get hold of and bob that in????
Also I was going to buy a new wiring loom for it does anybody know roughly what these cost and who sells them?
Can anyone recommend a good chassis or are they all much the same, eg marsland, Richards, Designa, I want a Galvanised with a removable gearbox cross member.
I've had the landy about 7 years now and when I bought it it was a Cat C, somebody had previously re-built it but then bumped it and for some reason claimed on the insurance for it and they wrote it off, it is immaculate apart from the chassis, (its like a patchwork quilt) so the time has come to change it, it should be pretty straught forward to do as the bulk head wings tub etc are all in very good condition. I don't want a concourse re-build, I want to build a land rover that I can use for what they were designed for and I don't want to have to worry about scratching it. I was looking to spend about £2500 on it in total.
Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated, Thanks in advance Neil.

Pm mad hat man for the wiring needs as he will be able to sort you out on them

i had a couple of new original RISTS looms off Craddocks a while back for £75 each

sorry MHM

For what use you suggest a 300tdi should be available at the right sort of money, in a distressed disco . Forget about 21/4 after a V8 (even a poor one) it would be a hell of a culture shock. A 300tdi at 100000 will still give several years of reliable service. Fix it when it busts , apart from putting in a new cambelt unless you have definate proof of when last changed. JMHO

For the use that you saidm why not just get a std 2 1/4 they are cheap as chip, rarther than spend £100's on a tdi conversion also that way there will be no worrys about the drive train either.

iannotts said:

For the use that you saidm why not just get a std 2 1/4 they are cheap as chip, rarther than spend £100's on a tdi conversion also that way there will be no worrys about the drive train either.

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agreed

or just spend some of the 2k5 on fuel and leave the engine as it is now

Sean said:

i had a couple of new original RISTS looms off Craddocks a while back for £75 each

sorry MHM

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i can recomend them too, failing that, i just get the rolls of cable out and the shrink sleve, make it all on the floor and wrap it, do all the spade crimps and then lable it up, if i can find the pics of the one i did last year i will post it later ,

keep the V8, or a 2.25 petrol or diesel will do yer fine for what yer doing with it, 200 tdi is a favorite if yer want to go to the trouble tho, and yer need a goodun really, ( ask sean for a quote )

i have a marsland chassis on its way now for mine

Sean said:

agreed

or just spend some of the 2k5 on fuel and leave the engine as it is now

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yer gunna spend that on fool any way , who cares.

90truckcab said:

200 tdi is a favorite if yer want to go to the trouble tho, and yer need a goodun really, ( ask sean for a quote )

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be quick as the delivery charge is going up tenfold within the next couple of months

Sean said:

agreed

or just spend some of the 2k5 on fuel and leave the engine as it is now

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dont they have drive drain issues with the V8 in? (blown diffs spring to mind)

Sean said:

be quick as the delivery charge is going up tenfold within the next couple of months

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yer gunna be out of the zone for DHL aswell int yer

Never had any drivetrain issues with the V8, only a keen desire to drink the entire contents of shells oil refineries very quickly I am beginning to think more along the lines of a 2 1/4 because am i right in thinking that the engine mounts will need altering on the new chassis for a 200/300 tdi, don't really fancy welding new ones onto a galvo chassis. Seems pretty pointless in getting it galvanised if I've got to start cutting and welding it.

yeah , stick a 2.25 in , its a proper series then, i dint think the V8 wer a problem either , me neighbour had one fer years trouble free, was a bit juicy fer every day tho,

90truckcab said:

yeah , stick a 2.25 in , its a proper series then, i dint think the V8 wer a problem either , me neighbour had one fer years trouble free, was a bit juicy fer every day tho,

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v8's are ok if you dont get them wet

Does the V8 use up much more fuel than the standard series engine though? RR 3.5 V8 doesn't seem all that different on fuel economy compared to our Series 2.25 petrol. I would have also thought that because the V8 will be working a lot less hard in the Series as it's lighter you would get a few more MPG?

The V8 bad off road...why?

iannotts: you can get them wet, you just need too keep the wet out where they don't like it

The V8 is not as good off road compared to a diesel, the engine braking is not as good, I had a bob tailed rangie with a V8 in it and with it being coil sprung it just seemed alot more controllable off road compared to my series??? just my opinion. They don't like water, and with the fuel consumption its on carbs and it does between 11 and 14 ish to the gallon I would say..... its not doing long journeys, I had thought of gassing it because the engine is such a good one but it still leaves me with the issues of not being as good off road etc etc....... I have made some 3" straight thro stainless pipes for it, it does seem a waste to take it out but I want something that is more useable and a little less thirsty on juice. The way I look at it is if I can get low 20s out of a 2 1/4 diesel then its doing double the fuel economy of the V8.

Fuel economy is supposed to be about 22MPG on the diesel...if you would get that 45 years later it would bee doing very well in my opinion!

I had never considered the engine braking differences on the 2 engines...anyone else have an opinion on this? Does it still not have enough engine braking in low box?