25.Eng.REME

New Member
Hello,
I'm trying to work out what engine to use. It's a 1970, 2a 109 2 door hard top and it's going to be a works vehicle, picking up reasonably heavy loads and occasional towing, almost entirely on tarmac.

If the 2.25 petrol isn't up to this, what engine can i / should i use and what alterations do i need to make to the gearbox and transmission?

Any help would be great, thanks.
 
the 2.25 has done all that you ask and more. its cheap to fix, uncomplicated and it fits without buggereing about. no real need to change it
 
That's what i was hoping. I didn't want to change it. Is there any chance a 'Weber Carb' is any good? There is one on ebay for £75.

Slob, thanks for the advice, can i ask a few more questions of you, or anyone else that might know?

Mine has the exhaust under the front bumper. I like it that way so are they easily available or will i have to rig up an under body type?

Is there any kind of really heavy duty springs, geared up to heavy loads and towing?

What kind of winch is recommended by you? This will ultimately be a recovery vehicle as well. Is it possible that i have or could fit a PTO and use a hydraulic winch? This area is totally new to me so please, as much advice as possible on elec / hydr winches and how / where to fit. I want mine in the seemeingly common place, between the wings in front of the radiator grille.

Thanks for taking the time

Phil.
 
well i also have a lwb 2a thats a 1963 and i have fitted a ford v6 essex engine its very capable of pulling my work tools and materials around me and im a farrier carriyin one hell of a lot of stuff around me if you did want a v6 essex the same as mine i have 2 spare reconditioned engines and we may be able to agree on a price!!
 
1. If the 2.25 is ok why swap it, You will not win any red light burn up's with it but it is very easy and cheep to keep going.
2. Putting a Webber on is ok (I have one on my 2.25 2a SWB) it works although I do have some idling problems with mine.
3. Exhaust under the front bumper = Strange never seen that before but it shouldn't be to difficult to fix with standard parts and a load of jubilee clips.
4. You can get heavy duty leaf springs from Paddocks, I think they are the same price as normal leaf springs.
5. Winches = Bigger the better. I have a fairey 6920 PTO winch on a S3 and it works just fine with the advantage that it will work under water so long as the engine is running and you can drive it from the cab using the clutch and gear box. and its sits between the wings.

Just a few thoughts
 
1. If the 2.25 is ok why swap it, You will not win any red light burn up's with it but it is very easy and cheep to keep going.
2. Putting a Webber on is ok (I have one on my 2.25 2a SWB) it works although I do have some idling problems with mine.
3. Exhaust under the front bumper = Strange never seen that before but it shouldn't be to difficult to fix with standard parts and a load of jubilee clips.
4. You can get heavy duty leaf springs from Paddocks, I think they are the same price as normal leaf springs.
5. Winches = Bigger the better. I have a fairey 6920 PTO winch on a S3 and it works just fine with the advantage that it will work under water so long as the engine is running and you can drive it from the cab using the clutch and gear box. and its sits between the wings.

Just a few thoughts

Thanks for that,
As i said, i'm happy about the engine being good enough to keep. The webber carb is something i would like to try, the springs i thank you for the link, i will use them. THe winch, well you answer does not suprise me and i do want the biggest i can get so i will try to price the model number you quoted and mount it between the wings as i wanted to anyway.

The exhaust actually doesn't run under the front bumper, as i had originally thought. (Up until today i didn't have my own keys to the lock up and so had only seen it once after 16 years away. Had been looking at photo's of so many, i convinced myself it was at the front, as some REME vehicles are. I might try to do it like that but if it's too much hassle then i'll just stick to how it should be. If anyone knows of a front mounting system, i'd be interested.

Thanks

Phil.
 
well i also have a lwb 2a thats a 1963 and i have fitted a ford v6 essex engine its very capable of pulling my work tools and materials around me and im a farrier carriyin one hell of a lot of stuff around me if you did want a v6 essex the same as mine i have 2 spare reconditioned engines and we may be able to agree on a price!!


Thanks very much for the offer but i'm sticking with what i have. I'm really happy about keeping it original but if i hear of someone who can use an engine such as yours, i will put them in touch with you.

Thanks again.
 
two and a quarter petrol is a tough old motor; it's not that powerful, and not that ecconomical; but not much else will do everything an old four pot will, without some hassle somewhere along the line.
Realistically; in a 109, 55-60mph tis your top wack for speed. Towing, they will haul a good old weight...... just not very quickly.
I had 109 Diesil 2.25 which was even more gutless; but would trubdle along at 50 with 5 birth caravan behind happily enough; or pull builders traler etc.
Over drive is helpful, as it will let you 'split' the gears, especially 3rd & 4th and knock back the revs in top when you are on the level or without so much load; most useful on hills though with a load to give you a 2nd gear + and a 3rd gear +
Webber carb conversion is common; but I hear so many people have hassles with these things!
£75 buys an exchange new or recon zenith from Paddocks; and they dont give grief! Far more efficient use of money as far as I'm concerned!
Webbers dont give any more power; give barely noticeable ecconomy benefit, and a a bugger to set up; get them wrong, and that's dead easy to do with a webber, and you'll have less power, less ecconomy and more hassle.
Zeniths aint great; but you cant get them that far wrong; and they do work; if you have carb problems overrhaule the stock zenith, or get an exchange one; problem solved!
For winches; as said bigger the better; every-one wants electric Wwarn X900 designer icons on the front these days; but a fairy PTO capston winch is a damn good bit of kit and does the job! As does Fairy (aeroparts/superwinch) PTO drum winch.
Fairy drum is easier to use, and not so desired by the people that want that 'period' look, and can be found reasonably ecconomically.
You have choce of whether to drive off dog clutch from front pulley or via jackshaft from PTO on gearbox.
Jackshaft from PTO has benefits in that you can drive from the cab, but needs careful setting up to run the jackshaft forward, and to my mind benefits not so great as to warrant the complexity.
Straight of front pulley is simple, and I like things simple!
And, PTO winch, gives you all the power of the engine on the drum; warn 900 or whatever, 3.5hp electric motor? Hmmmmmm not for more than a minute or two matey, 'cos the alternator supplying it wont make that kind of power and a couple of optimas wont make up the difference for very long!
Old 2.25, has 75bhp, and will be making about 20 under 1500rpm! Even at tickover winch will have more power; so good value.
Going hyraulic; better than electric; but again a lot of complexity, that you can do without, unless you are REALLY going to work it that hard that often.
IF you want to go for an engine conversion; there are plenty of options; but evert time I've gone round this loop; only one that seems worth the doing off to me is the Rover V8 in conjunction with LPG.
Basically; as much power as you can realistically get, and as much ecconomy (from LPG); gives you biggest gains for the cost & effort of almost any other alternative; be it a tuned petrol a V6, or a deseasil power plant of some description. But a lot of effort, no little cost, and converting from standard gives you a hot-rod that will have some 'livability' issues; like servicing and reliability, and originality and resale value etc.
Springs; as said; you can have Standard, Standard Heavy Duty and get both with or without 'helper' leaves for heavy loads, and there is possibility of 'air assistors' between leaf and chassis with whatever spring you choose.
HD springs are very harsh though, so unless you are going to have a LOT of weight on the back most of the time, you might be better off with standard leaf plus helper, and or air assistor. Makes it a bit les rigid when no load on the back. As pick-up, lack of rear body makes unloaded rear axle weight quite light to begin with; and HD will often make back 'hop' becouse there simply isn't enough weight on the axle to make spoing move.
HD dampers however would be more useful, and in conjunction with standard = Helper spring probably be best starting place.
If any of that helps.
 
Teflon,

That's exactly the kind of helpful advice i need as a beginner with Land Rovers. Thanks for taking the time to type so much.

Phil.
 
Yeah bloody good advise there.
I just bought my 2.25 petrol series 3 to tow 1.5 tonnes of boat/trailer and was wondering how it would cope. Looks like i have no worries as it's only a half a mile trip anyway.
My merc vito can tow it fine on the road but the clutch stinks when battling with grip and tall 1st gear on the slipway.
 
I am ex Army and and I think the 2.25 petrol is what was in all the SIIIs. If you are still in the REME you will know what the Army is like for storing obsolete parts. Im sure there will be a wharehouse somewhere packed with parts for your engine. Ask some of the older guys in your unit Im sure they will know something.The SIIs wernt phased out completely untill about 6 years ago.
 
I am ex Army and and I think the 2.25 petrol is what was in all the SIIIs. If you are still in the REME you will know what the Army is like for storing obsolete parts. Im sure there will be a wharehouse somewhere packed with parts for your engine. Ask some of the older guys in your unit Im sure they will know something.The SIIs wernt phased out completely untill about 6 years ago.


Thanks,

I'm not a serving soldier, i'm the child of one and grew up alongside the REME. I do know of a few places where i might get parts though and your idea is still valid so thanks for suggesting it.

It's interesting to know the S II was only phased out just not long ago.

I will post here what i find when i do,

Thanks
 
I have 2.25 petrol and after replacing rear x member it now regually pulls an old williams horsebox with two biguns aboard. Although only about 8 or 9 miles in each direction. It also copes well with the daily commute to and from work and is easily fixed by myself when things do go pearshaped. So go for it and enjoy every minute. My old man was REME as well.
 
i was REME does that make me yer dad?
wots it say on yer birth cert under father?

some soldiers
 
OHHH yes yes yes.
Depravity is the sin of all man,
All men are depraved
therefore all men are equall.
I dont know its all bull to me
 

Similar threads