Welcome to the Land Rover Forums - Land Rover Enthusiast Forum.
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
This is my new 1969 Series IIA. I'm considering some modifications, but don't want to hurt it's value. It has the 4 cyl diesel motor, which I would like to upgrade to a gas motor (it smokes like an old tractor). and I'd like to add some back seats, a soft-top, and paint it green.
Anyone with more expertise on these things have any good suggestions on a motor swap? I don't want to adversely effect it's value.
IMHO rework of diesel would provide more reliable vehicle, even in trail conditions. Operatings costs lower. Easier to repair because manuals match, you are not having to deal with engine computer to sensor issues.
Can it be done? Yes.
Can you fix what you have and have something that most forum members would be impressed by? Yes.
You won't have commanding performance on steep hills, but you'll make up the time by not stopping at the gas pump so often. RAVE link below has manuals on some of these older units as well.
This truck is going to sit at a fishing cabin in Colorado. It doesn't have to go fast, but I'd like to be able to get somewhere at 60 or 65mph safely if needed instead of it's current top speed of 45mph. The other issue is the smoke. Didn't these old diesels always smoke like a freight train? Can that be fixed?
Diesel excessive smoke can be fixed. Now that you mention mountains, V-8 sounds better, but you may still want to do more research. The small diesel is not going to go up mountains at 60 mph without a head start.
there are overdive unit for those, i believe the manufacture was Fairy. That should help you get closer to a 55mph speed. You can find them on Craigs list I've seen 2 or 3 for sale in the north east, not a lot of money.
__________________
00 Disco 4.0 80k miles SLS, ACE, 7 passenger 255x65x18: Repairs since 02/11 new intake, valve cover, head, timing cover, waterpump & oil sump gaskets, new timing chain & gears, water pump, t-stat, hoses, belt, new front drive shaft, Akebono pads, D&S rotors, SS brake lines, clutch fan, HMS completed.
90 RRC County
67 mustang GTA
73 Jeepster Commandos
69 Honda SOHC
71 HD FX
72 BSA Lightning
73 Honda SOHC
78 Honda SS
87 HD FLTP
2004 HD SE 103
He who dies with the most toys, WINS
The smoke may be something as simple as timing. In fact, if you paid 13k for it, it really should be no more than timing, and maybe fresh fuel.
But an 88 with a diesel in good nick plus over drive should be ok. A 200Tdi would be a great conversion for it however.
As for petrol conversion, the easiest would be a 2.25 or 2.5 Rover 4cyl. That would give you 65 on the road, a bit more with OD.
__________________
Tom Rowe
Four wheel drive allows you to get stuck
in places even more inaccessible.
I know a guy with a '65 with the 2.5l petrol and the overdrive, his top speed is 62, that is foot to the floor flat road no head wind.
If you swap to the petrol and you want to keep the value of the truck you need to keep the diesel engine, even if you just store it in a shed.
Interesting. I used to do 65 all the time with no OD. I did have a Rochester carb and Weber 2bbl (on different Rovers). But they were both 2.25L engines.
__________________
Tom Rowe
Four wheel drive allows you to get stuck
in places even more inaccessible.
I would like to do a motor swap, keep the engine bay unaltered, and the original 2.25L in the shed. I found some more info online that said the 200tdi will drop in without much work. Anyone know where I can find one?
I like to shift gears so I want to keep it a manual transmission. One with an overdrive gear would be nice.
1969 Land Rover Series IIA
