2.5 good or bad?

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Ethan8

New Member
Posts
3
Location
Kaiserslautern Germany
Been wanting to get an old defender but don't know much about the engines. I know most of the late 80s models have the 2.5 and that's what I'm looking at getting. I like the classics but don't want to get in over my head.
 
With the 2.5 NA you can do everything yourself with a fairly basic toolkit.

You will not have the speed or acceleration of one of the Tdi's, but it they are just about bomb proof, and I wouldn't be without mine!

Hope this helps.
 
What is a 2.5 na 110 like for towing? Will it be a dog, or keep up with the traffic? I fancy x mod, had a 2.5 na in my series 3 88" and it went like a wee bomb. Just wondering.
 
Mine tows a 6m RIB on a braked trailer, and is also used for launch and recovery.

Without the trailer, she will cruise easily at 70mph, but she takes a while to get up to full speed, and I get around 30mpg!

No problems keeping up with traffic although, as I have said she is not a racing machine when pulling away from the traffic lights.
 
Ethan8 said:
Been wanting to get an old defender but don't know much about the engines. I know most of the late 80s models have the 2.5 and that's what I'm looking at getting. I like the classics but don't want to get in over my head.
Click to expand...
Pre Tdi is not a Defender, it'll be a Ninety or a One Ten. ;)

Engine choices are 2.5P, 2.5NAD and 2.5TD (3.5 V8 and I think very very early 110's used the last of the 2.25's).

The n/a variants are fine and will go much like a Series Landy does. As in they'll trundle along just fine, but don't expect them to be speedy.

The 2.5TD is oft maligned but it's not so bad. I know of two examples, one over 200,000 and another on 160,000 or so. Both good runners, although one uses a little oil these days.

Again not massively speedy, but more than enough to get about with.

Any of these can fairly easily and at moderate cost be converted to V8 or Tdi power should you wish. So they make for a good starting build.
 
It all comes down to getting the best out of your engine!

This is the first Landy i've owned that hasn't been able to cruise at over 80 ... And i used to collect the radar readouts to prove it!
 
Thats ok spook, within a month mine needed a head gasket and reskim...seems ok now, if not a bit tappety...going in with the spanners to adjust the tappets, but am sure if you replace head gasket then the garage should have re adjusted them ?
 
Tappets need adjusting every 6,000 miles anyway. In my case as I would do less than that in a year, so I'll just check and adjust once per year and do the engine oil and other bits at 6 month intervals. Tappets would also be affected if you have tightened or retorqued head bolts.

As it stands, I've been changing the oil, oil filter and coolant everytime I've started the engine recently with my ongoing head issues, but hopefully the end is now in sight.

Before mine broke, it was good for 55 by GPS. It could be pushed reluctantly to 60 but felt wrong at that speed. I felt if I attempted anything faster (or maintained 60 for any length of time), it would either explode or I would be left with permanent hearing impairment.

The handling is not exactly F1, so 50ish is probably a safe speed anyway and it's nice to be a spectator in a world of mental people rushing around.
 
Oldseadog said:
With the 2.5 NA you can do everything yourself with a fairly basic toolkit.
Click to expand...

^^^^ this was exactly why I wanted to start out with this engine. Longer term, I will probably go TDI conversion, but for now it's just what I need.

You can start out with no mechanical knowledge and with the help of the workshop manuals, youtube and of course these forums accomplish basic servicing and troubleshooting yourself. There are no computers or electronics to worry about and almost no electrics. Everything is basic old school technology.
 
I quite like my 2.5NA. I only really drive it around the lanes of Sussex so the speed isnt an issue.

The one time I have taken it on a motorway I got 68mph indicated by the gps and it seemed fine, if a bit tappety. It had a bit more to give but I didn't want to try it. It sits at 60mph all day long though, which is fine you just have to plan lorry overtakes in advance and don't start the manouveur at the bottom of a hill!!!
 
flat said:
I got 68mph indicated by the gps and it seemed fine, if a bit tappety. It had a bit more to give but I didn't want to try it. It sits at 60mph all day long though
Click to expand...

Well I suppose I'm not being fair to mine. It had head problems when I last ran it. I'll check out the nearly top speed again once it's sorted and has had a chance to bed in.

EDIT: Unless ex-mod transfer ratio's are different?
 
Last edited:
sp00k said:
Well I suppose I'm not being fair to mine. It had head problems when I last ran it. I'll check out the nearly top speed again once it's sorted and has had a chance to bed in.

EDIT: Unless ex-mod transfer ratio's are different?
Click to expand...

no AFAIK as I know gears 1 and 2 are slightly lower but the rest and the T box are the same.

I am prepared to be corrected though as I cant quite remember!

Ed
 
Does anyone know where to get hold of the old-style copper sandwiched head gaskets for the 2.5 N/A, or even if they are still available?
 
jamesmartin said:
whats wrong with the composite
Click to expand...
Had a query from a mate asking where I got mine from.

I think that they're far superior to the composite as they fit into place better on the second torque down.

It's just a long standing personal opinion, dating back to my Series! ;) ;)
 
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