Lightweight S3 with Ford Banana Diesel - which Engine would you swop too?

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Looks like a Bosch VE. As lynall said before.

Great, thanks mate... makes since and I've just dug the invoice out and it was replaced by a Diesel specialist in 2004 and probably only done a few thousand miles since then... It does start on the button.
I've got some Engine Sound proofing arrived now so I'll get too quietening it down soon.

Overdrives have gone off the scale too - £800 now or more... maybe worth a Wanted ad here... is the forum on here good for Wanted ads?
 
6.00 X 16 tyres
https://www.trailertek.com/trailer-...KO_VMemt1qzupx3noR4cnDQOSGtUjyTAaAkkpEALw_wcB
01___clean___1280___1280___01.jpg

Thinking those are the same as the Security 6.00 x 16s on the Paddock website.
They are actually a bit cheaper from Paddock.
I have been considering them, but slightly deterred by then being tubed, so an extra tenner each tyre for the tubes.
Another thing I have been thinking about is the package deal from Paddock of 205R 16s on standard Series Rims, tubeless type, and not as wide as 7.50s, although wider than 6.00s.
 
Great, thanks mate... makes since and I've just dug the invoice out and it was replaced by a Diesel specialist in 2004 and probably only done a few thousand miles since then... It does start on the button.
I've got some Engine Sound proofing arrived now so I'll get too quietening it down soon.

Overdrives have gone off the scale too - £800 now or more... maybe worth a Wanted ad here... is the forum on here good for Wanted ads?
No harm in a Wanted ad on the forum, it costs nothing, see what pops up.
 
Thinking those are the same as the Security 6.00 x 16s on the Paddock website.
They are actually a bit cheaper from Paddock.
I have been considering them, but slightly deterred by then being tubed, so an extra tenner each tyre for the tubes.
Another thing I have been thinking about is the package deal from Paddock of 205R 16s on standard Series Rims, which are tubed type, and not as wide as 7.50s, although wider than 6.00s.

I had the 6.00 security on my s2, they looked really good, they also had sfa grip when it rained, you could drift the thing just with a dab of the throttle on every mini roundabout!
I found the biggest downside of 6.00 tyres is the lack of clearance under the diffs.
 
I had the 6.00 security on my s2, they looked really good, they also had sfa grip when it rained, you could drift the thing just with a dab of the throttle on every mini roundabout!
I found the biggest downside of 6.00 tyres is the lack of clearance under the diffs.
Chinese rubber maybe isn't the best in the rain! :D

The most off roading the Series does is rally fields, and NB picking up hay off the field.
I am really after the original appearance as much as anything else, the vehicle is fairly clean and tidy, and very original and standard, apart from the galv chassis and a few minor improvements.
The vehicles sell for silly money now, so although we aren't thinking of selling at the moment, I want to keep it looking as much like 1964 as possible.
 
Chinese rubber maybe isn't the best in the rain! :D

The most off roading the Series does is rally fields, and NB picking up hay off the field.
I am really after the original appearance as much as anything else, the vehicle is fairly clean and tidy, and very original and standard, apart from the galv chassis and a few minor improvements.
The vehicles sell for silly money now, so although we aren't thinking of selling at the moment, I want to keep it looking as much like 1964 as possible.

Iirc 7.50 were an option from new.
 
I was minus 5:D

I actually read to many parts manuals!

The two part numbers with the asterik next to them

View attachment 269904
The other option I had considered was Avon Rangemaster 7.50 16s on standard rims.
But when I look at old photos from the Sixties, most of the 88s pictured seem to have 6.00 16s.
Also, considering it is a ladies vehicle, it seems likely to me that the smaller footprint of the tyres will make the steering easier to turn at low speeds.
Considering how much hassle the 6.00s seem to be, though, I am going more towards the 205 option, they appear from the pics to be a straight 205, not a profile tyre, so reasonable on the ground clearance as well.
Gets us on to the tubeless rims as well.

https://www.paddockspares.com/205r1...on-16x5-5-tubeless-steel-rim-rrc503600pm.html
 
The other option I had considered was Avon Rangemaster 7.50 16s on standard rims.
But when I look at old photos from the Sixties, most of the 88s pictured seem to have 6.00 16s.
Also, considering it is a ladies vehicle, it seems likely to me that the smaller footprint of the tyres will make the steering easier to turn at low speeds.
Considering how much hassle the 6.00s seem to be, though, I am going more towards the 205 option, they appear from the pics to be a straight 205, not a profile tyre, so reasonable on the ground clearance as well.
Gets us on to the tubeless rims as well.

https://www.paddockspares.com/205r1...on-16x5-5-tubeless-steel-rim-rrc503600pm.html

One of the weird things I noticed straight away when going from 6.00 to 7.50 was the brakes were not as good, I assume as the drum was rotating slower there was less friction taking place?
 
One of the weird things I noticed straight away when going from 6.00 to 7.50 was the brakes were not as good, I assume as the drum was rotating slower there was less friction taking place?
Possibly a bit of that, but also that the bigger diameter wheel is more difficult to slow down, in the same way as it is more difficult to accelerate.
 
IMG_20220721_211840_MP.jpg

IMG_20220721_211836_MP.jpg
The other option I had considered was Avon Rangemaster 7.50 16s on standard rims.
But when I look at old photos from the Sixties, most of the 88s pictured seem to have 6.00 16s.
Also, considering it is a ladies vehicle, it seems likely to me that the smaller footprint of the tyres will make the steering easier to turn at low speeds.
Considering how much hassle the 6.00s seem to be, though, I am going more towards the 205 option, they appear from the pics to be a straight 205, not a profile tyre, so reasonable on the ground clearance as well.
Gets us on to the tubeless rims as well.

https://www.paddockspares.com/205r1...on-16x5-5-tubeless-steel-rim-rrc503600pm.html

The ones I bought and fitted Friday are 205 x 16 and yes standard profile they look much more in keeping with the Lightweight so a good swop in my mind.
Front 2 are Semperit Hi Grip, back 2 are Kingpin Remoulds

IMG_20220721_211836_MP.jpg
 
Just to throw a spanner in your works, what about a Ford V6 Essex ?
I have one in mine and I like it.
 
Just to throw a spanner in your works, what about a Ford V6 Essex ?
I have one in mine and I like it.
Just to throw a spanner in your works, what about a Ford V6 Essex ?
I have one in mine and I like it.
Not wishing to knock your setup. I'm sure it is great. But I never really understood the Essex V6 swap. Heavier and less power than an RV8 and not a Rover engine... I guess if you had one to use for free/cheap. Then ok. And they can sound nice. But I'd have thought somewhat rare and an oddity to want to swap one in today in 2022.
 
Thanks Turboman - that is also good advice... yep I think prices are off the scale a low mileage Engine from an S3 is going for just under £2k?!!

Got a picture of the other exhaust side of the Engine here it is if it helps... runs and starts fine... so yep "leave alone - do nothing" is the other option!
View attachment 269596

Not got to the end of the fred looks like a late 80s early 90s 2.5 Di engine.
 
So, back again... after several years without a Lightweight, I just moved house - got a bigger Garage and won the battle with the trouble and strife to get another Lightweight...

So I bought a T Reg S3 on eBay yesterday - fitted with a Ford Diesel 2.5 Banana? Engine fitted.

While it pulls well and gets it up to 50 - it sounds like a bag of nails, is ear deafening and sluggish...
My previous Lightweight was the traditional 2.25 Petrol - I remember getting it to sit at circa 70 on a long straight motorway run...

So to my question:
View attachment 269355 View attachment 269356

If I was to go Petrol - which Engine would you go too?

Seems like 2.25 Engines are fetching a small fortune today - circa £2k...

Any others that fit straight in and cheaper to attain and bolt up to the standard box?
Thanks in advance... pics attached...

Tis a nice looking wee thing I miss my lightweight :(
 
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