Series 3 Anyone know of a good petrol engine, please?

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Old Seadog

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71
Location
Ruabon, near Wrexham
I have been very lucky to buy a 1984 ex-military 109 in first class condition, including fully working convoy lights. It began life with a 2.25 5-bearing petrol engine, of course, and I would like to return it to original, if anyone knows where I might find a suitable engine. The 2.25 5-bearing diesel engine was fitted relatively recently, no idea when, but it was extremely well done and appears to be a Rover Factory Rebuilt Unit with a "gold" plate attached by the serial number, although I can't see any gold paint on the engine block. it runs beautifully, apart from a bit of smoke, but I would really like to take the old lady back to original, so if anyone can help me find a suitable engine, that would be very much appreciated.
 
2.25 engines, especially 5 mb ones, seem to be harder and harder to find these days - at one time you couldn't give them away, as people junked them in favour of diesels (as in your case), V8s or V6s. You might be lucky and find one lurking in a scrapyard, I seem to remember there was a Land Rover Scrap yard on the Wrexham to Ruthin road (A525?) It was on a crossroads but I can't remember the name of the village it was near. Otherwise its fleabay and then you might have to travel to collect it. I had to go to Hull when I picked up my last 2.25 engine. Good engines are commanding high prices, just check the 'completed listings' in 'Advance Search' and it'll show you what they are selling for.
 
Unfortunately I cannot help you with your search for a petrol, but when you do find one I would be interested in your current diesel engine. Currently have a friend with a 2lt Peugeot engine in a series 1 which has decided the throw all its rods and nicely chew itself up. So give the perfect opportunity to refit something from the land rover stable.
 
keep an eye on the bay they come up, there were a couple of reasonably priced ones a few weeks back with gearboxes attached - I am after one too to put my smokey diesel back to its original petrol - unfortunately I just couldn't be bothered to go the distance to get them
 
Unless you are going for a show car, you might want to consider alternative engines to make the vehicle more usable. The old 2.25 was arguably underpowered from day 1 in a 109.
 
Off topic Old Seadog but have you moved house recently , thought you where living near Whitley Bay awhile back?
 
on the topic of alternative petrol engines, I have a spare merc 1.8 4 cylinder ex a 190e and a 4.3v6 chevy block

the chevy might be overkill - and would negate the mot exemption - but am seriously thinking about trying the merc engine in the s3, if I can find an adapter plate
 
Do a web search, there used to be a conversion for the 4 cyl Merc. More common in the US. The Mercs are so smooth but the diesels ae very low powered - around 33 bhp / ltr for the NA engines. The big problem is they have no low end torque, they are optimised for an torque converter and auto-box. I did over 100,000 miles in 3ltr diesel Merc (OM603) (3 ltr/105 bhp) but it needed to rev to 3000 to get anywhere, peak power was 4600 revs.

Look at this:

I think its got a turbo on so that's a much more powerful engine and with the rad/grill in the std location there must be at 6" of engine in the cab!
Or this:

320 bhp
 
Last edited:
wireman said:
2.25 engines, especially 5 mb ones, seem to be harder and harder to find these days - at one time you couldn't give them away, as people junked them in favour of diesels (as in your case), V8s or V6s. You might be lucky and find one lurking in a scrapyard, I seem to remember there was a Land Rover Scrap yard on the Wrexham to Ruthin road (A525?) It was on a crossroads but I can't remember the name of the village it was near. Otherwise its fleabay and then you might have to travel to collect it. I had to go to Hull when I picked up my last 2.25 engine. Good engines are commanding high prices, just check the 'completed listings' in 'Advance Search' and it'll show you what they are selling for.
Click to expand...

Cheers, wireman. I think I know the place you mean. Nice guy. Bought some stuff for a Disco from him some years ago. He's just beyond the traffic lights at one of a series of villages with unpronounceable names after we have passed through, from here, Coedpoeth and Bwlchgwyn.
 
300bhp/ton said:
Unless you are going for a show car, you might want to consider alternative engines to make the vehicle more usable. The old 2.25 was arguably underpowered from day 1 in a 109.
Click to expand...
With a moniker like that, I can see where you are coming from! I have been pleasantly surprised at the performance of the 2.25 diesel - but I have a 4.0 V8 P38A for the days when I feel like a bit more grunt. My 109 is very original and even still has fully working convoy lights, so I reckon if i do change I'll stick with la Landy engine.
 
Old Seadog said:
With a moniker like that, I can see where you are coming from! I have been pleasantly surprised at the performance of the 2.25 diesel - but I have a 4.0 V8 P38A for the days when I feel like a bit more grunt. My 109 is very original and even still has fully working convoy lights, so I reckon if i do change I'll stick with la Landy engine.
Click to expand...
Not saying you shouldn't use a Land Rover engine. A Tdi would make the vehicle a lot more useful on the road, although not so good on refinement. If mpg isn't an issue then a Rover V8 conversion or maybe a T-Series would be worth looking into.
 
I switched from a sheite knackered diesel to a 2.25L petrol by buying a scrap vehicle. The engine was great everything else was shot. Sent it to Turner Engineering for a refurbish and it proved reliable every since (2006). There must be some specialist landy garages within a 50 mile radius that has a potential donor engine/ vehicle. eBay is a load of sheite.
 
Not sure how much you want to spend, but Turner's sell reconditioned units too. I'm nipping over there on Thursday to pick up some shiny new pistons etc for mine.
 
I too have drooled over turners stuff, if I was a lot younger and could guarantee to keep the vehicle indefinitely - and it would get used a lot more than it does now - it would be money well spent.
 
I've got a W201 - 190 Mercedes. I've had it for years - good solid car (so long as it isn't rusty!). I fitted a Carlsson cylinder head it is pretty nippy for the technology and age. I'm not sure I'd go for a M102 in a Series Land Rover though unless is was the 2.3 - may be a M115 (also 2.3) or a M104 (3.0 straight 6).

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that it is relatively easy to convert a diesel series engine to a petrol. Different pistons and different head to change the compression ratio and then the manifolds and the petrolly gubbins on top. Some say the diesel camshaft is "better" (I can't remember why) than the petrol one. The diesel crank is a bit beefier and it is probably best to change the flywheel for a lighter one!

Won't be long before we're talking about electric motor conversions and batteries though
 
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