Diesel to petrol swap

Quick question, i am on the look out for a series project and have been alerted locally to a series 3 diesel. Now i would want to convert to petrol as a preference and seeing as this one has a buggered engine it might fit the bill. Is it do'able and whats involved ? Or am i better just looking for a petrol in the first place ?

Changing to a petrol is straight forward,it will fit on gearbox and engine mounts,radiator can stay if in good order. You will need the petrol electrics.First part of exhaust is different. If the chassis/bulkhead are good I say go for it if the price is right. The 2 1/4 petrol is a much nicer drive than the diesel,well set up and driven with some care can return 22/25 mpg.

Easy job, just a slight mod to the wiring to give you an ignition feed.

Thanks chaps, i will look into it further. Should i go for it i will start a thread on it, thanks again.

59viper said:

Thanks chaps, i will look into it further. Should i go for it i will start a thread on it, thanks again.

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Worth going with petrol route, mine goes like a little rocket with large bore stainless exhaust Being ex mil is interesting as VIN shows as 2.25 diesel and being with last series build axles and 109 front brakes and metric brake pipe fittings etc, puts it circa 81-83 but demobbed onto a Q in 87 and registered as 2.25 petrol. I got her in 94. Still had the square diesel engine mounts and large vacuum reservoir on nearside inside wing for brakes with washer bottle attached

I get the impression petrol engines are getting expensive these days, is this true?? (Off to look on eBay...)

Edit: oh dear, one blokes got 3 and he wants 850 quid each

Rubins4 said:

I get the impression petrol engines are getting expensive these days, is this true?? (Off to look on eBay...)

Edit: oh dear, one blokes got 3 and he wants 850 quid each

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when i got mine in 94, everyone said stick a Perkins Prima out of a montego or maestro in. Glad i didnt. She sails through emissions and it is great being smug if you ever see a red diesel testing stop check!! Also starts o the key mostly lol except when e the solenoid earth became detached last week but not surprised they are going up.they are a great little unit I stuck a new unleaded head on mine in mid 90s mainly because she dropped a pot. Stupid me thinking it was a valve didnt check whene off so new head off again and new rings for 15 quid. She was running with no comp rings on number 3 not burning a drop Only negative is they are prone to iceing on carb esp on webbers but there are ways around

59viper said:

Quick question, i am on the look out for a series project and have been alerted locally to a series 3 diesel. Now i would want to convert to petrol as a preference and seeing as this one has a buggered engine it might fit the bill. Is it do'able and whats involved ? Or am i better just looking for a petrol in the first place ?

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Go for it def doable...but fit a v8 think of the sound...as your previouse thread classic mag is great only occasionally buy others here in Portugal as they cost circa 8€ and as said before full of pricey add on toys and adverts...lro when it first came out and i bought it was Nene Valleys biggest supporter how times change...

I cant fault my two and a quarter diesel. If I wanted modern acceleration or more top end I wouldn't have a series.

I like chugging. Its what I'm good at.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma about this issue as well. My series came with a 2.5na defender diesel fitted (according to the vin plate it was a petrol) and I cannot decide whether to cut my losses on the parts spent on this engine and get a petrol one bearing in mind I will have to faf about with the new chassis to refit the 2.5NA.

And you’ll need to fit a choke . I did mine 8 years ago. Also recommend getting the petrol engine head reconditioned.

Do you know how it left the factory? If it left as a petrol (quite likely) then you may add value to return it to its original spec. Is its "historic" (ie 40 years old) or soon to be? We look to be are entering a period of demonsising diesels and the older ones will take the brunt but historics look set to be exempt so the danger period is after 1978. Its alos possible that they deal with the diesel issue by adding more tax to create a bigger price differnce to petrol, for years deisel was a lot cheaper then pertol , now its up to 50p / gallon more. Diesels have just been shifted up one road tax band too.

rob1miles said:

Do you know how it left the factory? If it left as a petrol (quite likely) then you may add value to return it to its original spec. Is its "historic" (ie 40 years old) or soon to be? We look to be are entering a period of demonsising diesels and the older ones will take the brunt but historics look set to be exempt so the danger period is after 1978. Its alos possible that they deal with the diesel issue by adding more tax to create a bigger price differnce to petrol, for years deisel was a lot cheaper then pertol , now its up to 50p / gallon more. Diesels have just been shifted up one road tax band too.

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Its 1983, i would of course much prefer an older model. You have a good point there, food for thought.

I am in this situation myself now. I have 2.25 diesel and also petrol one both in 109's. Both are 5 bearing.
I would like to swop them around as i am mainly cruising and the diesel just doesn't to inclines and my sanity any good.
Im hoping the swop to a petrol will give that bit extra up an incline and leave me still with some hearing!!!
Any ideas who could swop them over? I live in London but happy to travel with both vehicles to drop them off?

My suggestion would be to find a local home mechanic. This allows you to do the prep yourself and only pay for the engine swap over. I did that with my engine swap and it worked out really well. I disconnected everything and took the floor and tunnel out the day before. He turned up with an engine lift and did the swap, I provided tea. He then left and I had the next day putting all the little things back. Cost me one day's labour which I was more than happy to pay.

rob1miles said:

My suggestion would be to find a local home mechanic. This allows you to do the prep yourself and only pay for the engine swap over. I did that with my engine swap and it worked out really well. I disconnected everything and took the floor and tunnel out the day before. He turned up with an engine lift and did the swap, I provided tea. He then left and I had the next day putting all the little things back. Cost me one day's labour which I was more than happy to pay.

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Rob,
sounds like good advice. Im fairly good with basic mechanics, but engines and gearboxes is new territory for me. Being in Central London, one of my problems is space. I have a couple of parking spots and a garage but its difficult for me to leave unfinished projects for more than a day or two, which makes learning difficult on this. From what I've read, it seems doable, but i would have to take my time. The engines are both 5MB so exactly the same block i think. While one is out, i would like to replace the 2nd and third gears on one gearbox as they keep slipping into neutral when decelerating if you don't hold the gear lever!. I see you are in Bath and Slough - your mechanic wouldn't happen to be in Slough would he???
If not, I would welcome any suggestions on who could do this, along with me as a willing apprentice!!
Happy New Year to all!!

Yes he's in Slough, Swift auto services, Steve is his name. 07887 665538. He re-fitted my gearbox after I'd rebuilt it and more recently he swapped my engine (a very heavy Perkins). I have no hesitation recommending him. I don't know what area he covers. Mine was done in the road, he brought his own lift. The engine swap is easily done in a day so long as you have got the floors/tunnel out and the rad and front panel off. I put all the bits in the back on (and under) a tarp. The front panel is a bit fiddly - get a variety of 7/16 spanners especially a ratchet ring. The worst to reach ones should be on a captive strip so its not as bad as it looks. Soak it all in penetrating oil a few days before and again the day before. Have a plan for how to move the engine, a wheeled trolley of some sort.

hi,
just to let you know that in park royal nw10 which is near the a40 and nth circular there are facilities to rent garage/workshop space,it was certainly there 12mnths ago,its along the road between asda and harlesden tube on the left,i was told that you can hire by the hour/day/night,
i have not used it myself but i do believe that lifts etc are available,
if i needed to do major work i might be tempted to pop in and visit, maybe some of the 'home mechanics' that are always about may be interested in helping,
atb
ryn

About 2 years ago I called that place in Park Royal as that was my plan B. Guy was helpful, it was going to be one of the chain but I think they only set up the one. Don't know if its still going but the idea seemed sound. My problem was getting home and back if I didn't get it done in a day. I'd give it a go for suspension work as they had lifts.

rob1miles said:

Yes he's in Slough, Swift auto services, Steve is his name. 07887 665538. He re-fitted my gearbox after I'd rebuilt it and more recently he swapped my engine (a very heavy Perkins). I have no hesitation recommending him. I don't know what area he covers. Mine was done in the road, he brought his own lift. The engine swap is easily done in a day so long as you have got the floors/tunnel out and the rad and front panel off. I put all the bits in the back on (and under) a tarp. The front panel is a bit fiddly - get a variety of 7/16 spanners especially a ratchet ring. The worst to reach ones should be on a captive strip so its not as bad as it looks. Soak it all in penetrating oil a few days before and again the day before. Have a plan for how to move the engine, a wheeled trolley of some sort.

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Many thanks for your reply.
I will definitely give him a ring and run through swopping the engines around. The more i think about it, its probably best to do it at his workshop.
Will keep you posted.