Got the Series 3 running, but can only get 40mph!

Hi All

Finally got the project Landy running and through its MOT (thanks to a new carb from Gower & Lee, and a local tune-up man!).

We took it out for its first run yesterday, and we couldn't get any more than about 40-45 mph out of it - it sounds like an aircraft engine getting ready for takeoff at that speed!

Thought it might be in low range so we fiddled with the levers, but in low range it was much worse.

Its a 1979 Series 3 with a 2.6 petrol engine.

Anyone got any ideas? I have a nasty feeling the transmission may have had it!

Cheers

Rob

I could be wrong, mine's a diesel... but that sounds about right!

is that 40 on the gauge or on a GPS? My lightweight (SIII box) makes alot of noise in low. are you sure its in high range?

G

Id say 55 was top end in me series3 dezul.But never really tried cos either me hearing or me mota were gonna have a cataclismic failure at that speed.

you would be lucky to get 40mph in low range, do you know the history of the vehicle, ie what as been changed it could have a different diff or diffs it could also have a lower ratio box in it, or your speedo could be faulty you could check this by following some one doing set speeds and checking against there speed, also take into account that landys are built for power not speed there are so many things it could be,i would do the road speed test with another vehicle first, then work from that.

Cheers for the suggestions, will try the speed test, although following traffic on a 30 limit road we were showing 30 on the speedo, so I don't think it's far off.

I'm just surprised that the previous owner (he's got a stage pyrotechnics company) toured the uk one year in this landy, i'm surprised he did that at 40 mph!!

45 is about as fast as you'd want lol, over that the noise makes your ears bleed, the steering turns to jelly and your stopping distance is about 3 miles

Is the Landy not able to go any faster because of lack of power or does it feel like it needs to change up into a higher gear to go faster? Could it be a One tonne model perhaps? They have a lower ratio gear set in the transfer box.

r_keates said:

Hi All


We took it out for its first run yesterday, and we couldn't get any more than about 40-45 mph out of it - it sounds like an aircraft engine getting ready for takeoff at that speed!

Thought it might be in low range so we fiddled with the levers, but in low range it was much worse.

Its a 1979 Series 3 with a 2.6 petrol engine.



Cheers

Rob

Click to expand...

The 2.6 ltr 6 cylinder engine came out of the Rover P4 90/95, the engine is a design thats 40+ years old, the long stoke over head inlet/exhaust side valve set up was never a powerful engine. It was replaced by the new Rover V8 (alias Buick 215 cu in Skylark engine) in the Rover P5......

50 mph was just possible down hill with a tail wind when the vehicle was new

I once had 2.6 litre station wagon which caught fire causing thousands of pounds worth of improvements.

Always found the 2.6 to be a horribly thirsty and murderously unreliable engine.

If it is a 1 ton (look at the spring shackles - the 1 ton chassis had a bar across the centre of the shackle between the spring and the chassis to make an 'H' shape) the gearing was very low because they were specced to run on 9.00 tyres. If you're on 7.50s 40mph sounds about right - athough the speedo would misread.

Best bodge solution is RR diffs (3.54:1) or overdrive (beware the actuator will probably be the wrong length for a 2.6 because the gearbox sits further back and will need modding).

Best long term solution is to stick a V8 in it but that's going to be a cow of a job because of the repositioned engine on the 2.6 and the deeper bulkhead. The only time I V8ed a 2.6 we fitted a 4 cylinder bell housing to the box and moved the engine mounts to push the engine forwards and give clearance around the manifolds.

r_keates said:

Hi All

Finally got the project Landy running and through its MOT (thanks to a new carb from Gower & Lee, and a local tune-up man!).

We took it out for its first run yesterday, and we couldn't get any more than about 40-45 mph out of it - it sounds like an aircraft engine getting ready for takeoff at that speed!

Thought it might be in low range so we fiddled with the levers, but in low range it was much worse.

Its a 1979 Series 3 with a 2.6 petrol engine.

Anyone got any ideas? I have a nasty feeling the transmission may have had it!

Cheers

Rob

Click to expand...

I dont own a series but 40mph from a 6cyl.2.6 can't be right,I;d get compression tested[they burn rear cyl. valves] &/or suspect carb running weak [good emissions!]....see how plug read..if white too weak

I agree with mick, our old ex army 4 cyl 2.25 petrol did 72, I'd expect more than 40 from the 6 pot.
You can get colourtunes from machine mart if you want to play, the plugs should be dry brown, if as mick says they are glazed white then you've a mixture issue.
Might be worth lashing up a temporary rev counter and driving down the road to see what sort of ratio your running.

i got 46.6mph in my one today 2.25 derv1974, speed was with satnav felt like 90 lol.

Hi,

My understanding is that the six pot was fitted for the Yank market, so ought to be smooth and (relatively) effortless.

You say it is noisey? Is it popping back thru the carb? Do a double check on you ignition leads From memory .... 153624. On a 4-pot, two leads swapped over are more noticable, but yeah, 40mph, maybe, down hill.

602

602

didnt austin use that motor in some of their vehicles, ok they were lighter but did a heck of a lot more than 40.
If you've got popping through the carb, there is an issue, does the popping occur under power or at idle, under power might be a jet or seal issue, at idle could be a loose fanimold or carby.
A trip to a carb man would be a good idea.

I have got 55-60 out of my IIA on the motorway. Wouldnt want to go any faster as would expect the engine to pack in! Like to pick a wagon and sit behind it so usually get 55-60 out of it along the flat. Can usually maintain the speed when going uphill too. Its a 2 1/4 diesel.

40MPH... He he... my SIII will easily do 70mph. A 200tdi engine out of a Disco, that's what you need!

My dads 109 did 70 all day long 2.25 petrol engine a bit of modding but nothing you could tell by the naked eye. Also returned 28Mpg on runs to wales

theres summat wrong with yer 6 pot.

There is infact no problem with your engine or transmission its a 47crown wheel and 10pinion diff basicly put a range rover/disco/defender 46CW 13pinion diff in it makes the difference belive me!