Help: buying an 88" rag-top

Firstly, I have posted this message on two forums, so please accept my
apologies if you've already read it, however it was suggested to me that
this is the best place to get some advice, so here goes...

Next summer I'll be moving to Napoli, Italy, and I'm going to need something
rugged and reliable to get me there, and to use while I live there
(hopefully for good). I am strongly considering an 88" rag-top (don't like
hard tops, don't want a truck cab. The rag-top is ideal for summertime).

The thing is, I don't have a ton of cash to spare. So it's got to be
reliable and as economical as possible, and also survive a 1,600 mile drive
to the south of Italy. In the summer. Carrying me, my dog, and a couple of
boxes of my posessions.

Naturally I was thinking diesel is the way to go. I don't really like the
standard 4-pot diesel that came with the SIII. Agonisingly slow,
ear-burstingly noisy and not that economical. I am therefore considering a
replacement engine.

Bearing in mind that I am not overly well-off, and my need for reliability,
easy access to parts, and economy, I was thinking that the Transit 2.5
diesel is the way to go, especially as there are tons of them all over the
place. What problems might this present re. fitting the engine/gearbox into
the SIII chassis? It has also been suggested to me that a Perkins 2L diesel
from a Montego is the way to go?

I am open to any suggestion for a reliable easy-to-fit diesel engine (and
5-speed gearbox) suitable for an SIII.

I would also probably be buying a left-hander since it will most likely
spend the rest of its life in Italy. Would this make things difficult if
doing an engine replacement? If need be I could just get a right-hander and
use it there.

If anyone has any ideas, suggestions, insight or anything else to say, I
would be exceedingly grateful.

Regards

Colin

so colin. was, like...
> It has also been
> suggested to me that a Perkins 2L diesel from a Montego is the way to
> go?

Perkins Prima from a scrap Montego Turbo seems to be the way to go. Same
power as a Land Rover diesel but 30mpg. Google for it - there's a LOT of
helpful stuff out there. Series 2 club has a link to it all.

http://www.series2club.co.uk/


--
Rich
==============================
Disco 300 Tdi auto
S2a 88" SW
Tiggrr (V8 trialler)

On Tue, 4 Oct 2005 21:48:33 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>so colin. was, like...
>> It has also been
>> suggested to me that a Perkins 2L diesel from a Montego is the way to
>> go?
>
>Perkins Prima from a scrap Montego Turbo seems to be the way to go. Same
>power as a Land Rover diesel but 30mpg.

Sherpa 2.5 diesels are an easy swap too and give you a bit more go
than a standard diesel. I'm getting upper 30's mpg out of mine at the
moment!
(but i currently have a half blocked fuel pipe so am driving very
slowly!) Under normal driving i get low 30's.

| Perkins Prima from a scrap Montego Turbo seems to be the way to go. Same
| power as a Land Rover diesel but 30mpg. Google for it - there's a LOT of
| helpful stuff out there. Series 2 club has a link to it all.


Wow, thanks for that. Didn't know it was quite so easy a swap! I guess the
next step is to look for a presentable-condition 88 and a working Montego
diesel engine. 35+mpg will be rather nice.

On or around Tue, 4 Oct 2005 21:48:33 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>so colin. was, like...
>> It has also been
>> suggested to me that a Perkins 2L diesel from a Montego is the way to
>> go?
>
>Perkins Prima from a scrap Montego Turbo seems to be the way to go. Same
>power as a Land Rover diesel but 30mpg. Google for it - there's a LOT of
>helpful stuff out there. Series 2 club has a link to it all.

non-turbo prima has the same power as a 2¼ D, the turbo one is a useful
upgrade

FWIW, and it may be different if you're looking to use it abroad cos of
cheaper diesel fuel, the 2¼ D is not worth having - marginally better
economy than the 2¼ P but slower and
noisier.

engine swapsies... Perkins prima, Transit DI, Daihatsu 2.5D or 2.8D are all
good. Daihatsus are a good bet - bombproof engine and the trucks rot like a
rotten thing, so plenty about. Engine and box can be fitted with a bit of
fiddling but you need to sort your handbrake in that case.


I know someone with a tatty 2¼ P ragtop. gearbox is out of it at the
moment, I forget why, mebbe to swap for a better one. Chassis is in need of
work.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Appearances: You don't really need make-up. Celebrate your authentic
face by frightening people in the street.
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.

On or around Tue, 04 Oct 2005 22:02:00 +0100, Tom Woods
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>On Tue, 4 Oct 2005 21:48:33 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>so colin. was, like...
>>> It has also been
>>> suggested to me that a Perkins 2L diesel from a Montego is the way to
>>> go?
>>
>>Perkins Prima from a scrap Montego Turbo seems to be the way to go. Same
>>power as a Land Rover diesel but 30mpg.
>
>Sherpa 2.5 diesels are an easy swap too and give you a bit more go
>than a standard diesel. I'm getting upper 30's mpg out of mine at the
>moment!
>(but i currently have a half blocked fuel pipe so am driving very
>slowly!) Under normal driving i get low 30's.

Sherpa 2.5D is almost identical to the LR 2.5D from the 90/110 and is a
useful improvment on the 2¼.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Appearances: You don't really need make-up. Celebrate your authentic
face by frightening people in the street.
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.

On or around Tue, 04 Oct 2005 23:28:40 GMT, "colin." <colin###@###j0o.com>
enlightened us thusly:

>| Perkins Prima from a scrap Montego Turbo seems to be the way to go. Same
>| power as a Land Rover diesel but 30mpg. Google for it - there's a LOT of
>| helpful stuff out there. Series 2 club has a link to it all.
>
>
>Wow, thanks for that. Didn't know it was quite so easy a swap! I guess the
>next step is to look for a presentable-condition 88 and a working Montego
>diesel engine. 35+mpg will be rather nice.
>

quite a bunch of monty-turbos on ebay. Also look for maestro vans - mostly
non-turbo but similar power output to the 2¼ D and more efficienmt engine
design.

Same engine in some Sherpa 200-series, as well. Look for 2-litre diesel
ones. proabbly an easier swap, too - in the sherpa, it's inline mounted.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Appearances: You don't really need make-up. Celebrate your authentic
face by frightening people in the street.
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.