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

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Ebay, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333972521608

I think even the french car makers used them certainly into the late 90s early 2000s, thne the Bosch VE went electric well the top bit of the injection pump did

Cummins used them on their 4/6b and bt engines.

The are literally thousands of versions, the japs made them under copyright or whatever the correct term is, so you see them on very early Pajeros etc.

My boat has them on a Perkins, mates boat has them on a Volvo Penta.
 
Rims / Tyres for a Lightweight?

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As you can see from the photo I have set of Standard wheels - they are 5.5 x 16 - fitted with Tall 7.50 x 16 tyres... more suited to a 109 of LWB I think....

I want to get back to a smaller profile tyre 6.5 x 16 - and wondered if I should find some 5.0 Rims - or will 6.50 x 16 fit fine on these Rims?

Is there any difference in weight/size of a 5.5 Rim?

Any recommendations on a Good Road orientated but Rugged Tyre to suit?
I've seen a lot of 20% Road 80% Offroad (Fedima Maxima) - but could do with some the other way around if you get me!
 
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Rims / Tyres for a Lightweight?

View attachment 269740

As you can see from the photo I have set of Standard wheels - they are 5.5 x 16 - fitted with Tall 7.50 x 16 tyres... more suited to a 109 of LWB I think....

I want to get back to a smaller profile tyre 6.5 x 16 - and wondered if I should find some 5.0 Rims - or will 6.50 x 16 fit fine on these Rims?

Is there any difference in weight/size of a 5.5 Rim?

Any recommendations on a Good Road orientated but Rugged Tyre to suit?
I've seen a lot of 20% Road 80% Offroad (Fedima Maxima) - but could do with some the other way around if you get me!
Not sure what size it would have from the factory. 7.50 x 16 is a standard LR size however.

For a 6.50 x 16 you’ll find almost no choice in tyres at all. Suspect most of what is will be terrible.

Might want to consider a different size. Modern tyres on the whole are a lot better.
 
Not sure what size it would have from the factory. 7.50 x 16 is a standard LR size however.

For a 6.50 x 16 you’ll find almost no choice in tyres at all. Suspect most of what is will be terrible.

Might want to consider a different size. Modern tyres on the whole are a lot better.

Thanks - yep these are old school Series measurements - still some knocking around and new...

Think the modern Equivalent is 205 x 16
 
Does a replacement Bosch VE Pump improve things then? If so by how much?

Only if your currently fitted Bosch VE pump is playing up.

It is pretty much impossible to get much more grunt/power out a naturally aspirated high speed diesel.
 
Rims / Tyres for a Lightweight?

View attachment 269740

As you can see from the photo I have set of Standard wheels - they are 5.5 x 16 - fitted with Tall 7.50 x 16 tyres... more suited to a 109 of LWB I think....

I want to get back to a smaller profile tyre 6.5 x 16 - and wondered if I should find some 5.0 Rims - or will 6.50 x 16 fit fine on these Rims?

Is there any difference in weight/size of a 5.5 Rim?

Any recommendations on a Good Road orientated but Rugged Tyre to suit?
I've seen a lot of 20% Road 80% Offroad (Fedima Maxima) - but could do with some the other way around if you get me!
Those wheels and tyres are pretty much what I am looking for for the 88" Series 2a. :)
Except I am really wanting new ones. I would prefer 6.00x16s on the standard rims, but at the moment really struggling to find any 6.00x16s at a price I would want to pay. The only decent ones I have seen are about £300 each.

They tyre you are probably looking at is probably Fedima Maxima. Had them before, they are pretty good, tall, thin, and not noisy on the road, as the big treads are on the outside of the tyre, the middle is just a zig zag pattern. They are a copy of an old military tyre, so I would think well suited to a lightweight appearance wise.
 
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Your engine is an early 2.5Di from a MK2 Transit, a 1985 model at a guess. The banana engine is the later variant of the same engine fitted in the smiley front Transits.
You can confirm the age of the engine from the engine number which is stamped on a flange on the front passenger side of the engine, just above the sump. It should start with two letters, FM or FP or similar followed by five numbers. The letters are the date code.
 
Those wheels and tyres are pretty much what I am looking for for the 88" Series 2a. :)
Except I am really wanting new ones. I would prefer 6.00x16s on the standard rims, but at the moment really struggling to find any 6.00x16s at a price I would want to pay. The only decent ones I have seen are about £300 each.

They tyre you are probably looking at is probably Fedima Maxima. Had them before, they are pretty good, tall, thin, and not noisy on the road, as the big treads are on the outside of the tyre, the middle is just a zig zag pattern. They are a copy of an old military tyre, so I would think well suited to a lightweight appearance wise.

Thanks Mate - found some second hand on eBay - smaller 205 x 16 tyres, second hand but plenty of life in them yet - fitted last night, listed the tall 7.50s and they sold straightaway - net net Zero cost, other than Fuel to pick them up from Leeds, but my son went for me which was nice... much more in keeping with the Lightweight, the 750s are so Tall.

I'm also now selling the Tonka Toy (Steel Offroad) Wheels and Tyres now of Fleabay... here if anyone fancies making an offer... located Wilmslow, Cheshire.
Land Rover Off-road wheels and Tyres | eBay - Tyres are near new from what I can see but I'm NOT planning any Mud plugging any time soon. Pic here...
I wirebrushed them with a drill then gave em a coat of Grey undercoat to smarten them up... look good but very wide and ideally you would need spats/arches to accommodate... Comfy though.

Tonka.jpg


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Serial Number.jpg
Your engine is an early 2.5Di from a MK2 Transit, a 1985 model at a guess. The banana engine is the later variant of the same engine fitted in the smiley front Transits.
You can confirm the age of the engine from the engine number which is stamped on a flange on the front passenger side of the engine, just above the sump. It should start with two letters, FM or FP or similar followed by five numbers. The letters are the date code.

Thanks - yep makes sense, I'll go take a look...

Obscured by Engine Mounts so this is all I could get...
 
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