New owner - Series 3 Station Wagon 88" with Rover V8

Hi,
New owner (about 2 weeks now) with a Series 3 (1974) Station Wagon, 88" and converted from original petrol engine to a Rover V8 in 1996. Always fancied one but had to be a V8m, although the mpg is about 12!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Its got an MoT, galvanised chassis but the gearbox is knackered (whines and clunks in 3rd only) so this is the first job to be tackled as islands are a nighmare when you only have 2nd and 4th. Needs a fair bit of tidying up and I've ordered loads of stuff to make a start (new plugs, filters, earth cable, sump gasket (seems to leak a fair bit from the gasket), magnetic sump plug, spark plugs, door hinges and pins etc etc). I've got TVR's so familiar with the V8 but not the SU's!!
No idea on the colour but hopefully here's a picture (as its my first post)
FFG

I would put a defender bonnet on, no offence intended but the series bonnet doesn't look quite right with the extended engine bay.

apart from that it looks a nice straight truck

FFG said:

Hi,
New owner (about 2 weeks now) with a Series 3 (1974) Station Wagon, 88" and converted from original petrol engine to a Rover V8 in 1996. Always fancied one but had to be a V8m, although the mpg is about 12!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Its got an MoT, galvanised chassis but the gearbox is knackered (whines and clunks in 3rd only) so this is the first job to be tackled as islands are a nighmare when you only have 2nd and 4th. Needs a fair bit of tidying up and I've ordered loads of stuff to make a start (new plugs, filters, earth cable, sump gasket (seems to leak a fair bit from the gasket), magnetic sump plug, spark plugs, door hinges and pins etc etc). I've got TVR's so familiar with the V8 but not the SU's!!
No idea on the colour but hopefully here's a picture (as its my first post)

Click to expand...

Welcome to here !!

Have a read of this, it may help stretch that 12mpg a bit further:

http://www.v8engines.com/carbs-1.htm

Has it got an extended front end then? New to Landy's so big learning curve. There is a wierd curved section in front of the bonnet which looks to have been fabricated and doesn't sit that well in one corner, but there is evidence of a small prang in that corner so may be coincidental.

I know RPI as had TVR's for 25 years, and 13 with V8's but all EFI. Not sure if the engine has ever had work done so I'm replacing what I can and want to get the SU's overhauled (no idea how old the engine is or what mileage its covered in its previous life before fitment to this Landy) and the whole thing set up as well as it can be. Should the air intake box have a hose attached to the front to vent to cold air rather than suck hot from above the engine? New rad has been fitted since this was taken.

Its not extended. You look to have an original series front wings and recessed radiator mount. A previous owner has tried to make it look like a defender by fitting a defender radiator grill without the corresponding defender bonnet. Hence the DIY bodge filling the gap. It will improve it to either return it to a series radiator recessed. Or fit a longer defender bonnet.

I have run a V8 in (whisper it a 110 Boingy) Dont play with the performance, your right foot looks after the gearbox.
Have a careful look at the distributor, most are knackered by now and respond well to replacing the bushes this really smooths out the running when the carbs are set up correctly. From memory you will need a 12.5 mm reamer for the bushes when pressed in. I got upwards of 16 mpg and into the 20s on a long gentle run.

that pic shows it better looks like the rad etc is still in its proper place, I assumed the rad had been moved forward to accommodate the v8 and that's why the extra curved panel was there

difficult to see through the grill but is there a fan in front of the rad and behind the grill?

There's a high speed fan (similar to the TVR SPAL fans actually) very close to the rad plus what looks like the original fan. Not sure you can see the set up that well here. There is thermostatic control on the new fan so it can be set to come on at a lower or higher temp. Not seen the old fan working yet but not driven ot that much as it needs a gearbox which isn't helping consumption as i have to go from 2nd to 4th.

With a galvanised chassis and a v8, looks like you have a good foundation to work with. How do you plan to use the vehicle....project, everyday transport etc? Looking forward to hearing more as you waive some spanners around it

Just to be used for some fun as I have a daily driver (diesel as I'm doing 35-40k per annum). Also have a V8 TVR (Griffith) for some faster fun with the top off. Always fancied one and this was a good price so went for it. Just doing obvious things (cleaning up lights, new LED rear light/brake bulbs, new hinges and pins, it needs new doors (top and bottom), added a rear view mirror (didnt have one), freed up door mirrors (both seized up), changing all fluids/filters, better horns (as the current one is a joke), choke not working, heater controls seized, needs a new gearbox (no 3rd), changing sump gasket and plug (seems to leak a lot of oil from the sump now) , SU's and engine set up so I can see of its OK or needs more work. Its got 3.54 diffs and a galv chassis and doesn't appear too rusty so hopefully wont have spend to much in the near term after the initial outlay. Not had one before so a big learning curve.