overdrive is it worth the trouble

hi thinking of fitting an overdrive to my ser/2 firstly is worth fitting does it cut down fuel costs /engine wear as i dont use much on motorways secondly how hard is it to fit taking my mechanical skills are limited okay with spray gun which is not much use in this instance cheers

Overdrive is not to difficult to fit, straightforward bolting onto the pto take off point, bit of panel cutting to put the operating lever through. Are you on 7.50x16's or smaller tyres? If on smaller tyres would it not be cheaper to move up on tyre size? My sons Series is on 7.50x16's and he finds it ok, he tried an S3 with overdrive and found it a bit tiresome with having to remember to come out of overdrive each time a lower gear or stopping was requiered.

hi stig running 7.50x16s my idea was cut down eng revs cut down noise as over 50mph cant hear yourself think cheers

my cousin has had a few series all with fairy overdrive fitted. he swears by em.
i just think they are a waste of time effort and money.
the mpg advantage is fairly small.
and just what is quiet? the difference aint that great!

Following the trouble with the overdrive on my previous car, an MGB, I made sure I bought a Landy without one.

That said, in the MG it did change fuel consumption from about 20mpg to 30mpg on the motorway. Not sure what it would do for a Landy, but I didn't buy mine to travel on motorways

Hi

Overdrive works and if you can afford it a Rocky Mountain unit is best as it is an epicyclic unit as opposed to my Fairy which is just a gearset. The epicyclic will be quieter. My Fairy actually increases the noise but improves fuel consumption (I get 25 mpg on my Series III).

thanks lads for your replies a major rethink is req

I think it depends whether it is petrol or diesel. I had a IIA petrol witout OD and it was fine, even on motorways, but on my Series III diesel I wouldn't be without it at any speed above about 40. In fact I tend to just leave it engaged all the time I am on hard surfaces and not towing. People here will tell you that you will knacker it doing that, but mine's been fine (so far, touch wood and until something breaks). The standard Fairey unit is easy to fit, but they fetch quite a high price on e-bay these days. Just make sure you are getting all the linkage bits when you buy one.