which engine to choose

Dear All,

Please throw me a couple of ideas about engines, pro and contra.

I'm planning to get an old Series I-II-III, maybe a defender, for hobbycar, and holidays. Generally I will use it on normal roads, so fuel economy would be more important than power and torque. (I'm also very light on the go-pedal, used to drive a 2.5D camper, and a 1.0 LPG suzuki swift... )
I aim to enjoy the brutal simplicity of the vehicle, so I'm for the 2286 petrol (on LPG in that case) or diesel, inline 4 cyl engine. Of course, if the TDi is so much better and also reliable...


So, what I found out so far:

Series I-II-III petrol and diesel engines have 3 bearings up to 1980 which can be dangerous if reved. After 1980 it has 5 bearings, made the petrol engine undestroyable. Also read, that the Series 2286 engine had valves for the leaded petrol, so converting to LPG would kill it... (I just read it somwhere)

What is the difference in running the 2286 diesel, or the petrol? If the petrol engine really needs the leaded petrol, how all that landy are running? What should I expect after installing LPG. (running on petrol is prohibitive due to the price. either LPG or diesel...)

is there a good description of all the engines around, like
this is reliable, but guzzles gallons, this is noisy but awesome, this is weak like hell, this runs well on lpg, this doesn't...

Thank you, I hope we can find the ultimate simple low mpg engine for series land rovers here.

Z

(edit: this can be useful: http://www.retro.co.za/lr/tech/engines.html)

Hello fellow Polish dweller, are you thinking of running a series in Poland? if so have you looked at the price of parts over here, its shocking, i find ordering from the uk in bulk and paying postage is the way forward.

again if buying in Poland I think you will find the choice somewhat limited I keep looking and only ever see a few dogs, if buying in the UK and hoping to register it here either as historic or simply as an imported vehicle you may find issues with registering a RHD vehicle as the Polish authorities still haven't capitulated to Europe on the requirement of allowing registration of RHD drive "cars" here yet.

as for engines, well i have had the 2.25 diesel and it was noisy smelly and under-powered, the petrol was slightly better but thirsty and if you can find one with a 200tdi bez turbo then i would go for that, of course these arent original and have been converted by previous owners so watch out for the standard of the workmanship on the conversion.

Hi,

the idea is to go to UK and buy one, preferably with tax and MOT so I can drive it home. (If it will manage. )

Registering in Poland. I had to sell a brilliant donor for a camper when I met with the problem of registering RHD. GRRR It has to be converted to LHD. Fortunately the steering seems to be very simple, a welder could prepare the front crossbar to accomodate the steering relay. I thing It can be done with acceptable cost.

About historc registration. Do you know how it goes? I'm a foreigner here (here too) and the general rule at home registering historic, is that it has to pass an oldtimer "test" and be 95% original and in perfect state. And has to be kept that way. In Hungary it's long and painful, colourcodes must match and all... BRRRR

About the engines. Have you heard somebody running the 2.25 petrol on LPG? as I got this hint it here: Land Rover, Range Rover engine history - by Glencoyne 4x4 (Thetford) that the old 2.25 was not very happy with high octane fuel. LPG is near 100 octanes...

Know anybody running a series around Krakow?

Thanks for your help.
Zoltan

(edit: as a second thought 200tdi without the turbo can really be a good choice. I just read a good article on it...)

I see quite a few LHD LRs (and some Santanas) in Spain and France. Are these expensive? - might be an easier option

this one, for example:
LHD Land Rover 109 diesel For Sale (1983) on Car And Classic UK

I am looking for a Series 3. So I'm interested in your final choise. Which engine did you choose?

Roel