88"short

Member

• Jul 20, 2016

• #1

Hi There, I'm new to the forum, and looking for some advice about engines!
I've recently bought a series 3 88" 1981 landy. It's in need of some restoration work and a recon engine.
It has a 2.1/4 diesel engine in it. My question / dilemer is should i swop it for the same or put a petrol in it?
And what would be the right choice for investment, wet, cold etc.
Trying to keep it as true to original it's for age.
Daniel

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Jul 20, 2016

• #2

2.5 petrol would be the best .look and fit like a 2.25 petrol

 

The Mad Hat Man

Well-Known Member

LZIR Despatch Agent

• Jul 20, 2016

• #3

or 2.5 Di

 

Turboman

Mab An Gov

• Jul 20, 2016

• #4

Maybe a 2.5 NA.

 

300bhp/ton

Well-Known Member

• Jul 21, 2016

• #5

The Mad Hat Man said:

or 2.5 Di

Click to expand...

Probably better to stick with a NAD. Easier installed, cheaper and likely the same performance. Unless local legislation won't let you fit the turbo, then there is no reason not to keep it with a Tdi conversion.

 

300bhp/ton

Well-Known Member

• Jul 21, 2016

• #6

88"short said:

Hi There, I'm new to the forum, and looking for some advice about engines!
I've recently bought a series 3 88" 1981 landy. It's in need of some restoration work and a recon engine.
It has a 2.1/4 diesel engine in it. My question / dilemer is should i swop it for the same or put a petrol in it?
And what would be the right choice for investment, wet, cold etc.
Trying to keep it as true to original it's for age.
Daniel

Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry to much about values. Minters and older or rarer models with be worth the most. Everything else will likely be so so.

A late S3 is arguably the least valuable Series. If you are really fussed, pull the stock motor and store it. That way you could refit it, should the need arise for increasing its value.

Options are:

2.25 diesel. Easiest swap
2.25 petrol. Pretty easy
2.5 petrol or diesel. Pretty easy

2.5 TD bit more work
2.5 Tdi bit more work again
V8 more work again
Anything else, even more work.

Depends what you want to achieve really. A 2.5p is probably a nice mix. Just remember the petroleum aren't great on fuel. Often worse than a V8 but with less power.

 

J

John S

Well-Known Member

• Jul 21, 2016

• #7

And whilst you change the engine do the clutch.

 

88"short

Member

• Jul 21, 2016

• #8

Thanks for all your thoughts. As performance doesn't bother me to much I think I might stick at a recon diesel. It's only for pootling around in for a bit of fun rather than grafting. Especially since it doesn't appear to be worth as much as a older series 3. Maybe one day!
Just go some refurb cream series rims for it today. Tidy!
The wheels that came with it are to big and heavy on the steering.

 

300bhp/ton

Well-Known Member

• Jul 21, 2016

• #9

If it's tidy it might be worth something. But Series 1, then Lightweights then S2's and then S2a's are all worth more than the S3.

 

J

John S

Well-Known Member

• Jul 22, 2016

• #10

S3 values will in due course start to reflect their classic status. Mine is a late production 83' model and I'M not selling it...ever. If I was I'd be looking for at least £4k and that's without a respray. . There are still too many S3's around with stupid upgrades and fandango accessories. It's good examples that will command value. Sticking with a diesel upgrade is the simplest option. I switched to petrol because the diesel was ****ed and I'm more familiar with petrol. The conversion is easy but there are odd bits not obtainable: The metal pipe from the air filter rubber hose to the top of the carb is one. Main thing is to set up the diesel properly for emissions for MOT. A lot of people in my village were disappointed when I switched...they got used to seeing my smoke belching diesel .