Purchased a 1963 series 2a

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FE35

Member
Posts
13
Location
Lancashire
I've recently purchased an 1963 Petrol Series 2a in bronze green. It has been restored by Huddersfield Land Rover Centre about 6-7 years ago.
The previous owner has done a full engine strip down in 2018 and bored the block, put new pistons in, re ground the crank and so on and since then has covered less than 500 miles in it.
I've had it a fortnight now and covered around 250 miles in it, which it has done almost without fault,
Indicator relay went on me and the gear lever came loose and started spinning around making already tricky shifts down into 2nd a challenge to say the least. They're all fixed now but it was picked up a strange noise that's definitely coming from the engine. Not unlike a hamster running round a squeaky wheel. The noise gets noticeably less when you put your hand over the rocker cover breather, it also changes with engine revs.
I've taken the cover off and checked the valve clearances, some were a little out but not massively, but after adjustment the noise is still there.
The noise started when I came home via the dual carriage way as it was getting late and did 50-55 mph and possibly 60 on the downhill
The noise hasn't got any worse but it is very annoying and I want it sorted as soon as possible as I don't want it to do damage.
I'm more of a diesel man myself and happy to do a bit of tinkering but really want it looking at by someone who knows this engine. The vehicle is currently in the Ulverston, South Lakes area. Does anyone know of somewhere I could take it to get it checked out?

I'll post some pictures of it shortly,
 
Hahah, Well I don't know how accurate the speedo is but it definitely touched 60 AND it still had some left in it!!!
 
An overdrive is on the cards, but the prices of ebay range massively from about £500-£1200.(without linkages and lever!) I obviously want one that isn't worn but I don't want to be ripped off either.
 
Do yourself a favor and get a brand new, Global Roamer Overdrive. Wonderful piece of machinery. May have to save a little longer but worth the wait.
Quite right; you spend a small fortune on a Fairey overdrive only to find that it howls and whines like a Hillary supporter or an EU remainer. Spend a bit more and get a new and vastly superior Roamerdrive.
 
my 3 has the toro overdrive and with 7.50 tyres has hit 65 - measured by sat nav - although I like to sit around 55 :D
 
Quite right; you spend a small fortune on a Fairey overdrive only to find that it howls and whines like a Hillary supporter or an EU remainer. Spend a bit more and get a new and vastly superior Roamerdrive.

You should be able to get a Fairey quite cheap, they are old now. But also quite rebuildable, and parts are available, and they are a nice period piece of kit. Their main weakness is that they don't much like the high torques that come with big engine conversions and large wheels and tyres.

Never used Roamerdrive, I have heard they are good, but not as original to those vehicles as the Fairey.

For sheer functionality and strength, without in any way interfering with external appearance, you can't improve on an Ashcroft High Ratio transfer box.
 
Quite right; you spend a small fortune on a Fairey overdrive only to find that it howls and whines like a Hillary supporter or an EU remainer. Spend a bit more and get a new and vastly superior Roamerdrive.
Speaking to some older Land rover owners they did that even when new, so it not necessarily the sign of a bad one!
 
Unless you have been very conscientious with the aftermarket soundproofing, you won't be able to hear it over the general racket anyway! :D
I don't know, even with a 2.25 diesel and the rumble of 7.50 xzl's I can still hear mine, i'll say whine, rather than howl (it is not quite there yet), when I get up over an indicated 60.
 
I don't know, even with a 2.25 diesel and the rumble of 7.50 xzl's I can still hear mine, i'll say whine, rather than howl (it is not quite there yet), when I get up over an indicated 60.

The last one I had was in a Perkins engined series. You didn't notice the overdrive over the noise of the Perk.
I removed it at the earliest opportunity, and fitted an Ashcroft transfer box, because I knew the Fairey would struggle with the massive torque.
I have generally found them to be trouble free in a standard Series, provided the oil is changed regularly, the oil capacity is quite small.
 
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