My new Rover - Land Rovers Only

geoffWillis · 03-12-2009, 07:42 PM

Greetings from San Antonio. I've recently purchased an 83ish 110 normally aspirated 2.5 liter diesel ex Mod and I couldn't be happier! These newer coil sprung vehicles are SO much nicer than my old Series IIa (Lost that in a divorce...). I'm going to need to pick peoples brains as to customizing my new toy. I picked it up from Red Mountain Rovers (Yea, I've seen the threads about them, but my experience was great and I'm relatively sure the vehicle is legal...). The vehicle only shows 66,000 km on the clock which may be true, there is zero rot on it anywhere, rear cross member is solid, doors and floor boards are good, and it even has one of those new RoverDrive overdrives. I do have some basic questions that I could use help on.
1) Doors- The passenger door seems to open while driving down the street. This can be somewhat disconcerting! I've noted that both doors have about a 1/2" gap at the rear of the door (Where the latch is, between the door and the body side). Seems to me like this should be more or less flush. How does one adjust the doors, and do you think that might fix the spontaneous opening? Do you shim the hinges to fix this? Probably not explaining it well but my guess is its a common problem.
2) Engine- While poking around the engine compartment I was looking for the engine serial number of the engine. Where the number should be is a tag stating the engine was rebuilt in 2000 (Which is cool, new engine), but without the serial number I really don't know what I've got. While showing off the vehicle this weekend a the local Rover shop, someone stated that it was a Perkins engine. He had a British accent so me must know! How would I tell? I was told its the standard 2.5 diesel, but what distinguishes them? Not important yet, but at some point I'll need to know.

Sorry for such a long post, just excited about my new toy. I've got a new Badger top coming soon which will look great!
Thanks,
Geoff Willis

ArmyRover · 03-13-2009, 08:11 AM

Can't really answer any of your questions unfortunately but congrats on the new toy welcome aboard and

TerryS · 03-13-2009, 08:37 AM

Hi Geoff, I remember when you posted on the RN board, back in the fall. Are you keeping the camo paint scheme? Post a picture of the engine. It's pretty easy to tell the difference. The two engines don't look remotely the same. The LR engine has a cast aluminum valve cover, the Perkins doesn't. The Perkins has a CAV injection pump. If it's a Perkins, it could be a 4-108, but they could have squeezed a 4-236 in there.
Red Mountain has a lot of haters out there and most of them are less than knowledgable on the ways of legally getting Defenders into the US. It comes down mostly to envy, poorly disguised as ignorance.

geoffWillis · 03-13-2009, 06:40 PM

I'll keep the camo paint for now at least as money is a little tight, and there's nothing wrong with the paint. I saved up my Xmas and birthday money and bought a replacement Badger 1/2 cap top. The original looked so nice, but if you remember from the R/N post it got destroyed in transit. I stumbled on this site when googling for Isuzu diesel and land rovers. Not that I can afford it yet, but I'd like to do a little research on suitable replacements for the 2.5 liter diesel. I've never driven the 300 tdi, and I hear the 2.8 powerstroke is no more so was thinking about one of the many Isuzu's. I know its a real popular option "Down under", and they REALLY need good reliable wheels down there. I bought the Rover back in late Oct, but haven't really driven it till last week due to a really messed up shoulder (4 surgeries in 2008). I haven't been able to wipe the smile from my face since! When I figure out how to post pics I'll put some on.
Out here.
Geoff

TerryS · 03-15-2009, 05:44 PM

The Isuzu is a good engine, and I have seen KevinNY's series truck, but that would deffinately not be my choice in a 110. From the pictures it looks like you have an LT-77, but it could be an R380. A 300 Tdi is vastly better in speed and performance than your 2.5 NA and will virtually drop in. The 2.8 International is way better yet, and rivals a V8 in performance with twice the range. You would have to do a hell of alot of twiddling to get an Isuzu plumbed up. Afraid I couldn't begin to recommend it.

geoffWillis · 03-17-2009, 06:48 PM

Appreciate the info. The engine swap is a long way away, but gotta do the research. I hear there is an active LR club in Austin (About an hour away, 2 hours in a Rover) and I might get to drive a 300 tdi there. This vehicle is strictly for off roading, at 52 years I've grown accustomed to some creature comforts, so the everyday vehicle is a 4 runner!!! Sorry, but its comfortable and reliable. That being said, I've got to get the Rover out on some trails and see how that diesel does off road. I may not even need an upgrade. Every post I've seen regarding the swap raves about the on-road improvements and this is going be be an unmolested trail rig. The first time I saw references to the 2.8 International was on the East Coast Rovers site, but I see its gone and I hear the engine is out of production. The drop-in 300 sounds more in line with my limited wrenching skills, but as I said, thats a ways off.
Geoff