Land Rover with MGB 1800cc engine.
Discussion
Hi,
Many yonks ago, I read of a Land Rover "trials" car, probably a Series One, that was running an MGB enhine.
Does anybody know if this conversion is (or was) available as a "kit of parts"?
Same question, but for other readilly available smallish 4-pot engimes?
My lovely wife once cooked a Ford V6 engine in a rather mundane Scimitar GTE. (I had previously owned Robin Rew's "racing barge" ,,, (LBM563G ,,, geared for 30mph per 1000 RPM in overdrive top... redlined at 6500RPM. And "no" ... I never did!).
I replaced the "cooked" engine with a Cortina 2-litre engine and gear box. It was like driving in permanent overdrive ... but without a bottom gear. It performed adequately, but hill-starts were best avoided. I sold it to a bloke who had just written-off his V8 engined GTE, so wanted an engineless project.
My reason for the above query ... I have been offered an engineless 4x2 Landy, live in Milton Keynes ... and was born before WW2.
602
Many yonks ago, I read of a Land Rover "trials" car, probably a Series One, that was running an MGB enhine.
Does anybody know if this conversion is (or was) available as a "kit of parts"?
Same question, but for other readilly available smallish 4-pot engimes?
My lovely wife once cooked a Ford V6 engine in a rather mundane Scimitar GTE. (I had previously owned Robin Rew's "racing barge" ,,, (LBM563G ,,, geared for 30mph per 1000 RPM in overdrive top... redlined at 6500RPM. And "no" ... I never did!).
I replaced the "cooked" engine with a Cortina 2-litre engine and gear box. It was like driving in permanent overdrive ... but without a bottom gear. It performed adequately, but hill-starts were best avoided. I sold it to a bloke who had just written-off his V8 engined GTE, so wanted an engineless project.
My reason for the above query ... I have been offered an engineless 4x2 Landy, live in Milton Keynes ... and was born before WW2.
602
K-series 1.8 engine would be light and compact - lots around plus parts for it are plentiful. 120 BHP in standard tune. You can get various adapter plates to mesh it up to a few different transmissions. Uprate the head gasket with an MLS jobby / metal dowels and ensure the cooling arrangements are sensible (relocate thermostat).
The main issue is that it would be an 'electronic' engine rather than an old school lump like the mg motor. I know of a few people who have used them for all sorts of whacky enterprises - up to and including hovercraft....
Other than that - sounds like you have major adaptation project on your hands!
The main issue is that it would be an 'electronic' engine rather than an old school lump like the mg motor. I know of a few people who have used them for all sorts of whacky enterprises - up to and including hovercraft....
Other than that - sounds like you have major adaptation project on your hands!
Have you tried posting your question on the LRSOC forum (Land-Rover Series One Club)?
If you can't I will do do on your behalf.
Drew Bowler had his prototype pre-Wildcat using a 2.7 Honda "Rover" V6 on carburetters at the ARC nationals years ago but that was a comp-safari vehicle. A compact and light engine...
The ACR tuned 2.25 is a better bet if you want an easy installation and plenty of poke. Our 88" Series One has this engine and it goes very nicely!
If you can't I will do do on your behalf.
Drew Bowler had his prototype pre-Wildcat using a 2.7 Honda "Rover" V6 on carburetters at the ARC nationals years ago but that was a comp-safari vehicle. A compact and light engine...
The ACR tuned 2.25 is a better bet if you want an easy installation and plenty of poke. Our 88" Series One has this engine and it goes very nicely!
Edited by 100SRV on Thursday 27th February 12:27
Personally I think a 2wd Land Rover is such a shame. Maybe you could make the 4wd system work again.
Lots and lots of engine choices out there. Can’t personally see an MGB engine being all that great a choice though.
I suspect few vehicles have had such an array of engines fitted to them than a Series Land Rover.
Personally think you can’t go wrong with a Rover V8 in one.
Lots and lots of engine choices out there. Can’t personally see an MGB engine being all that great a choice though.
I suspect few vehicles have had such an array of engines fitted to them than a Series Land Rover.
Personally think you can’t go wrong with a Rover V8 in one.
)A friend of mine fitted his SWB 11A with a Steve Parker V6 Ford kit about 100 years ago. It went well - and compared with my 2¼ 109 it was a rocket ship! 
Just done a quick Google and it seems Parker is still going. He's upped his selection of conversion kits: https://www.steveparkers.com/conversions/
Just done a quick Google and it seems Parker is still going. He's upped his selection of conversion kits: https://www.steveparkers.com/conversions/
Hi,
Oops! I forgot I'd posted this. It's an age thing. I was born shortly before WW2, and was in the first tranche on ALL NON-National Service entries into the RAF in 1958..
The purchase of my next LR has been agreed, I'm just wating for delivery, probably a few weeks yet. No engine.
It's an ex-military 4x2, so no drive out-of the front of the transfer box, and no differential in the front axle. Not a problem. I hit a bit of hard sand when lost at night, while at RAF Sharjah (a few miles from Dubai). Unfortunately, I was leaning forward at the time ... four front teeth bent back at 45 degrees, and a nick in the steering wheel. Luckily, the Army dentist from Aden was making his annual visit.
A week later, "Chiefie" (Flight Sergeant) pointed to the front wheel leaning in at the top, but said it was too late to prove it was my fault. That truck lost it's FWD soon after.
I've owned a lot of Series Land Rover, but the last one had to go when SWMBO (is everybody here familiar with that term? ("She Who Must Be Obeyed") could no longer climb into it ... gammy right arm since birth, and now requires two new knees. (At one time she was Press Officer at DVLA ... which got her a go on the skid-pan at Hendon). Bit of a girl, my wife ... I taught her to drive in a Sunbeam Talbot 90, on Penang Island... she passed her test in South London after one professional lesson ... drove a Reliant Sabre 6GT as her shopping car for nine years ... Historic rallied a TVR Vixen (which on one occasion she had to reverse it back to pay the toll on the Severn bridge) ... She phoned me at 7.30AM one wet and windy morning, told me to write down the registration of the articulated curtain-sider she was chasing... it had hit her SAAB on the M4,...and not stopped. Her SAAB was a write off. She also dropped a Triumph 2.5TC over a 100ft cliff, but was caught by a tree about 15ft down. Me and the truck driver climbed down, opened driver's door, found her sitting in the passenger foot-well, feet on the driver's cushion. I said we'd grab a foot each, and pull her out. "No you ****** won't! I'm coming out head-first. Silly me ... I'd never told her that servo brakes don't work if you are coasting with a dead engine. If seen her and a police sergeant standing in the middle lane of the M4, wagging fingers in each other faces, traffic passing both sides. It ended when the Sergeant told me to "GET YOUR WIFE OUT OF MY SIGHT AND I'LL SAY NO MORE ABOUT THIS".
We both have clean licences, and maximum NCD ... but I still wake up screaming. She is now, virtually, a tetraplegic, but objects to DVLA requiring her to drive an auto after her knee operations.
Back to my Land Rover ... then plan is to fit a small car engine (Marina 1.8?) to the 4x2 Landie gearbox, and fit the smallest wheels that will fit over the brake drums, to lower the height of the seat cushion. Should be interesting in "traffic light" sprints.
602 (aged nearly 81)
Oops! I forgot I'd posted this. It's an age thing. I was born shortly before WW2, and was in the first tranche on ALL NON-National Service entries into the RAF in 1958..
The purchase of my next LR has been agreed, I'm just wating for delivery, probably a few weeks yet. No engine.
It's an ex-military 4x2, so no drive out-of the front of the transfer box, and no differential in the front axle. Not a problem. I hit a bit of hard sand when lost at night, while at RAF Sharjah (a few miles from Dubai). Unfortunately, I was leaning forward at the time ... four front teeth bent back at 45 degrees, and a nick in the steering wheel. Luckily, the Army dentist from Aden was making his annual visit.
A week later, "Chiefie" (Flight Sergeant) pointed to the front wheel leaning in at the top, but said it was too late to prove it was my fault. That truck lost it's FWD soon after.
I've owned a lot of Series Land Rover, but the last one had to go when SWMBO (is everybody here familiar with that term? ("She Who Must Be Obeyed") could no longer climb into it ... gammy right arm since birth, and now requires two new knees. (At one time she was Press Officer at DVLA ... which got her a go on the skid-pan at Hendon). Bit of a girl, my wife ... I taught her to drive in a Sunbeam Talbot 90, on Penang Island... she passed her test in South London after one professional lesson ... drove a Reliant Sabre 6GT as her shopping car for nine years ... Historic rallied a TVR Vixen (which on one occasion she had to reverse it back to pay the toll on the Severn bridge) ... She phoned me at 7.30AM one wet and windy morning, told me to write down the registration of the articulated curtain-sider she was chasing... it had hit her SAAB on the M4,...and not stopped. Her SAAB was a write off. She also dropped a Triumph 2.5TC over a 100ft cliff, but was caught by a tree about 15ft down. Me and the truck driver climbed down, opened driver's door, found her sitting in the passenger foot-well, feet on the driver's cushion. I said we'd grab a foot each, and pull her out. "No you ****** won't! I'm coming out head-first. Silly me ... I'd never told her that servo brakes don't work if you are coasting with a dead engine. If seen her and a police sergeant standing in the middle lane of the M4, wagging fingers in each other faces, traffic passing both sides. It ended when the Sergeant told me to "GET YOUR WIFE OUT OF MY SIGHT AND I'LL SAY NO MORE ABOUT THIS".
We both have clean licences, and maximum NCD ... but I still wake up screaming. She is now, virtually, a tetraplegic, but objects to DVLA requiring her to drive an auto after her knee operations.
Back to my Land Rover ... then plan is to fit a small car engine (Marina 1.8?) to the 4x2 Landie gearbox, and fit the smallest wheels that will fit over the brake drums, to lower the height of the seat cushion. Should be interesting in "traffic light" sprints.
602 (aged nearly 81)
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