109 serviced - not tuned, but it runs better!

[@Westview5.]

Channel for the mechanic, brilliant

[@leighriley6277]

She does sound so sweet Mike, what a lovely ol girl 👍👍

[@BritannicaRestorations]

As long as it does not need major mechanical work we will keep the engine - but if it spits the dummy then a GM V6 will be fitted

[@nzrestoration9486]

Great to see some old school engine work. I recently talked to some newly qualified mechanics and found out that they don’t even teach carburettors or distributors at Trade college any more! Have to find blokes like you Mike.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Great point! Even I have to think about older petrols - this carb setup dates back to the 50's!

[@roversteve53]

Many years ago I had a 1953 Rover 75 with I think a 2.2 six pot with twin carbs, It ran so smooth you could hardly tell it was running at tick over, Having only owned motorbikes and small fords in my teens that old Rover was quite a car to have.

[@slimriddim4145]

Well you live and learn Mike... In my ignorance, I never even knew of the straight six petrols in Land Rovers! She ran much quieter in my cans once you did the tappets. Thank you and keep on keepin' on.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Thanks! Mike

[@paulboon1100]

Very nice, Mike. You are making me want to buy another series LR

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Easy to work on, but I do not like driving them myself

[@paulboon1100]

@@BritannicaRestorations yes they are uncomfortable not too reliable but see that's what I do/did like, it's a challenge just going somewhere, never knowing what one will come across, and getting there and back is an actual achievement and sometimes frustrating because of what happens inbetween. It's definitely not a "lazy" way of traveling it's the adventure! Lol.

[@MrRobmellor]

Hi Mike, I never liked the way that the exhaust pipe left the manifold, far to long and on a diesel they would crack at the weld. I was forever welding them up until they got so short that they touched the chassis. The video brought back many happy ( and some not so happy memories ) Thanks so much. Best wishes from Yorkshire Rob.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

We only fixed it up as it was the original motor and didn't need mechanical repairs Remember the slant blocks and heads on those? Getting a rebore now involves a major hunt to find someone with a large miller as no one has the boring jig any more!

[@alistairmclauchlan7063]

Hi Mike worked on the six in the seventies used to run so hot it distorted the ex manifold it had air injection fitted must have been export absolutely gutless the four cyl was better yet when in the old auntie rovers they were great but hellish on fuel cheers Mike great video.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Yes they were not the best engines, but it is original so worth keeping until it drops Drinks petrol like it was going out of fashion!

[@888johnmac]

finally that sounds like a happy engine .. nice work

[@BritannicaRestorations]

It is!

[@gordonwedman3179]

I can attest to the mess the wiring on these old Rovers is. My brother bought a 1960 five door 109 last winter and for the last two weeks we have been working on the electrics. As you say, cannot see any colors on the old wires. Alternator was not putting out charge so after investigating discovered the field wire was not connected and no dash light. Traced the wire behind the dash going to the field wire in the engine compartment and hooked it up with a dash light. Worked for a week and then the wire behind the dash went dead. Could not figure out why so installed a new wire and all good. Now the front parking lights have stopped working. Not figured that out yet. I have a Haynes manual and a Brooklands manual. Neither of them show any of those 6RA relays that are attached to the bulkhead so I don't know what they are supposed to do. We installed an AccuSpark electronic distributor and that worked first try. The engine, a 2.25 petrol, runs very well. Back at it when it stops raining.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I have a feeling the relay are for the heated windscreens

[@gordonwedman3179]

@@BritannicaRestorations Ha, ha, no heated windscreens here. Took one apart and it is a simple normally open relay with a 70 ohm coil. We have 3 on the firewall and no idea what they are switching. Our vehicle is supposed to be former Dutch military so it has some interesting features like Convoy lighting.

[@mrcvry]

Gordon Wedman Disconnect them and see if something stopped working. They might be part of the military lights or radio equipment and not in use anymore.

[@gordonwedman3179]

@@mrcvry I could do that and maybe remove some useless wiring. Maybe later. The front parking lights stopped working. Previously you could switch them on by themselves using the T position on the switch. Now the get no power at the lights. Switch has power. Gave up troubleshooting the wiring and changed wiring at lights so now they come on when you switch on the headlights.

[@shropshireladoutdoors743]

Sounds sweet to me great job

[@machiningbasics1729]

Lovely engines but strangely installed, there’s a prototype at Gaydon with a jag straight 6 in, what a machine that would have been !!!

[@BritannicaRestorations]

We used to fit V8's - cheaper to run but more power!

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Most of the 83 horses are fine but I think there are a few lame ones..

[@gonesailing]

Thank you Mike, I much appreciate the series content and the helpful insight into a better running engine. Now the snow has melted I backed the Series 2 out of its winter hiding place and took her out for a spin with the top down. It drives well, but running a little rough. While I did adjust the old points per the book, I might fit a new set of Lucas points, given who knows how old they are... Thanks to your pointers I can also now have a go at adjusting the valves. It is not quite as quiet as the 6 cylinder you have been working on 🥁. Hope all is well, take care Ian

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I fitted a Pertronix Ignitor to my S1 - best thing I did. No messing with lose shafts and throwing the dwell out, good cold start - fits in the cap and only 2 wire hook up -AND comes in a positive earth option! PS winter is back here !

[@gonesailing]

Britannica Restorations Ltd. Thank you Mike. That is good to hear about the Pertronix unit. I have a new Pertronix coil and their distributor to fit with electric ignition. I just wanted to get things like the static timing sorted first with the points, so if the electrical unit went caput I could instal the old points. However, I will certainly give this a try, when the weather improves. It’s blowing a gale today. Hope the return of winter for you is short lived. Cheers Ian

[@BritannicaRestorations]

It was not too cold today -4 but the wind cut you in half I carry the old points in my S1 just in case but so far so good!

[@gonesailing]

Britannica Restorations Ltd. Sadly, get that weather a lot in Regina. Very much a wind-blown prairie. Thanks for sharing the helpful advice. Stay safe and well, Ian

[@rodrigotomita6473]

Hey mr. Mike, how r you doing? At 12:40 we can see a smoke at your back, i suppose it is from the exhaust since the motor was runing, right? Is it burnt oil? Or condensing water vapor? Thanks!

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Water vapor

[@philhealey449]

In knocking Rover's engine, remember it had hardened stellite valve seats so should be happy on this new fangled unleaded. Not so sure about the even newer fangled E10 ethanol stuff ?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

We can get additive for old motors here - use it in my S1 2.0

[@harveysmith100]

Nothing smoother than a straight six. I watched part of the video again with the sound down and you couldn't tell it was running. I have only just found out that the Defender was sold in Australia with the Isuzu engine, I am assuming that is why you run it in one of your vehicles, seems like a good engine.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Yes - I could never figure out why they were not fitted to all the Defenders instead of the 2.5's They are not much more powerful than the 300Tdi but a lot more torque - and bullet proof - no warped head and timing gears not chains!

[@harveysmith100]

@@BritannicaRestorations Yes they seem to have a very good reputation.

[@simonroberts9759]

Mike, great job. I assume that you have emptied the Jameson's into the fuel tank hence the smooth running!!

[@BritannicaRestorations]

No, I emptied it into me as an antibacterial - so far so good!

[@simonroberts9759]

@@BritannicaRestorations Ssssh. Big pharma will want to sell it as a vaccine at £100 a shot!!

[@jamescunliffe9872]

It sounds 10x better after gapping the valves,before it was like listening to a steam traction engine+sewing machine+old London bus! I think if the carb was replaced it would run significantly better,sounded constricted from what I'm hearing,like a leaky airline?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

That carb is huge - I think it is a 2 inch, and the original air cleaner covered most of the engine to cut induction noise, sadly the air filter box is missing

[@jamescunliffe9872]

@@BritannicaRestorations is there a way to retrofit a modern ignition system to prevent carbon without silly expense?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

This will get a Pertonix Ignitor - better spark as you can use a bigger coil - I will keep you posted

[@karlhrdylicka]

OH so you had one of these , how long did it take you to get fed up with 9 MPG.? Mike . Basically these are the old Rover 90 or 110 car engines from the 1950s the 4 cylinder one was the Rover 60. the gearbox was based on the Rover 60 with transfer box added. I had 4 cyl side /overhead valve in my first series 1 Driving it sort of sensible on road about 15 MPG . my first candidate for a diesel conversion . 1500 BMC out of a J2 van, way under powered .waste of time . replaced with a 2.2 BMC from ex London Taxi . Big improvement , but way short of performance expected of todays 4x4s .

[@terrygribb9185]

You taught me something . Wow 9 mpg my 5ton wagon does more than that. 😄

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I was forever running out of petrol - swapped it for a 2.25 diesel SWB Lot's of guys in the 70/80's swapped the 6 for a V8 - more power and better on fuel!

[@karlhrdylicka]

@@BritannicaRestorations Yes I know a couple of people local to me also used the v8 both had the same problem Gearboxes and half shafts wouldn't last very long. too much torque from the v8 , but if I remember correctly there was a de tune blanking plate type thing/ adapter that could be fitted in the intake manifolds to reduce max torque/ power if you had a heavy foot .

[@BritannicaRestorations]

My RR classic from 1980 was a 3.5 111 bhp The GM V6 I fitted to my 110 is 195 bhp and 4.3 - AND better on petrol! How things have improved!

[@karlhrdylicka]

@@BritannicaRestorations Couldn't agree more , but you don't want to put that sort of power/torque through a series box for very long .The plus side of early L.Rs for me has always been no need of anything controlled by computer , and those stupid rubber timing belt Chain or gears are far better . perhaps I am too old and set in my ways to change.

[@raywalsh5822]

timing light on it now for check ignition timing lol have u gota longer dipstick this one wont reach the oil

[@BritannicaRestorations]

That's why I said it was not tuned - going to fit Pertronix ignition ( when it comes in)

[@myysterio2]

Who do you gotta know to get a series given to you in any condition? That would be the best thing ever

[@davidwoods80]

Nice job. Now, sell him on a V6 conversion.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

It was on the cards if this was junk - but got most of the 83 horses in the paddock - but I guess some have got out...

[@richardcallison1637]

I do nearly fitted one of these in my old 88” s3. It’s a lovely engine! That one seems to run nice! And yeah, it must have taken a special kind of idiot to decide that a system of rods and bell cranks would be better than a cable😂

[@Extreme4wdNZ]

No oil leaks on the floor? You obviously didn't put it back together as Land Rover intended.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I will have to loosen a few bolts to make sure it leaks

[@MG-tx9yb]

Land rovers are so loud the gas engine even sounds like a diesel. My 200tdi sounds like a broken Chinese sowing machine in a bag of hammers.