Ford 289 in a 109. One cylinder gone. Back to 2.25?

[daveb]

the iron duke/mercruiser engines weigh in under 300lbs as a long block with carb and manifolds. yes they are lighter than a 2.25.

I have been messing around with these engines for 10 years now and have figured out most of what is needed to make one work. That said though, I am giving up on them in favor of a 200tdi and am selling my whole collection of GM 4 cylinder stuff. It all needs work at this point but I have everything needed to put together a great motor. Most of the parts area readily available though some things are getting hard to find. Wear items like bearings and such are all easy and cheap to get.

Do you know Teriann if the iron duke is lighter than the 2.25 Rover?

[mongoswede]

The Cummins six is a big heavy motor that most people consider too heavy for a Series suspension. I know one person in Canada who has done it though.

this one?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocNoI8XAuiI

[martindktm]

LAst time I mess with the 2.5 Gm`s It was when I used to own Pontiac Fiero`s.

[Momo]

Michael, 289s are like peanut butter & jelly sandwiches... cheap and satisfying! It wouldn't be worth it to go back to the 2.25 IMO.

By the way, this 109 you have... where did you pick it up? I remember one for sale awhile back that had a 289, I think it was in Tujunga or something. I never did hear back from the seller when I called to inquire.

And if Matt gets to come see it, I want in. Matt and I have been talking about getting together over Rovers and beers for years now and he may never buy another one, so this is a good opportunity to see your truck and crack a couple cold ones and maybe even get Matt back into the fold!

[I Leak Oil]

That looks like JL's truck. Quite the beast! That's a little more than a simple engine swap though.

this one?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocNoI8XAuiI

[O'Brien]

Momo, check my signature man! and yes michael, lets get something setup. We can talk rovers, and maybe even walk over to the Red Lion!

[1967IPA]

Matt / Momo -

Let's do this! I'd be keen on showing you guys the Rover. It's a unique one to say the least. Some different directions, etc that this truck could go.
It's always good to talk Rovers and knock back a couple of cold ones.
This weekend could be good - you guys around?

- Donovan

[1967IPA]

Momo -
To answer your question, I picked it up here in the neighborhood - Silver Lake. It'd been hiding being a bunch of Corvairs for years and years. Took an alternate route back to the house one day because of construction (never ending here in Los Angeles) and happened upon the Rover. A couple of knocks on the front door and 15 or so minutes later of conversation and we had a deal. I'll tell ya more over a cold one.
-Donovan

[Momo]

Sounds good Donovan. Friday afternoon or Sunday afternoon, either is good for me. Matt has my cell number. I'd love to see your truck and hear more.

Hey Matt, I thought you had liquidated. Glad to see it's not true!

[greenmeanie]

Thanks for adding that. I had no idea what the current state of parts for a 50ish year old Chevy in-line six engine.



Scotty always told customers not to use the 292 version of the engine because it was too powerful for the Land Rover gearbox to reliably stand up to. He recommended the Chevy 250 as the largest member of the family for his conversion.

Also to avoid mid '70's and newer cylinder heads. During that time the factory recast the heads with different water passages so they would run hotter. It is a SMOG emissions thing that tended to cause converted LRs to overheat on summer desert runs.

My 109 ran a 292 for at least 20 years before I got it. A horrible conversion it was but it did use the Scotty's adapter to the stock 6 cyl drive train. The front prop was shot at the slip joint and some of the splines in the stock Rover type rear axle were half gone but I put that down to a complete lack of maintenance and lubrication. With all things powerful it comes down to the right foot.

The 70's heads are fine for normal use. The casting wall thickness only really becomes and issue once you get into skimming and lump porting. The heads to avoid are the ones with the integral cast manifolds. They don't flow well and they crack.

250s rev a bit higher than 292s which makes them more suited to the stock Rover gearing.

I hopped up the 292 but I have beefed up the drivetrain too.

[O'Brien]

had a great time hanging out with Michael this evening, talking rovers and knocking back a couple cold ones. looks like a really amazing NADA 109. Body panels are in amazing shape, seriously beautiful fenders!!! We were too busy talking rovers for me to snap too many pictures, but here's one of his 109 and one of both our trucks. super great to connect with another member of the brotherhood and talk oil leaking beasts! disregard all the empties in the colossal front bumper of his

[1967IPA]

Yeah! It was a good time, Matt. I was as amazed as you when I got into seeing just how straight these panels were. Who knew middle doors on a 109 could hold up like these have!!

Upon digging a little more into the motor and conversion details there was some good, some bad and some worse.

I removed all the ancilliarys, intake and exhaust manifolds - down to the bare short block.

One cylinder is fouled and essentially it's solidly seized (one piston) Also - the conversion plate has a couple slots in the top half - I can see the flywheel. Interesting...or not.

Now, the big question. I'd like to get it running around town, to the beach, etc. Thinking that because I've made a $$ goal for myself (and my wife) in order to get this on the road.

That being said, I'd rather be underpowered with a 2.25 or 2.5 and therefore less likely to break components of the driveline (add'l $$) if I dropped in a fresh 289 or 302. I'd also be keen on getting the footwells back to stock form, as they've been hacked a bit when the PO squeezed the V8 into the space. I planned on replacing some of the sheetmetal anyways, as there's a bit of rustiness/small holes present.

Down the road when I can throw a bit more money at it - the 200 or 300tdi would be an appropriate upgrade. But for the next year or so, I'd be OK running a stock-ish set up.

Now - who's got a nice condition 2.25 or 2.5 petrol sitting on an engine stand or a pallet waiting for a home in the SoCal area?!?! Also - in need of a deluxe bonnet in Marine Blue! This one is NICE, but has a lame square hole cut for venting. Wouldn't mind getting it patched, but I haven't heard of anyone good with this particular alloy here in Los Angeles.
Any direction would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Michael

[ca_surveyor]

Sorry I missed the straight panels and of course the cold beverages. Been working hard on mine. I know that Javier has been looking for a 2.25 in SoCal, but not much response.

[Apis Mellifera]

Let's see some more under hood pictures of that V8.

[TeriAnn]

That said, you could get a complete 302 for a few hundred. If you decide to go back to the 2.25, I'd be interested in the conversion pieces.

If you are interested in learning more about Series engine conversions, including the small block Ford I have a section in my web site dedicated to the subject. With pictures.

http://www.expeditionlandrover.info/#engine