Perkins Prima into Serries 3
Perkins Prima into Serries 3
Author
Discussion

sclayto2

Original Poster:

970 posts

233 months

Tuesday 10th November 2009
quotequote all
Hello all,

I've been considering a new engine for my trusty Series 3, whilst investigating I discovered the Dudleigh Engineering site suggesting the Perkins engine.

Has anyone here tried such a conversion?

Thanks
SJC

Lucas CAV

3,068 posts

243 months

Tuesday 10th November 2009
quotequote all
sclayto2 said:
Hello all,

I've been considering a new engine for my trusty Series 3, whilst investigating I discovered the Dudleigh Engineering site suggesting the Perkins engine.

Has anyone here tried such a conversion?

Thanks
SJC
it's a great conversion -- the engines are bit long in the tooth now though I would've thought... although much better than the 2.25 diesel...

TDI it IMHO

C Lee Farquar

4,193 posts

240 months

Tuesday 10th November 2009
quotequote all
Lucas CAV said:
TDI it IMHO
Yes, I agree. The Prima conversion was viable whilst TDi engines were silly money but the TDi is now as cheap and easier to find.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

214 months

Wednesday 11th November 2009
quotequote all
Personally I'd tdi it. A 200 is less work than a 300. With the price of these can't see the point in not using one. Although that said i've got a 2.5 nad out of a military 90 to go in my SIII. V8's are still a good bet as an alternative. And if you fancy a more serious project I'd look into a TD5 swap.

wombat172a

1,458 posts

207 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
Yep, I've got one in my my SIII and it's a cracking engine. Very reliable and good MPG. Fairly easy conversion, and you don't have to do any cutting & welding.

The engine does fit a long way back so it can be quite a tight fit to the bulkhead (around 15mm or something).


I've heard some bad stories about the 200tdi conversion in that they really do eat the series chocolate gearboxes. (due to the delivery of the torque in such a short rev range).


If you're just after more power I'd suggest fitting a 3.5 V8 on carbs (much more progressive power delivery so the gearboxes live longer - depending on your right foot of course). Although this will require cutting & welding of the bulkhead.

Alternatively if you've got a LWB and are up for modifying cross-members etc, then I would suggest a 200tdi engine with a LT77 gearbox with LT230 transfer box (and maybe a selectable 2wd conversion from ashcrofts).


Have a google for integerspin for more info on the perkns conversion.

sclayto2

Original Poster:

970 posts

233 months

Thursday 19th November 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for the info guys.

TBH I was looking for something that was more of a direct swap-ish. I put a galvanised chassis and bulkhead on many years ago and don't really fancy going much, if any, cutting a d welding of either of these items.

From a trawl on flebay, it seems that quite a few people know about the uses of a 200tdi engine to Series owners and charge accordingly.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

214 months

Thursday 19th November 2009
quotequote all
Not sure I follow that. Tdi engines are way cheaper now than what they were a few years ago!! I bought one on eBay must be 4 years back. I paid almost £600 for it and many were selling for around £900. I only got it at this price because someone listed it badly.

Today you can easily pick one up for £300.

How much money were you wanting to spend?