Land Rover military engines

[Greenjacket]

Trying to find detailed info on my LR Military engine fitted with Weber carb.

Engine number 95107993A

Year manufacture

Compression ratio

3 or 5 bearing

 

Many thanks

[Highland_laddie]

Hi,

 

a quick search arch of the interweb shows engine numbers starting 951 are 3 bearing 2 1/4 petrol engines fitted to lightweight/airportable (thanks to glencoyne.co.uk )

 

I don't know if that is enough, date of manufacture should match the period of manufacture of the lightweights 68-84 according to this months LRO magazine.

 

hope this helps,

julian

[Richard Farrant]

Trying to find detailed info on my LR Military engine fitted with Weber carb.

Engine number 95107993A

Year manufacture

Compression ratio

3 or 5 bearing

 

Many thanks

 

Having built several hundred 2 1/4 litre engines in army workshops about 40 years ago, a few things I recall. There were two comp. ratios, 7:1 and 8:1. There was a large 7 or 8 stamped on a machined face on top of the head. Also 5 bearing crank blocks are noticeable by the heavy webbing on the outside of the cylinder block casting.

[ruxy]

If the machined square face approx. 1" x 1" , central position near carburettor has no brand - then it is probably a 7:1 cr

 

The 8 is more like OO and abt. 3/4" high. Much later during 1980's - you could find a smaller code such as 5412 (in stamps abt. 4mm high). Heads get changed , swopped about , normally you can tell from foundry marks such as Qualcast and casting No.

 

Prefix 951 Suffix A , I would expect to find a military timing case cover , machined platform at top with four tapped holes for mounting a 24 volt genny. Probably the oil filler tube and cap at the top (cap similar to a radiator cap) , the water pump would be a military 7 stud type. Guide trumpet thinghy spot welded to crank starting handle dog .

[ruxy]

btw 95107993A , manuf. abt. 1973 & fitted to a Lightweight --FM--

[Nick Johns]

btw 95107993A , manuf. abt. 1973 & fitted to a Lightweight --FM--

 

The Webber carb will be an aftermarket conversion replacing the original hideous Zenith

Edited August 24, 2016 by Nick Johns

[fv1609]

I agree with you Nick it looks aftermarket, but it seems on some occasions Webers were fitted in service. Quite why I don't know.

 

Some years ago I found a dealer (Carl & Dianne, Litchfield) selling NOS Webers in their original packaging with labels. The Domestic Management Code that preceded the NSN was 7RU. This is the DMC for Rovers.

 

Although I have never seen any Rover fitted with a Weber in service, they were available it seems.

[Degsy]

Hi Clive, hope you and yours are well and you've now settled in. You say the code equates to Rover, is this specific to Land Rover's or could it also relate to other Rover products?

[fv1609]

7RU is specifically Land Rover. (Although Wolf is 7XD, 7XDW)

 

Although in its earlier incarnation in VAOS it was LV7/RU & then it covered Rover Co Ltd. So it seems to have assumed Land Rover exclusively by default as no other Rover variants were then in service.

 

I'm more of the fan on 9BOE

Edited August 24, 2016 by fv1609

[Rangie]

Weber carburettors are the spawn of Satan!

If you don't have the tech to fit an SU Carb, the Zenith is the next best thing. Lovely carbs, easily serviced, great power and torque.

 

Alec.

[ruxy]

There are several 36IV manuf. over 50 years , the diecast name gives a clue to age - they are all slightly different , most are easily sorted. The Solex 36IV - I suspect were MOD Contract purchase - I have only known them come on recon. cartridge units.

 

Zenith / Solex UK sold out to Burlen who do a good 36IV

 

The last ones I know of out of genuine Land Rover boxes was the 36IVR (Suffix R - I believe = Rover) not purchased a genuine boxed sonce Y2K , the 36IVR I found was probably the best , I suspect it was contract manuf. by a european manufacturer , probably not by Burlen.

 

The ones manufactured in India have the letters PA on the casting (BUT - not all) - not had one in my hands - various reports.

 

Most of the cheapo (cheaper ££ than filling the 10 gallon tank) are made in PRC - probably at just a single Chinese factory , you would be hard pushed to tell many components from a genuine Zenith. The main difference / only mod. IIRC is a metricated volume screw. Obviously some of these can be a problem , some run well straight from the box.

--

 

The Weber 34 ICH conversion kit normally used , very nice quality obviously , a few pros / cons. However - get any 36IV running on song and it is a well matched carb to the Rover 36IV IMHO and to a late S2A or S3 was Solihull factory fitted , and that matters to many people..

[ArtistsRifles]

Mine was fitted with a Weber when I bought the vehicle - very good for fuel consumption but - on a fully loaded FFR - a nightmare on hills.

When I rebuilt the engine last year I fitted a NOS Zenith from Dunsfold and so far it has been much better for overall performance. One of the issues with the Weberh I had was the choke cable would not reach the fitting. OK - the Weber might have perhaps been jetted wrongly but it looks better I think with the OEM Zenith sitting there and I find I can now get up hills at a reasonable speed.

[johnwardle]

The easiest way to tell a 5 bearing Land Rover engine from a 3 bearing on is the oil filler, if it has an orange screw in oil fillier cap in the rocker cover it is 5 bearing, if the oil filler is a push on on on top of a tube on the side of the engine it is 3 bearing.

[ruxy]

The easiest way to tell a 5 bearing Land Rover engine from a 3 bearing on is the oil filler, if it has an orange screw in oil fillier cap in the rocker cover it is 5 bearing, if the oil filler is a push on on on top of a tube on the side of the engine it is 3 bearing.

 

The orange screw in oil filler on rocker cover started long before 5mb engines , standard civvy. spec. from abt. 1978 ,, the only certain way is the reinforced block casting or check the engine Ser. No.

[ruxy]

Mine was fitted with a Weber when I bought the vehicle - very good for fuel consumption but - on a fully loaded FFR - a nightmare on hills.

When I rebuilt the engine last year I fitted a NOS Zenith from Dunsfold and so far it has been much better for overall performance. One of the issues with the Weberh I had was the choke cable would not reach the fitting. OK - the Weber might have perhaps been jetted wrongly but it looks better I think with the OEM Zenith sitting there and I find I can now get up hills at a reasonable speed.

 

The Weber 34 ICH conversion kit , you need to be certain of the origins or check the jetting , IIRC it was the 34 ICH that was the biggest seller for Ford Escort 1100cc ++ to sort the dreaded VV carburettor problem - even the Ford franchise dealerships had to fit the kit for customer satisfaction reasons ,, but then you are a Dagenham man LoL

[LarryH57]

I agree a Zenith 36IV is fine and in my experience certainly not henous, unless you buy a Chinese built one, with a float that doesn't like petrol and breaks up after a few miles!

 

Best to get a refurb of an original marked with Zenith British Made 36IV, on one side and correct me if I'm wrong the number 27 on the casing where the fixing bolts go through.

Edited August 26, 2016 by LarryH57

[ruxy]

I agree a Zenith 36IV is fine and in my experience certainly not henous, unless you buy a Chinese built one, with a float that doesn't like petrol and breaks up after a few miles!

 

Best to get a refurb of an original marked with Zenith British Made 36IV, on one side and correct me if I'm wrong the number 27 on the casing where the fixing bolts go through.

 

IIRC , without getting out measuring gear - the 27 relates to 27mm throat dia. just above the choke-plate , so yes always check for 27. ISTR the Zenith 36IV used during 1960's on Bedford CA van and Vauxhall Victor - aslo used a '27' .. However 36IV also used on Vauxhall VIVA 1599cc HB 1968-70 , with lots fewer cc - ISTR it was a version of the 36IV BUT with a smaller choke dia. than 27mm .

 

So - don't go picking up just any 36IV on a auto-jumble stall ,, same goes for a 25D or 45D Licas dizzy - there were dozons and you can only confirm curve suitability from the small Ser. No. branded in numbers 2mm high - probably best suited to a BMC Mini than a 2.1/4 pet Land Rover.

 

------------

 

This gives a bit of info. clues to cross ref. 36IV and Weber 34 ICH conversion .

 

http://www.webcon.co.uk/Downloads/2008%20Webcon%20replacement%20carburettor%20kits.pdf

 

NB. the Webcon Part numbers for different fitments - from this you should be able to determine how originally jetted. The carb. may be tagged or vehicle c/with original replacement carb. box and fitting instructions.

[.303fan]

The orange screw in oil filler on rocker cover started long before 5mb engines , standard civvy. spec. from abt. 1978 ,, the only certain way is the reinforced block casting or check the engine Ser. No.

 

Indeed, we had a 3mb unit with the military oil filler on the timing cover with the civvi oil filler pipe to fill up a missing plate and the later rocker cover as it was the only one left that I had. Bolt on bits don't mean anything to date or give a conclusion on main bearings or age, ribs and engine numbers do.

[Greenjacket]

Many thanks for all the responses to the question