Old carby RR engines

Joined: 22 Oct 2003 Location: Melb, Victoria

g'day all..

I've just bought a 1981 2dr RR.
the engine is reasonably horrid and I was wondering what people's opinions were on where to go from here.

rebuild the 3.5 carby?
replace the 3.5 carby?
replace with 4.4 p76?

I'm on a limited budget, and was wondering what sort of costs I'd be looking at. I've got a couple of mechanic mates, which means the labour will be free (or thereabouts), so I'm really only interested in the cost of parts.

thanks all.

Joined: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Neither here nor there

I'm just going through the process of fitting a 4.4 to mine. Depending on a lot of factors it can be cheap or expensive. I got a complete 4.4 with carbs for around $400 but i have since spent a lot more on getting it how i want it. Getting it bored / honed and new pistons costs over $1000, but well worth it if you want your new motor to last. I'm going EFI which is inherently more expensive than just carbs but the performance will be much better. My 3.5 was EFI so I've just nicked stuff of that to do the buildup, however if you don't have that stuff lying around it will be expensive.
I've reckon it will cost me around 2.5-3k to get this thing on the road again using my EFI (which may or may not work). Otherwise, I'll be going Wolf 3D ecu and holden injectors which will add another $2k or thereabouts onto the cost.
Compared to a 4.6 its quite cost effective - performance is not hugely different (in fact 4.4 has better torque). Bang for you buck the 4.4 is a good way to go. Just make sure if you do go that way you get the block thoroughly checked out as they are prone to crack in the webbing.
I'll be documenting the buildup of mine in the members section so keep an eye out. It should be on the road in about a month (I hope!)

Joined: 18 Dec 2002 Location: Moura

Carby 308 Holden Exclamation

Joined: 22 Jul 2003 Location: melbourne

the 4.4 seems to be the go with rr carbies.
you should be able to buy one for under $500. keep the block and crank, junk the rest and build a sweet 8
balanced,matchported and tuned i have seen these motors pull from idle in4th.
i believe adrian at toorak tractor does good things with old 4.4's (p76 and terrier)

modman Wink

Joined: 20 Oct 2002

Flange Raider wrote:

g'day all..

I've just bought a 1981 2dr RR.
the engine is reasonably horrid and I was wondering what people's opinions were on where to go from here.

rebuild the 3.5 carby?
replace the 3.5 carby?
replace with 4.4 p76?

I'm on a limited budget, and was wondering what sort of costs I'd be looking at. I've got a couple of mechanic mates, which means the labour will be free (or thereabouts), so I'm really only interested in the cost of parts.

thanks all.

Whats wrong with the engine - whats it doing? Could be any number of things.

But if the motor is just tired then penrite HPR50 and a new timing chain set goes a long way.

If not just get the heads redone or maybe a new set of rings.

These motors should still run smoothly even if they are totally flogged out.

Could be spark plugs or maybe it just running on one carb?

Sam

Joined: 22 Oct 2003 Location: Melb, Victoria

it's running on gas at the moment, so it's got a single carb conversion on it.. not too sure what type, I haven't had a proper look just yet..

the engine itself idles nicely enough, but it's got a big knocking sound. I've been told it sounds like a bearing or possibly the crankshaft.. The sound does seem to go away when it's under a bit of load though. regardless, it doesn't sound too good, and I won't know what it is until I have it pulled apart.

when I actually had a quick drive of it though, it had next to no power (compared with my other 81 twin carb RR).

it's only a cheap old girl, so I don't really want to spend more than about $1000- it doesn't have to go like a rocket (do any??), just smooth and reliable, and keep pace with my other fairly stock Rangie.

Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Location: Lake Macquarie NSW

The first thing that wears out on these is the cam chain - retards the valve opening.

Then the cam lobes and lifters wear. Once they start wearing metal particles contaminate your oil.

Joined: 07 Dec 2002 Location: Marsden QLD

Go the EFI!!!

Once you have it on your Rangie, you won't go back to carbies EVER!!!!

Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Location: Melbourne

Aquarangie wrote:

Go the EFI!!!

Once you have it on your Rangie, you won't go back to carbies EVER!!!!

WHAT RUBBISH......... The Rover EFI system is possibly the worst ever made. There are many people who pull out the efi in favour of carbies.
Carbies are easy to service...easy to diagnose problems.....and definately more reliable than any Lucas electrics.

Joined: 22 Oct 2003 Location: Melb, Victoria

for around $1000- I think I'll be sticking with carbies..
also for the fact that they're easier and cheaper to fix, generally speaking..

Joined: 29 Oct 2002 Location: Empire Bay Australia

So you will remove the manifold and swap back to carbs ?
How have they done the single carb swap -- cut and welded a flange to the manifold or is it an after market manifold ?
The 4.4 carb manifold dosn't go on a 3.5 ?,
but you can aperantly put an 3.5 man on a 4,4 with the use of some special plates. ?
if you wanting to rid you self of the manifold and gas mixer , converter.
PM me ,
Larry.

Joined: 22 Oct 2003 Location: Melb, Victoria

Dozoor,

to put the single carb on it uses some sort of adaptor plate..
you can do the same thing with the 4.4 carbie too, with an adaptor plate. I've got a 3.5 manifold with a 4.4 carb stuck on it ready to go on my old girl.. should go a lot better I'm told.
ummm.. as far as selling anything goes, I'm not selling anything just yet.
it'll probably be a month or so before I decide what's staying and what's going.. but I'm pretty positive the gas is staying.

Jon

Joined: 07 Dec 2002 Location: Marsden QLD

Landy Man,

You may be right, but I have NEVER (touch wood!!) had any probs with my EFI system and I have owned my 92 for about 3 years now. I don't tune it or play with it, I leave the bloody thing alone. When it plays up, I 'll make my decision on what to do from there.

Carbies may be a cheaper option for older vehicle, but I would NEVER convert back to carbies. Would sell my Rangie and buy an older one if that's the case. I would be interested in your bad experiences with EFI. I'm all ears!!

Regards,

Trav

Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Location: Melbourne

my wifes efi rangie needs a new ecu... while not expensive, the problem on a carby motor could have been tuned out...