perkins prima

Post by **dougslug** » 12 Mar 2006, 21:02

has anyone out there tried to fit a perkins prima into a type 25.
I have recently pulled one out of a scrap single cab that the previous owner had been trying to fit. he'd come unstuck on a stater motor issue but i think i've go round that one with a hi-torqe starter from kenedy.
if it works it may be a viable low cost alternative to a Tdi?

Post by **excalibur** » 14 Mar 2006, 22:17

if you can get it sorted it should do well. This is a popular conversion for Landies, and like you say, plenty of cheap scrap montego's about.

The engines last forever

Post by **dougslug** » 15 Mar 2006, 09:19

it certainly seems like a reasonable solution for owners of crew cabs and pickups because of the extra room available heigth wise.
i have now solved the major issues ie adaptor plate, starter engagement and clutch spigot offset, all that remains now is the long process of going through the details like wiring exhaust ect. i am still wondering wether to make the engine sit at 0 degrees or at 15 just to get a litle more space incase anyone with a van or camper wants to give it a go to
costs so far have been marginal
engine £50
plate £50
Starter (high torque) £160
being a mechanical direct injection the engine offers significantly better fuel economy over earlier VW and peugeot indirect engines, with similar power of about 80 bhp. it is however some what more rattly and unrefined

Post by **Diamond Hell** » 15 Mar 2006, 10:02

The biggest issue after the adaptor plate (which isn't really very challenging) on any conversion is how you mount the engine, after that it's how the exhaust is set up, as there ain't that much room at the back of a bus!

I've seen so many awful ways of mounting engines in T25s it's shocking.

Anything you offer has to have a sensible mounting system and exhaust solution or the conversion's less than half done.

Post by **HarryMann** » 15 Mar 2006, 10:07

Yes, this sounds like time well spent then, and if a well fitting exhaust can be bought rather than custom made everytime, that would be a big plus. Where about in the country are you?

Post by **excalibur** » 15 Mar 2006, 14:29

You are using the turbo Montego engine and not the n/a Maestro lump I assume.

There is a company in Chesterfied who make conversion kits for this engine to fit Landies, they are called something like precision and engineering, cant remember exactly but they do have a web site. They would be the people to talk to if you run into problems

Post by **dougslug** » 15 Mar 2006, 22:38

hi I'm in west wales, St.Dogmaels to be exact Russel of Syncro fame will know mw as I bought a fuel tank off him a while back.
anyway back to the engine mounting, i plan on using an underslung bar as do fast forward with their conversions. this seems like a reasonable way to go about it as the bolt holes are already there, also it alows me to refit the original bash plate ect. as for exhaust, i unserstand from the landrover conversiln site that a flexible type pipe is available, with perhaps the standard silencer as i already have one available. If it don't work I shall try somthing else.
incidently i have no plans to sell this conversion, just make it available to someone else if it works

Post by **excalibur** » 10 Apr 2006, 10:38

Mainly Landie based, but here is a forum for prima conversions.

If you come across a problem, someone here might be able to offer advice

http://www.yojimbo.uklinux.net/sbbllc/forum/index.php

Post by **Russel** » 11 Apr 2006, 17:57

Hi Doug
Long time no hear.
Havent done this conversion myself but had the unpleashure of sorting out a bodged conversion using this engine a few years back.
This engine unfortunatly dose'nt give anything near the tdi's performance
though.
Enjoy the process.

Post by **excalibur** » 11 Apr 2006, 20:18

This engine unfortunatly dose'nt give anything near the tdi,s performance

but at £100 for a complete car it also doesnt have the cost.

I was well impressed with the Landie conversion I drove with it in.......like I said previously done well and as long as it is the turbo version you will get reasonable performance and over 30 mpg

Post by **dougslug** » 17 Apr 2006, 17:10

hi russel, yes i've been off the scene for a while. to busy building boats. the perkins is my second conversion that i've got on the go the other being a Tdi ALH circa 2001 into a caravelle syncro.
the perkins as you say wont give the same performance but is modifyable to about 100bhp with an intercooler this i hope will give me the performance of the original 2.1 and retain the user friendly simplicity.
i have had some problems modifying the flywheel as it starts getting realy thin if you want to fit the standard clutch so this is holding me up at the moment.
the tdi is also on hold while i source an ecu ect (got it cheap? without wiring ect)