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#Post#: 51870--------------------------------------------------
Perkins Prima
DIR By: billhook
Date: February 15, 2013, 5:51 am
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Reading other post here about Tdi conversions got me thinking.
I was a fan of the perkins Prima motor when i had a Deisel
Maestro years ago, and i have read articles about using them in
a series.
Does anyone on here run a swb series 3 with a Prima lump in it.
There are a few come up on eblag now and then.
Is it wort the investment ?
#Post#: 51871--------------------------------------------------
Re: Perkins Prima
DIR By: RMS
Date: February 15, 2013, 6:16 am
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My son's S2A SWB is Prima powered :smilewide:
It's a great engine for economy; he regularly gets 40mpg+ on
runs, fully laden with half a dozen uni students inside and
their hill walking gear & backpacks on the roof rack, but it is
a high speed 'car' engine so lacks low down torque.
This can be a problem off road as you've got to make sure the
turbo keeps spinning. Let it die and you can struggle to get it
back again, leaving you in the mud, so to speak!
Also, the timing belt isn't completely enclosed, so you do have
to be aware of that if you're going to do any deep wading in
really dirty/muddy water.
If you just want it for road use and green laning, it's a fine
engine if you don't mind the noise - I'd say it's a little
noisier than the 200TDis we've got in the others.
#Post#: 51877--------------------------------------------------
Re: Perkins Prima
DIR By: ashcrroft752
Date: February 15, 2013, 9:24 am
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I've a Prima in mine, it's a good engine, I get about 30-31 mpg
but I've set it up for power not economy, I did get 34-36 mpg
before I altered the fueling. It accelerates well and will
happily pull beyond 75mph but any speed above 65mph sees the
fuel gauge plummet towards empty.
Most parts are available from Diperk, but anything which was
specific to Rover seems to be becoming scarce, vac pumps and the
switches from the head which control the cold start devices on
the injector pump. I've heard that oil pumps are now
unavailable.
I would avoid a Dudleigh Mk1 conversion plate as this uses a
sherpa fly wheel, clutch and starter motor. Replacements may be
hard to find.
The Mk2 kit uses all Land Rover parts.
Other than cheap head gasket failures and 1 dead turbo it hasn't
let me down in 8 years. I've a few oil leaks I cant seem to be
rid of, in general I've been very happy with it.
#Post#: 51886--------------------------------------------------
Re: Perkins Prima
DIR By: feelinperky
Date: February 15, 2013, 1:22 pm
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I had one and hated it, really noisey! heasd corrode and gaskest
go cos they are old. Parts are difficult to get and expensive.
Saw a starter for 400 odd squids! >vom< Good engines in the
day but too few and old. also agree about off turbo is was flat
as anything! :rolleye0012:
#Post#: 51888--------------------------------------------------
Re: Perkins Prima
DIR By: mr.scruff
Date: February 15, 2013, 1:27 pm
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Well I like mine, but it is in an 80 which is a fair bit
lighter. It is noisy, nosier than a Tdi, but it's an old Land
Rover so I'm not that bothered. Did 300 mile round trip last
weekend no probs.
Mine's quite leaky as ashcroft says, but it starts first time
every time and does 40 to the gallon if I don't hoon it. Dead
simple to work on and changing the cambelt is a piece of cake.
Finding parts can entail quite a lot of interweb searching but I
haven't yet needed anything I can't find.
#Post#: 51889--------------------------------------------------
Re: Perkins Prima
DIR By: RMS
Date: February 15, 2013, 1:29 pm
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Ah, but if you stockpile a couple of engines they should last a
good few years :rolleye0012:
We've got a known good 80k miler waiting in the wings if
anything goes drastically wrong with Patrick's, as well as an
unknown one for parts :thumbs:
Decent antifreeze, changed every two years, stops the head
corroding, as in any engine!
#Post#: 51892--------------------------------------------------
Re: Perkins Prima
DIR By: divie
Date: February 15, 2013, 2:29 pm
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I gave some thought to one of these when the old 2286 got really
leaky and down on power. A mate reckons they are still made and
used to drive the compactors in bin waggons. I went off the idea
and mine is still leaky and down on power but still does the
daily driver job.
#Post#: 51898--------------------------------------------------
Re: Perkins Prima
DIR By: Luke
Date: February 15, 2013, 3:49 pm
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I liked mine that I had in my 80". It was quieter than the Tdi
and used to do 50mpg if I drove sensible.
They are flat as a fart if the turbo isn't spinning 'tho but you
just get used to it and make sure your in the right gear for
what your doing as in any motor.
#Post#: 51928--------------------------------------------------
Re: Perkins Prima
DIR By: Landrolaf2a
Date: February 16, 2013, 10:42 am
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My new 88' has a Prima (with additional Veg-oil option) and runs
well, so far only on diesel, has more power and does not smoke
compared to the 2 1/4 I had before. The conversion was done by
p/o according to the write up on the web that is quoted here
often. However, I am not that happy with the air intake being
very low and I have just removed the pipe that was going down
all the way behind the grill - in case we have flodding again..
also, the exhaust is low and ends underneath the n/s door with
not much clearance. When that rusts away I will probably try to
get the original pipes in again if possible.
#Post#: 51968--------------------------------------------------
Re: Perkins Prima
DIR By: NiteMare
Date: February 16, 2013, 8:53 pm
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a mate of mine has one in his S3, i built the exhaust for it
which was a royal pain as the turbo is on the wrong side of the
engine, i had to loop it under the gearbox to get it to then
follow the original S3 path
we then found the engine leaked oil from the back of the block
at the adaptor plate as that hadn't been sealed :banghead so it
was out with the gearbox again to sort that
it's finally on the road but was horribly underpowered and
struggled to hold 50mph on the slightest incline (must check the
speedo is correct as it has 235/85 tyres) so today i've had an
hour or so tinkering with it and i've rotated the boost pin
45degrees clockwise to increase the "on boost" fueling, it now
appears to accellerate a little better and pulls better on
hillier roads, just got to run it out properly and then another
little tweak or two to be properly happy
may fit an intercooler later and have another play
i'm not too sure i'd want one except in a really light Series
and just for economy, further tinkering may make me change my
mind though
oh yes, parts are bloody expensive so that alone is enough to
put me off
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