This engine provided the most significant technical change
between the Series 1 Land Rover and the, then newly introduced,
Series 2 Land Rovers. It provided almost 50% more power than
the 2 litre petrol engine which was normally fitted to a Series
1 Land Rover at the time. The engine was developed from the
existing 2 litre overhead valve diesel engine used extensively
in Series I Land Rovers.
The engine was based on the already existing 2 litre diesel
unit, fitted to the Series 1 Land Rover , so as to increase
the economic returns on commonisation of the tooling required
in its manufacture. The Land Rover 2.25 litre petrol engine
has a wider bore but the same stroke as it's earlier diesel
2 litre counterpart. The larger bore was achieved by removing
the cylinder liners.
The 2.25 litre petrol engine continued to power a variety
of Series II, Series IIa and Series III Land Rovers coming
off the production lines for the twenty two years from 1958
to 1980. It was, incidently, also fitted to the Rover 80 saloon
car from 1959 to 1962.
The engine was fitted to the Series II 88in model from 1958
to 1961 using a Solex carburettor. It was also fitted to the
Land Rover Forward-Control (109in) from 1962 using a Solex
carburettor but it proved under-powered for the extra weight
of the Forward-Control's chassis and so it was replaced, in
1966, with the more powerful 6 cylinder petrol engine.
A distinguishing feature of the 3 bearing 2.25 litre engine
is that the block is painted Light Admiralty Grey.
The Series Land Rover 2.25 litre petrol engine has a reputation
of being able to survive long term and with rough usage, though
with low power output and poor fuel economy. In 1980 the engine
was re-designed with 5 bearings, in anticipation of even more
demands being made upon the Series 3 Land Rover.
Land Rover 2.25 litre Petrol Engine specs:
swept engine volume: 2286 cc
cylinder
bore: 90.47mm
piston stroke: 88.9mm
compression ratio: 7.0:1 (8.0:1 from 1969)
carburettor: Solex 40PA to 1967 then Zenith 36IV
power: 77bhp at 4250 rpm
torque: 124ft lb at 2500rpm
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