Classic Land Rovers, Series 1 & 3

Each year I'm regularly asked to carry out a health check and tune on a number of classic Land Rovers & Range Rovers, of all petrol engine variants and sizes from over the years.   Below is an example of 2 landrovers for the same owner.

So let's start with the series 1.   The body work and general mechanics of this LR were as you can see in fantastic order.  The restorer had clearly done a fantastic job on pretty much everything other than the tuning of the engine.  The first issues was that the ignition timing was far too retarded, and as a result perhaps less than 50% of the carburation fuelling provided was actually combusting in such a way that the resulting pressure actively pushed the piston down the bore.   Instead the combustion flame quite possible 'chased' the piston down instead.  The spark plugs were fouling, idle was erratic and most of all the new owner was a little anxious about actually using the LR.

Anyway, new spark plugs were installed and the ignition timing was set correctly.  The fuelling was then dialled in correctly and pretty soon after the LR had a new leash of life for the owner to be able to get out and enjoy.

The later LR series 3, pretty much the same scenario.  The key give away being that the owner told me, unladen, it was likely to struggle to ascend 'Sutton Bank'.  Again great condition and restored by a talented professional......just from an engine perspective, healthy....but very much out of tune. Since setting up correctly, I'm assured it now flies up Sutton Bank........just as it should do.