Hello - Edinburgh Series 2a Dormobile

[jerryd]

An excellent find and an interesting story too

[DanC]

Lovely looking Dormi, really nice that another one has come out of the woodwork!! I can see a Land Rover Classic Dormobile Camper forum at this rate

[RobW]

I can see a Land Rover Classic Dormobile Camper forum at this rate

Too much hassle - I'd need to join both!

[Jabbawocky]

Hi

Looks a great truck.

The 6 pot is a lovely engine, but so thirsty - I've heard it said that the V8 is more powerful and less thirsty, so the 6 pot really is a bit of a dinosaur.
Patrick (my son, peaceand on here) had 6 pot in his Carawagon when he got it as a project, but as its first trip once restored was a 5-6000 mile jaunt to Morocco, we decided it had to be a 200TDi (almost 40mpg compared to 14mpg )

Don't be in too much of a rush to rip out the 6 pot. Yes, the fuel economy is not the best, but it does make the Dormobile a pleasure to drive. As you know, the tdi is a noise beast. I met RMS on Saturday evening and could hear the Tdi coming for ages before seeing the vehicle. If it had the 6 pot in, you can stand at the side of the vehicle and stuggle to hear the engine.

My 6 pot stood for 14 years in a hedge bottom and started just about straight away.

The big problem with the 6 pot is that Land Rover fitted the low compression version of the engine and with modern fuel, the engine is quite inefficient. My plan is to eventually fit the high compression version and live with the fuel economy. Not many of these engines about and they generally need rebuilding.

Cheers Mick

[RMS]

That's strange Mick, we could hear you driving away for ages late on Saturday night!

I could have sworn that's a TDi in your Dormobile, not a 6 pot

[Calum]

Nice find! Looks very genuine!

Another vote for the 6 pot, especially with it being an early 6-cylinder. Cost aside, it is far more suited to the long-distance travelling of a camper in my opinion. I drive a Tdi powered 88" as my daily ride and I would definitely NOT want that rattling away for hours on end on my holidays in the Carawagon!
If put on LPG, a well sorted 6-cylinder should be costing pretty much the same to run as Tdi, though probably slightly more. It will generally do just under half to the gallon, with fuel at half the price. No brainer for me!
As Mick points out, the 2.6 isn't all that high a compression engine which is unfortunately something that cannot be easily changed (most annoying when wanting to up the compression for better LPG performance!) The design of the engine means the head surface is flat, so there is no chance of skimming that to reduce the combustion chamber volume. The 'easiest' way is to use a 3 litre unit, which is the same bore but the longer stroke not only gives greater capacity but also that added compression.

[RMS]

I can see a Land Rover Classic Dormobile Camper forum at this rate

Hey, we've already been accused of being a Carawagon forum, though I don't see why

I'd like to think we've got a good mix of vehicles on here, and some good natured banter between the marques

[RMS]

I drive a Tdi powered 88" as my daily ride and I would definitely NOT want that rattling away for hours on end on my holidays in the Carawagon!

Try some good soundproofing Calum.

I've said it before, Patrick's Carawagon is very quiet cruising at 55-60mph.

Ok, at tickover and at low speed you can hear the engine, but with Disco mounts and decent soundproofing it is very quiet at cruising speed

Come for a ride the next chance you get - you might be surprised

Cheers,
Robin.

[Calum]

It's not the volume that really bothers me. It's the sound the engine produces. Hardly music to the ears! In my experience most of the noise seems to be wind noise and road noise anyway. Not a fan of diesels in general though. Mine has a Steve Parker exhaust system which is very quiet and with the road tyres on it's practically silent on the overrun, and more than bearable with the throttle open. It is a neat install (not done by me I hasten to add) and much quieter than others I have seen/heard and been in! The S3 dash helps a lot to dampen some of the noises out. As for soundproofing, I haven't added any and don't intend to. It is a working vehicle and I want to be able to hose down the interior, engine bay and underneath when needed without water being held by insulation everywhere.
I like my Tdi as it is, and for what it is, but I won't be in a rush to fit one to my Carawagon that's for sure!

[RMS]

That's a point, Patrick's is an S3 as well, so perhaps you're right about the soft dash