• Registered: 23 Feb, 2010
  • Posts: 8

Topic: What battery

Hello chaps ive got a series 3 1979 i bought him 3 weeks ago. The previous owner told me that i needed to buy a new battery as the old one was on the way out by the looks of it ,its a tractor battery in my landie at the mo.

Couple of weeks ago i put in new glow plugs and bought a new battery which was a lot smaller than my current one anyway it didnt do the job intened so ended up returning it.

Everyone that looks at my battery says that i have the wrong one my landie it has a 2.5 N/A defender engine fitted, rather dissapointed that the previous owner removed the original engine all might not be lost as i may be able to lay my hands on 2.2 diesel engine.

So what i would like to know is what battery do you chaps have in your series 3 ive heard an 069 is a good one due to amps it bangs out,seen as im new to landies im on a big learning curve at the mo.

Thanks

  • From: Weardale, County Durham
  • Registered: 4 Dec, 2008
  • Posts: 139

Re: What battery

to be honest a decent tractor battery is as good as anything.  A trip to your local agricultural merchants will see you right, and a lot cheaper than the battery designed for the job!

  • Registered: 23 Feb, 2010
  • Posts: 8

Re: What battery

simes2000 wrote:

to be honest a decent tractor battery is as good as anything.  A trip to your local agricultural merchants will see you right, and a lot cheaper than the battery designed for the job!

Thanks sims this is sometink i have to think carefully about. Due to the engine fitted there was no room for the battery in the engine bay so now it sits under my passenger seat which to compensate for the battery has had to be risen.The current battery i have is a tractor battery and boy o boy is it a big lump and it gets on my nerves. Ive been quoted to make and new battery holder and fit in place under the passenger seat so it sits flush £200 this seems rather steep to me so i might have to visit a few more garges to get a better price.

Last edited by Jaf73 (26 Feb, 2010 at 2:29 pm)

  • From: North Staffordshire
  • Registered: 4 Feb, 2010
  • Posts: 59

Re: What battery

My landy has got the original 2.25 diesel fitted, and a tractor battery on the original battery tray in the engine bay. You could probly make somthing to secure your battery under the passenger seat by bolting in a couple peices of angled metal to the floor of the compartment either side of the battery, with a tie down strap over the top to stop it jumping about when on the rough stuff. You could get all the bits from B&Q or such places for about £20 tops. This will be as good as enything so long as the underseat compartment is in good nic.

  • From: The Cucumberland Coast
  • Registered: 3 Dec, 2008
  • Posts: 268

Re: What battery

Half arsed job done fitting the engine by the PO.

You can keep the original battery tray in it's original place. You just need to get creative with one of the legs that will foul on the injector pump. Lop off the mount for the original oil bath airfilter and jobs a good'un.

I'll try and take some pictures of our set up so what I'm saying makes sense default/tongue

Bigger the better when it comes to a battery for a diseasel - stick with the tractor battery, it'll start nicely during any cold snaps we have default/wink

Fred '81 Series III 2.25 petrol 109" (going to be the Dray if I ever finish the bugger)
Tubs '81 Series III 2.5 n/a diesel 88" Station Wagon (not mine - the other half's)
  • Registered: 23 Feb, 2010
  • Posts: 8

Re: What battery

Someone else suggested that i get rid of the oil bath and replace it with a K/N which will be further up the engine bay leaving space for a battery tray.

I wait with anticapation on your picys of your set up thanks chaps.

  • From: The Cucumberland Coast
  • Registered: 3 Dec, 2008
  • Posts: 268

Re: What battery

You can fit a K&N but it makes the engine a lot noisier (if that's possible) The induction thump of a 2.5 is pretty loud - had to run Tubs with no air filter as get me home job when the air pipe collapsed. Nosiy as owt default/roll

I'll try and get some piccies for you later today, if not it'll be Tuesday (day off)

Fred '81 Series III 2.25 petrol 109" (going to be the Dray if I ever finish the bugger)
Tubs '81 Series III 2.5 n/a diesel 88" Station Wagon (not mine - the other half's)
  • From: The Cucumberland Coast
  • Registered: 3 Dec, 2008
  • Posts: 268

Re: What battery

Taken pictures default/big_smile

As with the flaps thread, they are a bit crap default/sad

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/thebouncinbrewer/Tubs/IMG_2091.jpg

Use the 90 air box, it's what was designed for the engine.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/thebouncinbrewer/Tubs/IMG_2092.jpg

Had to move the washer bottle.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/thebouncinbrewer/Tubs/IMG_2093.jpg

There you go. You can fit the battery under the bonnet default/big_smile

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/thebouncinbrewer/Tubs/IMG_2094.jpg

I couldn't get a decent shot of the kinky leg, but you can nearly see what I'm on about. I will try to get a better shot from a different angle to show what has been done. Basically it lifts over the injector pump default/cool

Hope that helps a bit........

Fred '81 Series III 2.25 petrol 109" (going to be the Dray if I ever finish the bugger)
Tubs '81 Series III 2.5 n/a diesel 88" Station Wagon (not mine - the other half's)
  • Registered: 9 Mar, 2010
  • Posts: 12

Re: What battery

You need a battery that will fit in the space well thats obvious, but look for the biggest CCA, this is the Cold Cranking Amps, I would suggest a minimum of 600, but 700 would be better.
My top tip would be to replace the engine earth lead, I have recently seen two poor starters owners just coulnt fathom what was wrong, one had no earth lead on the engine, the other well to cut a very long expensive story short.
Guys pays £1500 for a classic camper, it keeps flattening the battery and is often cranking slowly.
He fits, two new batterys
Two alternators each one only lasts a few hours then lights the no charge light
Two starters
Points condenser etc.
Finally afetr two years of trouble he scraps it ( yes its even been in the garage and an auto elec)
My mate is a scrap man, he discovers it starts better whan you put an earth on the block.
Sells it to me, I see what he has done and take the propper earth off, clean it up, no difference?
What I then find is the braided strap looks perfect and will pass 12 volts to light the lights etc no problem, but when it needs to pass a few hundred amps, it just wont do it as its corroded internally, fits a new earth cable and its been fine ever since.
I know its slightliy of topc but its a good one to know.