Firstly, I have posted this message on two forums, so please accept my apologies if you've already read it, however it was suggested to me that this is the best place to get some advice, so here goes...
Next summer I'll be moving to Napoli, Italy, and I'm going to need something rugged and reliable to get me there, and to use while I live there (hopefully for good). I am strongly considering an 88" rag-top (don't like hard tops, don't want a truck cab. The rag-top is ideal for summertime).
The thing is, I don't have a ton of cash to spare. So it's got to be reliable and as economical as possible, and also survive a 1,600 mile drive to the south of Italy. In the summer. Carrying me, my dog, and a couple of boxes of my posessions.
Naturally I was thinking diesel is the way to go. I don't really like the standard 4-pot diesel that came with the SIII. Agonisingly slow, ear-burstingly noisy and not that economical. I am therefore considering a replacement engine.
Bearing in mind that I am not overly well-off, and my need for reliability, easy access to parts, and economy, I was thinking that the Transit 2.5 diesel is the way to go, especially as there are tons of them all over the place. What problems might this present re. fitting the engine/gearbox into the SIII chassis? It has also been suggested to me that a Perkins 2L diesel from a Montego is the way to go?
I am open to any suggestion for a reliable easy-to-fit diesel engine (and
5-speed gearbox) suitable for an SIII.I would also probably be buying a left-hander since it will most likely spend the rest of its life in Italy. Would this make things difficult if doing an engine replacement? If need be I could just get a right-hander and use it there.
If anyone has any ideas, suggestions, insight or anything else to say, I would be exceedingly grateful.
Regards
Colin