The engines fitted to SIII’s are numbered as follows. (Commencing with the first 3 numbers)

901…….3 main bearing, Petrol, 8:1 compression
902…….3 main bearing, Petrol, 8:1 compression
904…….3 main bearing, Petrol, 7:1 compression
906…….suffix A – J, 3 main bearing, Diesel
951…….3 main bearing, Petrol, 8:1, military specification
952…….3 main bearing, Petrol, 7:1, military specification


From 1982 onwards Land rover started using the 5 main bearing engines in their vehicles, and in fact some of the petrol engines were carried over into the early 90’s and 110’s.

361……5 main bearing, Petrol, 8:1 (36123672B onwards metric)
364……5 main bearing, Petrol, 7:1 (36407286B onwards metric)
365……5 main bearing, Petrol, 8:1, military specification
And last, but by no means least,
366……5 main bearing, Diesel (36619420B onwards metric)

The engines that were carried over to the 90’s and 110’s have serial numbers beginning with 11H and are not exactly the same as the Series engines…they have different front covers, manifolds, carburettors and distributors, to name but a few differences.