Time to re-assemble the SWB 88

[Slim]

Hi all, Im getting ready to bring my 88' back to life after buying it as dis-assembled project. The problem I have is the motor had the head off it when I got it and being 30mtrs from the beach it didnt take long for the rust to start on what was exposed. The 2 options I am considering atm are:

Holden 202

or

Holden 304 V8,

both of which I would look at running straight LPG. I have a 304 which will be coming out of my VS ute when my 346ci goes in it and a spare worked T700 (4 speed auto, VN/VP model with hydraulic shift not electric) in the shed which I would also like to run with either motor.

A few questions I have atm are,

: Is there anyone with experience bolting a T700 upto the standard transfer case?

: JDNSWhas suggested a brake upgrade from a 6 cylinder LWB , would there any other upgrades to consider, JDNSW did mention the rear diff may be a weak point.

: Living in Portland, Victoria is there anyone closeish who you'd recommend I deal with, things like getting drive shafts shortened etc.

: Is power steering an easy option whilst the car is in bits, if so what would be best to use?

Thanks for your time

[Johnno1969]

Seriously, I reckon I'd keep a Land Rover motor in it. It isn't too hard to find them. It'll be cheaper, les likely to end up with lots of broken bits down the powertrain and less fiddling all-round....

[Slim]

Thought about it but the motor is in bits and the cost of a reco would probably come close to paying for the conversion. Plus the 4 cylinder will be gutless and I would imagine be worse on economy than the 8 on gas. Once up and running I hoping to be using it as my daily and will be towing a trailer with bikes on it most weekends.

I understand it would be nice to make it original again but given its current condition I would like to spend my money wisely and and have a car thats easy to drive rather than feel like im flogging a tractor. Ive got an 80 series land cruiser and while I know the landy wont ever be the same as driving the cruiser I dont want to sell the cruiser once the landy is done and wish had of kept it.

Little things like being able to 100 on a highway, being able to overtake cars up hill would be nice. I know the beauty of the landy is how the roughness of it but ideally I would like to modernize it just a bit. I dont think it would see much serious off road stuff, the majority will be sealed road with a bit of towing a bike trailer every other weekend.

Haven't ruled it out but its not what I would ideally want

[dolphint]

You could always convert it to a 200 tdi;)

[Slim]

I dont know much about diesels so I reckon a conversion may be a little out of my depths when trying to most things myself but I guess a complete motor/box/case already together would be simpler than conversion plates housings etc. Hmmmm interesting...... some info would be appreciated, thanks :)

[series3]

Hi Slim,

The 200tdi motor will bolt straight onto the the series 4 speed motor. Gearbox, diffs and axles are purported to handle the power, as long as you don't make a point of abusing the hell out of them.

Have a look in 'the good oil' for the thread on series diesel conversions.

If you are keen to do 100km/h (efficiently and comfortably) you may be keen to up your ratios somewhere along the driveline. There is plenty of info on the thread about it.

Have you got some pics of your series?

Sam

[Slim]

G'day Sam,

have no pics but will go out tomorrow and get some, just be prepared its not a pretty sight. Basically a roller with a flatbed trailer covered in 'bits'.

Will check out the 'good oil' thread, thanks very much. Will the 200tdi be much improved or is it more of an increase in torque and still still reving out to 4000rpm. Will using another landy 5 speed box or auto help out on the highway or do I look for the o/drive for my current 4 speed?

[series3]

There are a few options for upping your ratios. As with everything, they all come with pros and cons. You can fit bigger rubber, 3.54 diff centres, an overdrive, or fit different ratios in the gearbox from various suffix changes.

Spend a bit of time searching the forum, and you should get a good idea of your options. they have all been covered fairly thoroughly.

Cheers,

Sam

[garryseries3]

I dont know much about diesels so I reckon a conversion may be a little out of my depths when trying to most things myself but I guess a complete motor/box/case already together would be simpler than conversion plates housings etc. Hmmmm interesting...... some info would be appreciated, thanks :)

The 200Tdi is a no brainer fitment just dropped one in my shorty its just so easy and in a 88" lots of get up and go due to the light weight nature of them. With 3.54 diffs and an overdrive 120kmh easy achiever with still more left on the pedal. Mind you at those speeds parabolics brake booster and 6 cylinder drums a must, you get to go fast but far better to stop in my opinion. Happy to chat to you about it PM me , but as previously said there are plenty of threads on the sight. For me the simplist approach was stage 1 axels/diffs and a Toro over drive, again straight bolt on affairs. If your considering a V8 and turbo auto to a tranfer case there is lots of engineering issues, again check it out first.
Garry

[Slim]

Cheers Gary, will take you up on that and send a pm soon. Do you have any pics of your build up?

Dont suppose power steering is an option or am I being too soft? :p A few mod cons would be nice, even considering a/c, I think the cruiser has spoilt me a bit.

[dolphint]

Cheers Gary, will take you up on that and send a pm soon. Do you have any pics of your build up?

Dont suppose power steering is an option or am I being too soft? :p A few mod cons would be nice, even considering a/c, I think the cruiser has spoilt me a bit.

Hi Slim, a few poeple have done the power steering upgrade as well, check out banjo's thread in this forum (might have to scroll back a couple of pages) if you have plenty of coin you can buy comercial conversions from overseas. Disc break conversions are also available for lots of $$$$ Again search the threads, its all here, just need to look:D
PS take up Garry on his offer, he's a wealth of info and a great bloke as well:)

[garryseries3]

Cheers Gary, will take you up on that and send a pm soon. Do you have any pics of your build up?

Dont suppose power steering is an option or am I being too soft? :p A few mod cons would be nice, even considering a/c, I think the cruiser has spoilt me a bit.

Well if you buy a 200TDi it should come with the PS pump attached there is a great thread on here regarding doing PS conversion. Sounds a bit fidderly but seems straight forward enough and seems to be a great option I intend running 10.5x15 Game rims so a bit of assistance might be good. Really though at the moment getting projects completed is a priority so proberly will not do it for now. Speak soon.
Garry

[garryseries3]

[QUOTE=Slim;1316057]Cheers Gary, will take you up on that and send a pm soon. Do you have any pics of your build up? QUOTE]

Heres a picture to get your taste buds going.
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt206/garryseries3/IMG_7976.jpg

Might start a thread but there some good ones here all ready to do with this type of conversion.
Garry

[garryseries3]

Actually will start a thread as there are a few details I need to clarify.
Garry

[Slim]

Cheers mate :)

Been meaning to go out and get some pics of mine but it hasnt stopped raining all week. Definitely getting keen to get started when I get back from work in 3 weeks.

[NiteMare]

i've a few mod's in my 88" bitsa, 200tdi, 3.54 diffs, overdrive, parabolics and 7.50 tyres not sure what else i might have done ...

my tdi conversion was quick and dirty as it's my daily driver and was fitted in under 4 days from start to finish on my own with another half day to complete a straight thru exhaust

diffs swap took a couple of hours

assorted pictures of mine from purchase to the present day
Zebedee pictures by NiteMare_08 - Photobucket (http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/NiteMare_08/Zebedee/)

a couple of videos after the initial conversion still on 4.7 diffs and very short exhaust
Zebedee running vids pictures by NiteMare_08 - Photobucket (http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/NiteMare_08/Zebedee%20running%20vids/)

now that it has an overdrive in it i reckon it will pull very close to 90mph and comfortably cruises at 65-70 mph all day with reasonable fuel economy

[Slim]

Thanks NiteMare, sound like what Im wanting in the end, just need this weather to clear up so I can bring the old girl up to the shed.

Garry, where did you pick up your 200tdi?

[dandlandyman]

I would never put a 202 or V8 in a shorty cos it'll lunch your gearbox and swb axles. I like the sound of a 200Tdi though. And a brake upgrade from a 109 6cyl is a really good upgrade, even if you're keeping the old 4cyl.

Dan.
69 2A 88" pet4, 68 2B FC pet6, plus other parts cars and pipedream projects.

[NiteMare]

I would never put a 202 or V8 in a shorty cos it'll lunch your gearbox and swb axles. I like the sound of a 200Tdi though. And a brake upgrade from a 109 6cyl is a really good upgrade, even if you're keeping the old 4cyl.

Dan.
69 2A 88" pet4, 68 2B FC pet6, plus other parts cars and pipedream projects.

i've no idea what a 202 is but folks have been fitting 3.5 rover V8's (and bigger) in shorties over here for years, i'm not saying it definitely won't destroy gearboxes or snap halfshafts but with an intelligent driver who is sympathetic to his drivetrain you shouldn't have too many problems...

i've also been hearing similar stories of 200TDI's being damaging to the rest of the running gear but there's still plenty of us doing these conversions, i'll be fitting a 200TDI in my 1965 109 with a Rover rear axle, 4.3:1 diffs and fairey O/D, the only thing i "might" fit to beef up the rear axle will be a pair of 24 spline halfshafts if i find some at the right price