engine conversion

[landkal]

Have any of you gentlemen ever fitted a gen 3 holden/chevy engine in a series 1 disco . Iam thinking of using a marks adaptor kit my 3.9 has done a head gasket and and have been told that the bores more than likley would have shifted .and a chev moter and adapter would be a cheaper option than a total rebuild of tha 3.9 any advice would be welcome

[justinc]

Have any of you gentlemen ever fitted a gen 3 holden/chevy engine in a series 1 disco . Iam thinking of using a marks adaptor kit my 3.9 has done a head gasket and and have been told that the bores more than likley would have shifted .and a chev moter and adapter would be a cheaper option than a total rebuild of tha 3.9 any advice would be welcome

PM Rovercare, IIRC he has done just this conversion.

JC

[Vern]

you'll have to change the auto aswell, the ZF won't handle it at all

[stuee]

If you can do the conversion for less than the rebuild cost of your rover motor tell me the secret because Ill drop one in too.

From my research into this conversion on here and other forums it seems you'd be looking at $10-12k using 2nd hand motor and carrying out all work yourself. You can buy a new long rover v8 for far cheaper than that.

The biggest issue I've found is the transmission as Vern has pointed out. None of the rover transmissions would be capable of lasting for any decent duration of time with the power of any of the gen 3 chev motors pumping through it wihtout some serious dollars (225kw 460NM up to 325Kw 550Nm in standard tune available within Australia). The easiest option would be the 4L80e transmission which isn't commonly available here and getting one involves $$$. A 4L60e or 4L65e could quite easily be beefed up to handle the power but there does not seem to be a widely available commercial adaptor to suite the LT230, although if you look hard enough there are references to workshops who supposedly will knock one up for you (I believe a number of rock crawling buggies use the TH700/4L6xe transmissions mated to an LT230).

If this is only to be a comp truck then the 3 speed TH400 would be hard to go past as you can by an adaptor off marks for cheap, the transmission can be had for cheap, and out of the box they are pretty bullet proof.

Alternatively, running second hand rover v8's can be had for well under $5k, plus it would be hassle free in comparison. Gen 3 would be awesome to swap in but in no way makes financial sense.

[BigJon]

Alternatively, running second hand rover v8's can be had for well under $5k, plus it would be hassle free in comparison. .

I paid $1500 for a 3.9 out of a D1 two years ago. Done probably 50 000km + in that time, has been a great engine.

[justinc]

5K?? even with our labour rates, we just supplied and fitted one including swapping the injection etc from flapper to hotwire for $3k.

JC

[nigelbuilding1984]

what about a 5 litre holden v8 to the zf only 165 to 185 kw and 380 to 400 nm of tourque in standard form would the zf handle that nothing to extreme and handy 50 kw over standard motors are cheap to buy and rebuild usually find a donor vehicle for under 1500 dollars im thinking about it

[clubagreenie]

$2200- for a short crate 4.6. Excessive?

[justinc]

$2200- for a short crate 4.6. Excessive?

CHEAP!!!

Good buying:)

JC

[PhilipA]

The major problem with adapting a gen111 to a ZF,aside from the strength, which I understand can be overcome for $8K, is that the Gen111 has a 14inch flywheel/flexplate with no 11inch option.

This is decided by the starter mounts , which give only one starter position for a 14 inch flywheel/flex whereas on a small block 350 you can fit an 11inch or 14 inch flywheel/flex.

The actual bolt patterns for the bellhousing are the same except there is one hole missing on a Gen111 vs 350.

The flexplate will not fit inside a ZF bellhousing.

I reckon it could be done if someone was enterprising enough to get a Gen111 manual or automatic bellhousing and cut and shut it with a ZF bellhousing to the correct dimensions to make a pattern for a casting. The ZF bellhousing is "wet" and can be separated from the auto.

Now I have learned the above from various sources and it may not all be correct eg the starter position. I had a look at a gen111 at a wrecker but couldn't get to see the starter area, however barring contradiction I believe the above to be true.

The computer would be easy.
Now if someone could convince Marks or Dellow or Castlemaine to do a kit , I reckon they would sell quite a few here and in the States.
Regards Philip A

[Vern]

4L60E to LT230 adapter would be much more useful:)

[stuee]

Now if someone could convince Marks or Dellow or Castlemaine to do a kit , I reckon they would sell quite a few here and in the States.
Regards Philip A

I would disagree. The power issue alone would mean that most would be replacing zf's left right and centre, and the $8g price tag to build one up would make going a 4L80e a much more attractive solution, that and adaptors already exist for that transmission.

If on the other hand you could build up the ZF for half of what it costs now...:cool:

[400HPONGAS]

Im with Vern
"4L60E to LT230 adapter would be much more useful" except that the 4L60 or T700 is the one you want (Commy VN V8) .
Tebone has done the adaption , but like all others that have tried , solving the front shaft clearance issue still looks like the major issue . otherwise , import a LS2 (far superior to a LS1 Gen 3)with a 4L80E out of of a Silverado/Suburban/GMC ,

[landkal]

thanks for the advice but i have a 5 speed manual iam knot very good with autos

[400HPONGAS]

You may have missed the point ! No 5 speed rover box will come even close to Handling that sort of power .! even the R380 is still only a 77mm box , no different to a LT77 . the LT85 santana is a bit stronger , the LT95 old 4 speed stronger again but its only a 4 speed with archaic selectors/synchros and its own Transfercase.
Never seen a LT95 box cutdown to have a LT230 transfercase fitted , that would be interesting !!!

[Vern]

what he ^ said, goodluck with the 5 speed thingy:eek:

[rovercare]

Andrew is getting adaptor machined up, second prototype is being fitted to his own race car, hopefully he'll get the ball rolling, then I'll be offering fit ups:)

[rovercare]

Im with Vern
"4L60E to LT230 adapter would be much more useful" except that the 4L60 or T700 is the one you want (Commy VN V8) .
Tebone has done the adaption , but like all others that have tried , solving the front shaft clearance issue still looks like the major issue . otherwise , import a LS2 (far superior to a LS1 Gen 3)with a 4L80E out of of a Silverado/Suburban/GMC ,

Why go with the hydraulic box? 4L60e is a better (not good:angel:) trany to start with and fully controlled with the Delphi ecu

[SPROVER]

Andrew is getting adaptor machined up, second prototype is being fitted to his own race car, hopefully he'll get the ball rolling, then I'll be offering fit ups:)

Fit ups hey.:D:D

[Vern]

Andrew is getting adaptor machined up, second prototype is being fitted to his own race car, hopefully he'll get the ball rolling, then I'll be offering fit ups:)First you gotta get that heap of junk your doing now out of the shed:angel:

[rags67]

i have just done this conv ls1 to zf got a trans that has been moded. you can get a bellhousing from dellow adaptors in sydney as i have been the first to do this i think? a moded torque converter was made by tct springvale it is zf with ls1 mountings you will then move your transfer/ auto 50mm foward then mod tailshafts i used 130 defender rear shaft as it is a bigger tube.this is in a range rover ute comp car.i also run a very good trans cooler this is a must. these is quite a lot of mucking around but i will tell u next week if its all worth it as i am now just waiting on my tailshafts to be done

[frantic]

4x4 oz had an article about marks 4wd adaptors who had a ls2 6.0 fitted to his patrol and was in the process of developing a 6.6 isuzu/chev diesel :eek: duramax conversion for the patrol, he also spoke about the ls3 6.2 in a cruiser all of which had the 6spd auto GM 6L80e.

[Vern]

i have just done this conv ls1 to zf got a trans that has been moded. you can get a bellhousing from dellow adaptors in sydney as i have been the first to do this i think? a moded torque converter was made by tct springvale it is zf with ls1 mountings you will then move your transfer/ auto 50mm foward then mod tailshafts i used 130 defender rear shaft as it is a bigger tube.this is in a range rover ute comp car.i also run a very good trans cooler this is a must. these is quite a lot of mucking around but i will tell u next week if its all worth it as i am now just waiting on my tailshafts to be donewhat mods were done to the ZF to handle the power? Keep us all posted on how it goes.

[rags67]

not sure but i know he spent big bucks.i will be giving it a real flogging when its going so we will put the mith to bed (can a zf handle the power of a ls1)

[Vern]

my moneys on no it can't:)