253 Holden

[grazza53]

I have read a few threads were the good old 253 Holden V8 engine being fitted to a S1 has been mentioned. Are there any Queenslanders on here, who have one, or know of one that is registered and being used on the roads today. Would like to see a few pic's of the installation. I understand the Rover V8 would be an easier fit, but would like to see a Holden fitted.

[weeds]

A rover V8 would be sweet......but a 253 sounds good as well

[Pickles2]

I don't know anything about fitting the 253 into a LandRover, but as the 253 & 308 are dimentionally exactly the same, I would be going for the 308, if you haven't yet accessed an engine.
Pickles.

[rangieman]

I don't know anything about fitting the 253 into a LandRover, but as the 253 & 308 are dimentionally exactly the same, I would be going for the 308, if you haven't yet accessed an engine.
Pickles.
Snap Crackle Pop goes the drive line[bigrolf]

[mick88]

Somewhere here on AULRO there is a thread and some pics of a nice neat 2A 88 that has had a 3.5 litre V8 in it for many years.
It is coupled to a series gearbox and obviously it has driven very sensibly.
Apparently the motor is even weighs less than a two and a quarter.
But I agree, a 253 would be a nice powerplant in a series, especially with a modified Bedford truck flywheel on it. :)
I have a series 2A 109 with a P76 V8 in it, but it had Range Rover gearbox fitted as well.
The owner never upgraded the diffs to a higher ratio, so it was spinning fairly fast at 100 kph and eventually threw a leg out of bed. :(

Cheers, Mick.

[Davehoos]

WHEN I WAS A BOY.
the 253 was conversion of choise--its not a grunty engine, was cheaper to run and how many had 308 internals fitted.

253 gave similar power to a worked holden 6 without upsetting the insurance BILL.

I owner Leyland P76 so I never owned holden 4.2. for my mates I removed a few from early premiers and fitted a small holden 6 as a daily commuter.

[Homestar]

I don't know anything about fitting the 253 into a LandRover, but as the 253 & 308 are dimentionally exactly the same, I would be going for the 308, if you haven't yet accessed an engine.
Pickles.

The 253 won't over stress the driveline like a 308 would - As Rangieman said, a 308 would munch the driveline in short order. This is one case where bigger is not better, the 253 would be a good choice IMO.

[Pickles2]

Nope.
308 all the way.
It's all about how you use the TORQUE.
If you remember what's under the bonnet, and ya feed that 308 torque in respectfully & sensibly, the benefits of a 308 will soon become apparent,
Pickles.

[mick88]

Here is a pic of a Rover V8 shoehorned into an 80 inch!


Cheers, Mick.

[Homestar]

Nope.
308 all the way.
It's all about how you use the TORQUE.
If you remember what's under the bonnet, and ya feed that 308 torque in respectfully & sensibly, the benefits of a 308 will soon become apparent,
Pickles.

Nope, it would soon break something as it would only take one rush of blood and it would be over. Overpowering something then saying 'just take it easy' is not a great way to go.

[grazza53]

Thanks for all these replys guys, but as I originally asked, "Has anyone got a registered one, or know someone who has?" The question isn't actually for me, my Engineer would like to know, if you get my drift. In case you don't get it, prior knowledge is simply helpful when dealing with "the man" at rego time. [wink11]

Just for the record, I have to agree with Mick. Why have it if you're not going to use it? [biggrin]

[BathurstTom]

253 is a better motor - they just keep going. Not as powerful as a 308, but more reliable.

Tom.

[Davehoos]

From the question I guessing that its for a ser1. Like driving a 3.8 in a Suzuki stockman. doable if you widen the track enough to stop it falling over.

I recently saw falcon turbo engine fitted in a ser3 and to make it easy to steer and stoppable it was fitted with hot rod axles. Sort of defeats the 4X4 idea. Told me that the engineer didn't care too much about the body as it was added on only the strength of the chassis and axles.

These days an injected engine makes more sence. The 253 was a good choice because it still covered by passenger car ADR 27C up to 1983. paint it blue. Havnt seen one since VN V8 could be bought for scrap.

Im in NSW I was used to seeing small holden 6 as common retro fits for land rover 6cyl. Very cheap conversion in these parts. My brother purchased a 2A years ago with a valiant 215 that had been defected due to wipers and non boosted brakes. He fitted a 2.25 and all was well. I saw loads of falcon 6 cyl and P76 fittups from Victoria and queensland that used the 3.5 V8 axle/brakes as engineering bench marks.

[scarry]

253 is a better motor - they just keep going. Not as powerful as a 308, but more reliable.

Tom.

But no where near as common,so how would the availability of parts be,that is the ones that aren't found on the 308.

[Homestar]

But no where near as common,so how would the availability of parts be,that is the ones that aren't found on the 308.

Apart from the internals, and the 2 barrel manifold the 253 ran, they are pretty much the same, so water pumps, dizzys, etc are all common to both engines. Unless you're rebuilding it, there wouldn't be too much to worry about I woukdnt think, but there are certainly a more uncommon engine now. Common as muck when I was younger. :)

[scarry]

Apart from the internals, and the 2 barrel manifold the 253 ran, they are pretty much the same, so water pumps, dizzys, etc are all common to both engines. Unless you're rebuilding it, there wouldn't be too much to worry about I woukdnt think, but there are certainly a more uncommon engine now. Common as muck when I was younger. :)

I remember the days when the bits and pieces,and heads off those motors and the sixes could be found easily at the dump.

[Lionelgee]

Hello grazza53,


I am not sure whether this is of any use to you? The kit is to fit a Holden V8 engine to a Range Rover. This kit was replacing a V8 with a V8 so the gearbox may be different to a Series. Range Rovers are out of my area of interest. I have no connection to the seller.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/brisbane-city/other-parts-accessories/1977-range-rover-308-253-conversion-bits/1091100730

Kind Regards
Lionel