308 into a series 3?

[adothehippy]

hey guys i have a s3 lwb with a 186 in her now, the 186 and the 308 have the same engine mounts, is there any space problems?
also ive got a 110 ambulance box fitted, will it be easy to find the correct bell housing to fit?
if there is any other problems people have had or know about this conversion?
and any advice will be a great help as this is my first serious modification to my old girl.

[rangieman]

hey guys i have a s3 lwb with a 186 in her now, the 186 and the 308 have the same engine mounts, is there any space problems?
also ive got a 110 ambulance box fitted, will it be easy to find the correct bell housing to fit?
if there is any other problems people have had or know about this conversion?
and any advice will be a great help as this is my first serious modification to my old girl.
Oh it will fit but , The gearbox will not handle the power neither will the diffs or axles and the poor little drum brakes:eek:

[adothehippy]

its a complete 110 ambulance and pinky setup from the gearbox to the wheels. id think it would be able to take a considerable amount of power. do you think these wont be able to handle the 308?

[Shonky]

G'Day Mate.

If I may nitpick for a moment, to my knowledge the ADF Ambulances were built on the Perentie 6x6 platform (ie, theres no 110 Ambulance). The gearbox used is the LT95A which was used in early civilian 110s and all military Perentie variants; ie, the ambulance box is the same as the GS box is the same as the FFR box is the same as the civilian box etc etc. The fact that it came out of an Ambulance is moot. ;)

/end nit picking. :)

Good to see a new face around here - have you put up some pics of your beast?


Rangieman has the guff for you. It is physically possible (provided you can find a bellhousing) but it will overstress the drivetrain to bits and you will have issues pulling up on standard brakes. I doubt it would be legal also but I'm not really up on the legalities et al.

You may get some more power, but what use is that when everytime you go to use it you break an axle?


Edit - just read your second post... I'd be interested to know how 110 inches of drive train goes under 109 inches of truck! Does it just go in snugly or did the prop shaft require shortening?

Someone with a more intimate knowledge of post series running gear will be able to help you out. I don't know much further than what I have said.

[Phoenix]

However 110 ambualnces are available in the UK and other parts of europe Shonky ;)

That said, I admit i'm curious to see what type of ambulance it is.

[adothehippy]

the previous owner did all these mods so im going to have to get stuck into my workshop manual when i get home from work and find out actually wat model gearboxes etc have been fitted. thank you very much for that info shonky, ill have to get in touch with the previous owner and find out how exactly everything was fitted.

[Shonky]

However 110 ambualnces are available in the UK and other parts of europe Shonky ;)

That said, I admit i'm curious to see what type of ambulance it is.

True - but have you ever seen one on our soil? :angel:

Regardless, the running gear is most likely still the same as an equivalent Australian 110 so it is still moot! :angel:


the previous owner did all these mods so im going to have to get stuck into my workshop manual when i get home from work and find out actually wat model gearboxes etc have been fitted. thank you very much for that info shonky, ill have to get in touch with the previous owner and find out how exactly everything was fitted.

No worries mate - looking forward to seeing some pics pf your beast! :D

[djam1]

As a point of interest Mike Steel from the Innaminka pink roadhouse ran 253 Holdens in Land Rovers for years in the 1970-80s.
Driven sensibly a 2A box will handle the power It would only take 1 wrong move though.

[Phoenix]

adothehippy, if you post some pics (if you can) we should be able to help identify what you have there. I wonder if it's a stage 1?

I know of a series 2a ambulance that had a stage 1 front end / drivetrain fitted, wonder if it's the same vehicle?

[adothehippy]

oh sorry guys i dont have an actual ambulance just an s3 but the previous owner had installed everything from the gearbox to the wheels out of an ambulance and a pinky. also appears to be the hardest man alive to contact.
here is my beauty
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/778.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/779.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/780.jpg

[Rangier Rover]

If I were you I'd stay with the 186. Best six holden made. They can sustain 4000 RPM in stock form and not bad on fuel.

Tony

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Oh it will fit but , The gearbox will not handle the power neither will the diffs or axles and the poor little drum brakes:eek:Yes it will fit but if a 6 cyl chassis you will have issues with the exhaust around the LHS and bellhousing.

When you say a 110 ambo gearbox - are you talking about the LT95 transmission? Is so they stand up to 4BD1-T which are 3.9 litre with almost 1 litre per diesel bang every half rotation where the 308 CID only has 625 ml per petrol bang every quarter rotation which places less stress on the gearbox.

The series 3 will have a Salisbury rear diff and Rover front diff, the Salisbury diff will take the power much better than the rover diff in the back of a Range Rover. And plenty of people have bigger engines than 5 litres in their RRC.

The poor little drum brakes......... Did you know that Ford F100's with C351 engines ran drum brakes which were the same diameter but narrower shoes than the standard 4 cyl Land Rover 109? They subsequently went to disk front brakes although the F250 stayed with drums for a long time. I would however be making sure that I have the 3" wide front brakes (same as Stage 1 V8/4BD1) and converting your mastervac to something with a larger diaphragm than the little girling unit standard on the LR. The PBR mastervac from an LC Torana can be adapted and it is the same unit as used on the F100 of the same period.

[vnx205]

As a point of interest Mike Steel from the Innaminka pink roadhouse ran 253 Holdens in Land Rovers for years in the 1970-80s.
Driven sensibly a 2A box will handle the power It would only take 1 wrong move though.

Wasn't Mike Steel's place at Innaminka, the Trading Post?
The Pink Roadhouse is at Oodnadatta.

[adothehippy]

thanks lotza. that was a great great help. but ive just bought a 202 to put in as a quick fix and i will be looking into the 308 later on. as for what model gearbox etc after i get her back on the road there is a landrover specialist on south street in cleveland, brisbane. if i take the rover to him he will be able to identify exactly what gear i have. i will post up after ive done so. i think i need to study my lr a tad more. this website is great, this has encouraged me to really get inside my s3.

[FenianEel]

Driven sensibly......
Why would anyone want a V8 and to drive sensibly? :D
The two terms are mutually exclusive, like British intelligence :twisted: they don't go together....unless of course you're like my 77 y.o. Dad, who has always had V8's and never had a ticket. :D