302 powered Series 3??

[Jimmy]

Just wondering if a 302 would reasonably fit into a series 3? Maybe someone has done this? if so what mods were needed and what gearbox etc would suit?

cheers
Jim

[dickyjoe]

Jimmy

Sure anything will fit, if you have the will and desire to complete it. As for how easy it is thats another question.

If the base vehicle was a stage 1 then it would be relevantly straight forward as the rover v8 sits nicely in the chassis and uses the stronger fulltime 4x4 rangie gearbox.

If yours isnt from that platform then you would need to:

* Seriously beef up the Series gearbox or replace with the Stage 1 unit.
* Most likely fit defender front end panels to house the radiator.
* Make custom engine mounts.


A windsor 302 would be a better pick over the cleveland as I think the deck height is smaller and therefore the engine is a little more compact.

I think for all the screwing around it would cause I would buy a Stage one or better still a 110 V8. Thats what I did!

Rich

[isuzurover]

LandyAndy on here has a SIII with a similar conversion. IRC there is someone in WA who makes/made adaptors to mate ford boxes to the Series T-case.

A V8 will eat series boxes for breakfast, but the T-case and the Salisbury (LWB) rear diff can handle a V8 with no issues.

[Camo]

This one had a worked 351 in it.. top loader gearbox, stock transfer and running Nissan GU diffs

Camo
19509

19508

[Jimmy]

Jimmy

Sure anything will fit, if you have the will and desire to complete it. As for how easy it is thats another question.

If the base vehicle was a stage 1 then it would be relevantly straight forward as the rover v8 sits nicely in the chassis and uses the stronger fulltime 4x4 rangie gearbox.

If yours isnt from that platform then you would need to:

* Seriously beef up the Series gearbox or replace with the Stage 1 unit.
* Most likely fit defender front end panels to house the radiator.
* Make custom engine mounts.


A windsor 302 would be a better pick over the cleveland as I think the deck height is smaller and therefore the engine is a little more compact.

I think for all the screwing around it would cause I would buy a Stage one or better still a 110 V8. Thats what I did!

Rich

hmmm...cheers for that. the series 3 has a rover 6 in it and I already have the Windsor 302 in a pile of bits. Something for me to think about.

cheers

[isuzurover]

This one had a worked 351 in it.. top loader gearbox, stock transfer and running Nissan GU diffs

Camo
19509

19508

That's not Glen Zipf's SIII is it???

[clean32]

earlier this year there was a white one with a 302 for sale in tasy

[Camo]

That's not Glen Zipf's SIII is it???

Yep

Was a beast :twisted:

Wish I had a drive of it

[Jimmy]

LandyAndy on here has a SIII with a similar conversion. IRC there is someone in WA who makes/made adaptors to mate ford boxes to the Series T-case.

A V8 will eat series boxes for breakfast, but the T-case and the Salisbury (LWB) rear diff can handle a V8 with no issues.


that's sounds like it could be a cheaper option. Afterall i'm not looking to climb a sheer cliff, just cruise about. I want it to look original except the power plant.

ta.

[wozapinin]

If you've got the 302 then I reckon hunt down a c4 conversion (marks). Strong enough for the grunt and work real well. Either series landy or range rover transfer case are available.:twisted:

[Slunnie]

You will also be cutting out and replacing Xmembers, likewise with the firewall, floor, tranny hump and seat box. You'll have to also redo the handbrake mechanism..... oh man, there is a heap to do.

read this:
www.slunnie.com :: View topic - Ute2 Reincarnation (http://www.slunnie.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php't=32)

[LandyAndy]

Ive got a Ser3 that I converted drove around for a short time then stripped for a full rebuild.Its a stalled project nowdays.
The auto really works well.The conversion isnt Marks,Seatons Engineers in Lansdale(off Gnangara Rd) make their own.They make a custom short output shaft that replaces the C4 item to make the auto almost as short as a manual trans.They will cut shorten and re-harden the shaft for you and can sort the fitting/removal from your supplied gearbox.
My Bro also has the same conversion in a 2a wagon powered by a tough 250 Ford motor.
If you are ever travelling thru Williams I can show you mine and what other mods you need to consider to do the conversion.
Andrew

[LandyAndy]

Hey Slunnie.
I didnt need to touch the handbrake,firewall,floor tranny hump or seat box,neither has the conversion in my Bros.
I did have to remove/replace the front crossmember and brace the steering relay.Much easier than it sounds!!!!
Andrew

[Blknight.aus]

why ****fart around with a 302 when a few more cubes nets you a nice holden v8?

[Slunnie]

Hey Slunnie.
I didnt need to touch the handbrake,firewall,floor tranny hump or seat box,neither has the conversion in my Bros.
I did have to remove/replace the front crossmember and brace the steering relay.Much easier than it sounds!!!!
Andrew
For me, that may have been a LT95 issue. The ZF/LT230 which is in it now is much smaller. Mine also started as a 4cyl rather than a 6cyl. The C4 sounds the goods, it that to a series transfer or LT230. I'd love to do a serious V8 conversion and the C4 appears to be a good option to back it.

[LandyAndy]

Hi Slunnie.
Series Transfercase.Mine was a 4cyl,plenty of bulkhead clearance.
BlkNight
It was always intended for a decent 351 to reside in the engine bay,which has a few more cubes than the holden stable offer:p:p:p:p
I did have a ZK Fairlane for a while with a tough EX pursuit "black" motor which was to be the donor mojo,but I got an offer from a ford nutter I couldnt refuse.
Andrew

[rovercare]

why ****fart around with a 302 when a few more cubes nets you a nice holden v8?

Because a windsor can be crammed in so much neater and easier, due to being so narrow across the heads;)

Plus he has one:p

[LandyAndy]

Make sure you go Windsor for the main reason Rovercare mentions,the Windsor has a tighter V that makes it much more compact.Mine is Cleveland,as thats what I had.Only need to change the dump pipes to go Windsor on mine,trans and engine mounts match.
Andrew

[LandyAndy]

Here is a pic of mine.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/776.jpg
Andrew

[Jimmy]

I'm reinvigorating this debate. The advice so far has been great.

I've still got the 302 Windsor in parts and the S3 GS.

The question now is, will the ex-army diffs and transfer case hold up to the 302 windsor?? AND, what gearbox would be best to use, and may mate to the tranny?? Or maybe new tranny?? I'm thinking a little Auto transmission may also be nice??

I realize there is a fair bit of stuffing about, but the key at this point is working what will work the best and can be done the cheapest. I will also need to get it over the pits for rego in WA and want it to look original except for under the bonnet

I'm looking for the V8 but don't need to conquer mountains.

cheers
Jim

[rovercare]

I'm reinvigorating this debate. The advice so far has been great.

I've still got the 302 Windsor in parts and the S3 GS.

The question now is, will the ex-army diffs and transfer case hold up to the 302 windsor?? AND, what gearbox would be best to use, and may mate to the tranny?? Or maybe new tranny?? I'm thinking a little Auto transmission may also be nice??

I realize there is a fair bit of stuffing about, but the key at this point is working what will work the best and can be done the cheapest. I will also need to get it over the pits for rego in WA and want it to look original except for under the bonnet

I'm looking for the V8 but don't need to conquer mountains.

cheers
Jim

A C4 is the go, very short physically, cheap as chips to build tough

Series transfers are strong enough and a rear salisbury is also, although, stand on it and you may wanna upgrade axles:D

[isuzurover]

The question now is, will the ex-army diffs and transfer case hold up to the 302 windsor?? AND, what gearbox would be best to use, and may mate to the tranny?? Or maybe new tranny?? I'm thinking a little Auto transmission may also be nice??

Contrary to popular opinion, the internals of military series diffs/axles are no different to civvie versions.

If you have a series 3 109" (LWB ), then you will have a salisbury rear axle, which will hold up fine. The front is weaker, but if you take it easy with the right foot offroad then it should also be OK.

[Sports Lorry]

why ****fart around with a 302 when a few more cubes nets you a nice holden v8?

I'm about to start a 308 conversion. Have you done one?

[Jeff]

A mate had a 2A hardtop with a 302/C4 he did in about 1988, instead of the Salisbury he had a 9" Ford made with the correct offset. The diff was done by a bloke at Diff Trans Spares in Silverwater who had a 2A wagon with a 302, a non-LR manual and a 9" rear. The thing went well, especially on the road and good offroad and he really gave it heaps.

Jeff

:rocket:

[pfillery]

Why oh why would you deliberately put an engine in that will not only cost more to run but more to register and probably insure too?

My 186 conversion isn't exactly cheap to run, I'd imagine a v8 would be more to run plus more rego costs and most insurance companies are loath to insure anything non original. The 186 has plenty of power. I'm pretty sure in Qld the maximum engine size for a Landrover series is 4300cc petrol or 4000cc diesel, correct me if I'm wrong but a 302CU would exceed this, in qld at the least!

If I could afford to do a drop out drop in engine change I'd go back to a 4 cyl. Too hard to find a good motor, too much mod work needed and too costly.

[rovercare]

Why oh why would you deliberately put an engine in that will not only cost more to run but more to register and probably insure too?

My 186 conversion isn't exactly cheap to run, I'd imagine a v8 would be more to run plus more rego costs and most insurance companies are loath to insure anything non original. The 186 has plenty of power. I'm pretty sure in Qld the maximum engine size for a Landrover series is 4300cc petrol or 4000cc diesel, correct me if I'm wrong but a 302CU would exceed this, in qld at the least!

If I could afford to do a drop out drop in engine change I'd go back to a 4 cyl. Too hard to find a good motor, too much mod work needed and too costly.

Becuase red sixes are the devils spawn and you'll probably get as good if not better economy from a little baby windsor

[wagoo]

This one had a worked 351 in it.. top loader gearbox, stock transfer and running Nissan GU diffs

Camo


Top loader gearbox? What with something like a 2.2:1 first gear?
I recall a few years back,with my ultra low geared 4cyl series 2, towing a CJ6 Jeep up the back hill on my property because it didn't have enough torque to keep the wheels (7.50x16)turning, without revving the engine too high and bogging the vehicle down.
This vehicle varied slightly in spec to the above in that it had a 302,toploader,Dana 18 transfercase(2.46:1 low range) and 4.1 Landcruiser diffs.Overall gear ratio in low range 1st gear=22:1. about 21:1 with a std Series 3 t/case
It is said that there is no substitute for cubic inches.But a decent range of gear ratios goes a long way to compensate for a relative lack of engine capacity.

[Tank]

why ****fart around with a 302 when a few more cubes nets you a nice holden v8?
holden/chev motor 200lbs heavier, longer and wider and dissy at the back where you cant get to it, Fords Rule, Regards Frank.

[Bearman]

I did a S3 conversion about 25 years ago. Used a 351 clevo I rebuilt with C4 auto mated to a S3 transfer case with a Marks adaptor and replacement C4 mainshaft which uses a jack shaft between the C4 and transfer. Used some super low ratio transfer gears, can't remember what the ratio was but it was superb offroad and unbelievable onroad. I used a ford 4 core HD radiator, bigger fan and thermos as well. All of this was just able to control the temps when offroad lugging with a load and trailer attached. I converted the front with 110 doors, guards, bonnet and radiator panel and used a modified front RR diff and a widened rear Salisbury (both 3.54 ratio) with a MD fitted. Had to move the front crossmember forward, used the Ford XY/ZD ram on the drag link for power steering. It was a big project and I was very happy with it but in the end the cost of running it was too much. Theres a couple of photos of it in another thread, Series 3 disc brake conversion, I think its called.

[BigJon]

dissy at the back where you cant get to it, .

Distributor at the back where it doesn't get sprayed with water every time you drive near a puddle.

[Veryan]

I picked this up a year or so back for parts. It had had a 302 fitted. It gives a good idea of the modifications that were done as I stripped it. It had a C4 auto box bolted via a marks 4WD adpater plate to a series transfer case and running rangie diffs.


http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/remlr-discoveries/21339d1262260862-discovered-just-facts-dsc03486.jpg

It had the engine mounts moved, #2 x-member was untouched

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/remlr-discoveries/21342d1262261232-discovered-just-facts-dsc03708.jpg


http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/remlr-discoveries/21343d1262261322-discovered-just-facts-dsc04069.jpg

rad panel had been moved forward/discarded and a ford crossflow rad fitted with twin termo set up fitted.

32367

The bulkhead had been chopped and the trans tunnel had been shorterned.


http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/remlr-discoveries/21340d1262260975-discovered-just-facts-dsc03484.jpg

Hope the pics/links are of some use.

J

[woop]

Im currently doing a 302 conversion on my '76 S3. I wanted to keep mine looking completly standard from the outside. I'm using a 5.0 EFI Windsor from an AU Falcon and GQ transmission with a Dellow bellhousing. Using a Leafsprung GQ front axle and MQ H260 rear axle. Going to use the plain steel Nissan split rims to try and sortof keep the original look. This version of the 302 has a very short nosed water pump and have been able to use a mechanical fan from a later model Disco 1 which fits the threaded part on the Ford Water pump. Then hoping to be able to use a narrowed down Disco 1 radiator. Its been very much a work in progress collecting all the parts but will be getting into it very soon. Not sure if the EFI Intake will fit under my dished bonnet yet. Will take plenty of pics as it progresses

Nick

[pfillery]

In a lot of cases (I believe it is so in Qld) you can only go up to a certain size (capacity in cc) engine, I believe in a land rover series it is 4.2l so wouldn't that exclude a 308 or 350? Maybe it is allowed if you get if completely engineered rather than just inspected.

[wagoo]

The other day in my pile of bits I forgot I had, I found a nicely fabricated and machined Chevy to series gearbox adaptor .Don't know who manufactured it, but one would have to wonder what the hell they were thinking!
Wagoo.

[ScottW]

QLD engine swapping regs are based on the original vehicle weight.
Weight x factor = max engine size.
Older cars or those with a seperate chassis are allowed larger engines.