Thread: rangy-v8 in series2a 109

There is an adaptor kit. It is a tight squeeze. However, even if you have a very gentle right foot you WILL break gearboxes.

A few of the guys in Sydney used to fit Ford 302 and C4 autos onto series boxes. So there is no reason you couldn't do it, although it would be easier to do with a Rover V8/ZF combination in a SIII Stage 1.

can be done Id only go so far as the very early 3.5 spec for power shoving a zf22 modded into a series Tcase.

you will still want a gentle boot.

i see no reason why you can't fit a rangey V8 and auto box..

i expect you'll have to move the gearbox mount(s), have custom length props made up..
you'll have to figure out where you can mount the gear selector lever (i'm guessing it's cable linked ) and you may have to modify the bell/flywheel housing crossmember to clear the front prop

handbrake will take a little sorting as will the floor plates and tunnel/seatbox (maybe use defender items)

watch out for the front crank pulley striking on the axle/diff housing on compression with a standard chassis, possibly less of a problem with a 1ton/combat chassis with the extended dumb irons and shackles

no space for the standard cooling fan to the best of my knowledge so i'd put a slimline electric one in front of the rad' (we are talking of retaining the standard Series style front end rather than Stage1/defender aren't we ?? )

3.54 diffs and preferably a Salisbury rear axle for the extra strength and hopefully a Stage1 front axle for the cv joints (i'd run a uj axle if needs be)

130 (ANR1534) rims and either 235/85 tyres or 7.50r General S.A.G.s, the S.A.G.s are proper period looking tyres in my opinion

if money/space/time/parts were no difficulty these are some of my dream ideas, unfortunately the aforementioned all block my experimentation

oh and it'd either have to be a truck cab or rag top

i have lots of ideas/thoughts of combination parts but already have a '59 88" that i'm stripping and rebuilding with a 200tdi for a mate and i still have my '70-71 Skippy patiently waiting for me to start on it

this is my last project, nine month strip and build


My 1965 109 pictures by NiteMare_08 - Photobucket

The NAS Defender 90 auto box would be the way to go although you will have to sacrifice something at one end. Either go the flat front or maybe remove the cross member behind the gearbox, although by using a disk hand brake conversion will allow you to go closer to the x-member.

i love the recessed front end of the Series motors so would have to keep any modifications towards the rear, if possible i think it would be worth looking for a sixpot chassis as most of the problem crossmembers are already 4" or so rearwards

Its not as easy as it sounds if you do it properly, you will be doing a lot of carving up of the body and chassis, you'll more than likely end up without the recessed front facia.

My advice is to start with a Stage 1 V8 chassis.

www.slunnie.com :: View topic - Ute2 Reincarnation

I always wanted to convert my SIII to a v8, but it was a 6 cyl so it was a tough fit. However, I once found a photo of a good conversion to a 4 cyl.



The drawbacks, as indicated by Mr Slunnie, are that to use a modern gearbox there is a lot of mods (read engineers reports) required. The other method (at the time, before the advent of the 5 speed) was to use an adaptor plate ( see the 2nd attachment) and use the series gearbox. ALLEGEDLY in the 4 cyl chassis, the engine mounts remained in place. The bigger drawback was pretzel driveshaft syndrome.

Some years later, I read of enthusiasts in the UK doing a cam change and some racing mods to bring the 2.25 up a little in power - it may be easier to try that.