Thread: Operation Ralph!

Hi All

I managed to pick up a 77 series 3 swb (nicknamed Smeg) with everything factory original and was thinking of pulling the factory diesel and seats out and putting them into Ralph the 2a so I can take it back to original and put the cortina seats and TD27 nissan motor out of Ralph into Smeg. As far as I know changing the motors over should be straight forward other than swapping the adapter plate over on the nissan motor. Is Smeg's gearbox the same as Ralph or is there a difference between the S3 (Smeg) and S2 (Ralph).

Cheers Ian

The series III box has synchro on all four gears, but is generally considered to be more fragile than the IIa box. Ralph's box should have synchro on 3/4 only.

It would be very straightforward to swap the entire engine/gearbox combo between vehicles. If you wanted to keep the gearboes in situ, that is not hard either but will mean you will have to fiddle around getting the output shaft aligned with clutch plate.

With the adaptor plate, don't unbolt it from the motor! Just undo it at the bellhousing and let it come out with the donk. Consider it as part of the motor.

Hi Guys
Well the cooler weather has arrived and I might get some time to get into Ralph (S2a) and Smeg (S3) over the next few weeks. All the body/rust work in the bulkhead has been rectified and I delivered both vehicles home today. The place is starting to look like a car yard again. I am going to swap the motors and put the 2.25 into Ralph and Smeg can have the TD27 Nissan motor. Smeg needs a new clutch though and that will be the first point of attack so I can get at least one vehicle mobile, registered and join our wonderful GCLROC (If they will have me). went to the club meeting (if you can call it a meeting, more like a social gathering) now THAT'S the way a club meeting should be!

Cheers Ian

P.S I'll take some photo's of the repair job on the bulkhead and the passenger footwell and post them up on Monday,

Thought for the day!
True wilderness
The space between a greenie's ears.

Hi Guys "n" Gals

Just pulled the motors out of ralph and smeg and we have a conumdrum. I did as you suggested Shonky and left the adapter plate on the nissan motor, but the studs on the 2 bell housings dont line up. I have attched a couple of photo's to show what's going on. I didnt really want to change the gearboxes unless I absolutely had to as the s3 is going to be my son's car and I would rather I had the box without all syncro's. Any idea's?? I have also found some water in cylinder no.1 in the "V" on the piston. The head gasket looks ok but the water seemed to be coming from underneath the gasket into the cylinder. This head gasket has "petrol" stamped into it below cyl. no.4, do they all use the same gasket or do you think someone has fitted the wrong one at some stage?
P.S. The first pic is ralphs bell housing and the 3rd pic is smegs bell housing.

Cheers Ezy.

Hi All

Does anyone have any idea's to the above question and can someone tell me the correct name of the blue paint used on the 2.25ltr motor (if it has one?). Got a heap of more photo's but I'm buggered if I can find the camera lead

Regards Ian

The colour, to the best of my knowledge is called "Duck egg blue".

I did a bit of research on engine colours, with the results at Paint for the engine.

Having gone to all that trouble, I decided I didn't like the colour anyway, and painted the engine cast iron grey.

I've still got the Dunsfolds and the VTR paints in the shed, if you're interested, although VTR paint should be readily available.

Peter

Originally Posted by peterg1001

I did a bit of research on engine colours, with the results at Paint for the engine.

Having gone to all that trouble, I decided I didn't like the colour anyway, and painted the engine cast iron grey.

I've still got the Dunsfolds and the VTR paints in the shed, if you're interested, although VTR paint should be readily available.

Peter

Thanks Peter
My brother lives at Wentworth Falls, I will get in touch with hinm and get him to contact you. Can you PM me with your phone no. pls.
Regards
Ian