I picked up an ecotec long motor for $10, perfect low K bottom end just need the efi manifold and a megasquirt ecu. I also have an earlier Buick V6 that will nearly bolt in.
Printable View
Preaty sure marks adaptors did a kit to fit the 3.8 dunny dore engin in a rangie if not it should be a near straight bolt up there both buick style blocks and the 3.8 from the series 1 vn with a modded chip like my bros old VN would be a ball tearer in a rangie and would give good economy :D:D:D
Gotta love the youth of today,
any probs, pre-perceived or otherwise, just clobber it with horsepower. Miss out on the experience.
DL
I couldnt live with the torque output of a standard Holden V6 in a heavy 4WD - the peak is way too high up in the rev range for my liking. An auto would probably disguise it however.
I once ordered a work ute (VS commodore) with a manual box and was very dissapointed with it. The auto ones went heaps better and were a lot more pleasant to drive.
If your motor is tired, as previously mentioned, you will be surprised how much of an improvement a new cam and lifters will bring. I went to a lot of expense a few years back replacing a tired 3.5 with 4.4 P76 plus EFI. When I pulled down the old motor, several lobes of the camshaft were very nearly round. Wish I had just rebuilt it.
(Flame Suit on)
I once spent time with a guy who built Rover V8s for Bathurst and he was of the view that the Rover 3.5 was as good as the 3.9 he said a number of critical things about the 3.9.
I also learnt that there is little difference between a good 3.5 and a standard 3.9. Something to think about.
The Yanks were right though nothing beats cubic inches
Although the 4.0 to 4.6 were always trouble without major funds spent there is nothing like a good 4.5 TVR great if you have a spare 30 K + Australian
In relation to 3.5's, we have one that was professionally rebuilt, lifted compression, heads modded, torque cam etc that is fitted to a P6 rover that is running the standard twin carbs & 3 speed auto that has 140hp at the rear wheels (obviously a sedan so only 2wd), the same mob did the work to my 3.9 V8 EFI which now has about 170hp at the rear wheels which is roughly what my P76 motor in my old 2 door was getting - at the end of the day I spent a lot less on the P76 as I bought it already rebuilt.
I'm aware that all dyno figures vary, but these 3 were all on the same dyno. The actual printouts show less than these figures as the emotive force is removed. These are just examples, the mechanic/tuner didn't want to attempt to EFI the P76 motor due to the cost of getting the computer chipped/modded etc correctly setup, also adaptor plates etc.
Rebuilding the existing engine also means less stuffing around getting mod plates etc as the same engine number is used