Power plant change...

[stevenmd]

Although I am about a year away from this project for my S3, I am beginning my look at the different options. We are a family of 7 (2 adults, 5 kids) and the truck will mainly be used as a DD/family hauler/weekend trips and a few longer trips every now and then. I have no qualms with the current military 2.25 petrol engine that is in there now but it has nowhere near enough power to haul the family and, heaven forbid, a few belongings.

I am contemplating a Vortec 350 or a diesel. If I go with a diesel, which one? I know a diesel will have pulling power but will it be slow as molasses? I need enough speed/power combination to travel at highway speeds with a fully loaded truck, possible pulling a small off road type trailer, etc.

Oh, and I will be going with an automatic transmission if that makes a difference in the decision making process. And then which tranny???? Transfer case?

Let the games begin!:victory:

Thanks!

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Talk to Grease Cruiser about the Cummins 3.3t swap they're doing at Proffitt's Cruiser's. A lot of mine trucks use it with an auto.

Here's a link to a guy on 'Mud that had Proffitt's do it and now he's got two more swaps planned. One which includes an early Rover.


http://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/266807-cummins-b3-3-fj45.html

 

[stevenmd]

Talk to Grease Cruiser about the Cummins 3.3t swap they're doing at Proffitt's Cruiser's. A lot of mine trucks use it with an auto.

Here's a link to a guy on 'Mud that had Proffitt's do it and now he's got two more swaps planned. One which includes an early Rover.


http://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/266807-cummins-b3-3-fj45.html

Nice, thanks! I forgot about that forum.

 

[Antichrist]

You might want to consider a Rover 200Tdi. Appears to be a pretty easy swap, wouldn't have to change your gearbox (it'll bolt right up) and a lot of people have done it so there's a fair bit of experience around.
It's what I've decided to put in one of my 109's for those reasons.

 

[stevenmd]

You might want to consider a Rover 200Tdi. Appears to be a pretty easy swap, wouldn't have to change your gearbox (it'll bolt right up) and a lot of people have done it so there's a fair bit of experience around.
It's what I've decided to put in one of my 109's for those reasons.

Timm Cooper lives nearby and can fab up any mounts I need. I want to go to an automatic b/c my lovely wife will insist on driving it... she tends to grind the gears pretty bad when she drives a manual transmission.:Wow1:

 

[Alaska Mike]

You might look at the 4.3L too. The power profile is pretty good, and it wouldn't be as tight a fit.

 

[Antichrist]

Timm Cooper lives nearby and can fab up any mounts I need. I want to go to an automatic b/c my lovely wife will insist on driving it... she tends to grind the gears pretty bad when she drives a manual transmission.:Wow1:

Then insist she learn how to drive a 4 speed.
Tell her the story about the woman's husband who died because she couldn't drive a manual and get and him out of the boonies to medical help.

 

[Mercedesrover]

4.3 V6 with a carb
TH350
Dana 18

Compact, proven, cheap.

Will somebody please put this combination in a Series truck!

 

[stevenmd]

4.3 V6 with a carb
TH350
Dana 18

Compact, proven, cheap.

Will somebody please put this combination in a Series truck!

I have idea the make of the 4.3 V6, what is it? Any link to power specs of the items mentioned?
Thanks!

 

[Overdrive]

It's a widely used General Motors engine.
From Wikipedia:

The Vortec 4300 is a 90° V6 truck engine, replacing the Chevrolet 250 in light trucks and 200 cu in (3.3 L) and 229 cu in (3.8 L) 90-degree V6s in passenger cars. The 4300 is based on the 350 cu in (5.7 L) Chevrolet small-block V8, and first appeared in 1985 with the throttle-body injected LB4 in passenger cars; light trucks and vans used Quadrajet carburetors for 1985. In 1991, the limited-edition GMC Syclone featured a 280 hp (210 kW) and 350 lb·ft (475 N·m) turbocharged and intercooled LB4 with the first use of multi-point fuel injection on a Vortec V6. The central-port injected L35 (Vin 'W') debuted in 1992; the cylinder block was slightly changed, a balance shaft was added to remove minor vibrations, and better breathing yielded 200 horsepower (150 kW). Another CPI engine, the LF6, joined in 1996 with the introduction of Vortec cylinder heads, while the LB4 was retired after 1998. In 2002, GM introduced a new multi-point injected LU3 engine, and a LG3 variant appeared soon after. This engine's origins date back to 1955, when the original Chevy small-block V-8 was introduced.

All Vortec 4300s use a cast iron block and heads and 4 in (101.60 mm) bore and 3.48 in (88.39 mm) stroke, both of which are the same as a 350, which gives them a displacement of 262.39 cubic inches (4,299.8 cc). Connecting rods still measure 5.7 in (144.78 mm) although the rod journal diameter is 2.25 in (57.15 mm). 1992 and later cylinder blocks used a different timing cover since these engines used a balance shaft (some 1992 production cylinder blocks for the LB4 with TBI induction used the 'traditional' front timing chain cover from the small block Chevrolet). They are OHV engines with two valves per cylinder and are produced in Tonawanda, New York and Romulus, Michigan. Power output of the new LU3/LG3 engines is 180 hp (130 kW) to 200 hp (150 kW) and 245 lb·ft (332 N·m) to 260 lb·ft (353 N·m).

4300 applications:

1985-2005 Chevrolet Astro/GMC Safari
1991-1993 GMC Syclone/GMC Typhoon
1988-1995 Chevrolet Blazer/GMC Jimmy
2001-2002 Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana
1988-2003 Chevrolet S-10/GMC S-15
1994-2001 Oldsmobile Bravada
1985-2001 Chevrolet C/K
LU3 applications:

Chevrolet Astro/GMC Safari (base models)
Chevrolet S10 Blazer / GMC S15 Jimmy
Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana (base models)
Chevrolet S-10/GMC Sonoma
Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra (base models)
GMC Envoy
Isuzu Hombre (optional)
Oldsmobile Bravada (base model)
LB4 applications:

1991 GMC Syclone
1992–1993 GMC Typhoon

 

[Hank]

The 200tdi would be cool. But, $$$$

Grab a Rover v8 and build it a bit. Or, find you a Callaway.

 

[James86004]

I think Timm Cooper put a GM 4.8 V8 / auto tranny combo in someone's Series truck. I have the similar 5.3 V8 in my pickup and it is a nice engine. It is smaller physically than the Rover V8, has more power, torque and gets better fuel economy.

 

[JSBriggs]

I think Timm Cooper put a GM 4.8 V8 / auto tranny combo in someone's Series truck. I have the similar 5.3 V8 in my pickup and it is a nice engine. It is smaller physically than the Rover V8, has more power, torque and gets better fuel economy.

Timm's done a couple. Mehdi Saghafi has one S3 88", and Mark Pilkington has a 109 that just got done. Steven you might see if you can take Marks for a test drive. I think he has an Auto if I recall. Then again Mehdi has a 350 in his 109 that is worthy of a test drive as well.

The 4.3 is a decent choice, but Im a bit leary of the Dana 18. Ive seen a few too many broken ones, and while it makes the combo Jim sugested a direct bolt together, the series Tcase is actually a decent unit.

You should also consider powersteering as well. There are several decent options out there.

-Jeff

 

[EricWS]

That 3.3 Cummins looks interesting.

How about that Timm Cooper Cummins 6 conversion? The 109 Safari Top in Sand. Looks like an outstanding rig. Or what was that Marine Blue 109 that Timm did recently?

EwS

 

[stevenmd]

Timm's done a couple. Mehdi Saghafi has one S3 88", and Mark Pilkington has a 109 that just got done. Steven you might see if you can take Marks for a test drive. I think he has an Auto if I recall. Then again Mehdi has a 350 in his 109 that is worthy of a test drive as well.

The 4.3 is a decent choice, but Im a bit leary of the Dana 18. Ive seen a few too many broken ones, and while it makes the combo Jim sugested a direct bolt together, the series Tcase is actually a decent unit.

You should also consider powersteering as well. There are several decent options out there.

-Jeff

That's right, I completely forgot about Medhi's truck. I know Mark recently had it done but I don't think it's ready to drive yet.