3.5V8 auto gearbox in old SIII???

[CROver]

Hi guys,
Im a bit in dillema;should I put RR 3.5V8 with automatic gearbox and coil suspension+diffs in my old SIII SWB or is better combination 300 diesel+LT95 4 speed manual(engine is from Mercedes Benz passenger car-very common swap here).How thirsty is V8?Is auto gearbox weak,is it good solution for off-roading?Does V8 need a lot of maintenance,are his parts expencive?Do I need some strenghtnend parts in RR axels if I decide to run on 35" tyers?
need some help!
cheers
Tihomir

[Loanrangie]

V8 can be thirsty but is fairly cheap to maintain, the merc diesel sounds good, that is the w123 300 5 cylinder? a salisbury diff in the rear should be ok front could be a problem but the diesel will be kinder on them. big job to fit coils, maybe some parabolic leaf springs is easier option.

[Slunnie]

Gday Tihomir,
The V8, Auto and LT230 is very long, and so it the LT95 gearbox/Transfer. Both are a lot longer than the Series equiment. There are probably 2 ways that you can make it work that I can see, and they are both pretty involved.

I have done the V8 and LT95 into SWB conversion using the original front panels, and to do this it requires the front X-member to be moved forward, all other X-members to be removed and/modified, conversion to power steering with an outboard steering box so the radiator will fit and the wheelbase pushed out further or an amazingly stubby tailshaft fitted to the rear.

The other way may be to fit a late model front grill/bonnete etc if it will fit, and then move the driveline forward modifying the x-members to suit.

To run 35" tyres on RR axles you will really need lockers and HD axles for the strength.


Here is a pic of a IIa SWB with a Rover V8 and LT95 gearbox. The front crossmember has been moved forward already, and the handbrake drum sits beneath the large middle X-member.