Outer Limits 4x4 Board

G,day guys, about to put a VT V8 into my 94 Runner, I have all the obvious questions answered or part answered and the V8 almost in my shed. I have three core and five core 308 radiators to choose from and get any mods done to, the engine already has the short water pump too.

Marks can supply the bulk of the conversion parts and I understand a GQ petrol power steering pump is required. I don't understand why I can't just bracket the Runner pump to the engine though.

I beleive a VN rear sump is the best one to start with too.

The point is you can never know all the tricks, you have to learn some.

Has anyone done this conversion and can you share any of the mods/ tricks so I can avoid as many delays as possible. I also reckon that a fair few of the mods will be the same as a carburetted 308.

Cheers

Struth wrote:G,day guys, about to put a VT V8 into my 94 Runner, I have all the obvious questions answered or part answered and the V8 almost in my shed. I have three core and five core 308 radiators to choose from and get any mods done to, the engine already has the short water pump too.

Marks can supply the bulk of the conversion parts and I understand a GQ petrol power steering pump is required. I don't understand why I can't just bracket the Runner pump to the engine though.

I beleive a VN rear sump is the best one to start with too.

The point is you can never know all the tricks, you have to learn some.

Has anyone done this conversion and can you share any of the mods/ tricks so I can avoid as many delays as possible. I also reckon that a fair few of the mods will be the same as a carburetted 308.

Cheers

vn or all v8 commodores have front bowl sumps if you want a rear bowl you need an early holden one with pickup to suit. from hq to wb i beleive

Thanks, just the sort of info I am after.

I also meant to ask what if any extractors will fit, ie SS block huggers, or what might be the best extractors to modify.

Cheers

what sorta g/box are u going to run? id run the 5 core radiator if u can because my vr v8 runs a little on the hot side on the beach, im running a series 2 VR V8 in my 85 lux with an early vn th700 auto, so if u want pics or help let me know? by the way, im running the standard commodore p/steer pump and brackets and it works a treat and looks like it belongs in the engine bay.

Struth just make a bracket up to suit your power steering (I've used my power steer pump since the conversion and it's ace) , You will have to check on clearence issues with the pulleys too maybe even make up some custom brackets to get the ancilleries all close & personal with the block.
Not sure about the exhaust, go have a chat with an ehaust shop.
The R-series gearbox will be fine and is well up to the task, what clutch are you thinking of running?

Toy-08V, thanks, I was going to see if the standard pump would fit the bay.
I also need to look at wether or not the Toyo pump is better sealed against water ingress, it's definitely got a smaller radius but is also longer, another thing to investigate, but if the commy one fits in then maybe I will fit the toyo after the conversion. Though it's probably best to mate it to the engine sooner rather than later. I've also learnt that the V8 creates a lot of heat in that little engine bay so yeh, a reco on the five core will be the go.

I will be putting up some questions regarding the fuel injected motor as my list of questions gets bigger if don't mind.

HG clutch wise I know marks sell clutch gear, but any recomendations you may have would be helpful, apparently a 10" holden clutch plate will do, not sure which clutch mechanism to use yet. Obviously heavy duty gear is best just which ones will fit is the question.

Thanks guys.

Question, will the Toyota V6 fuel pump feed the V8?

Cheers

Easily.

Up until 1 year ago I used a stock Toy 4cyl efi pump to feed my V8.

Well heres the main bits,





And the parts list so far,

Holden VT V8 with attachments as pictured $2,350.00
Marks speedo interface $230.00
Marks Oil pressure adaptor $35.00
Marks water temp adaptor $35.00
Marks bellhousing kit $695.00
Marks clutch master cylinder kit $125.00
Marks diagnostic loom and light $50.00
Marks tacho interface $ 140.00
Marks computer memcal change $345.00
Marks engine mount kit $280.00
Marks VT interface loom $405.00
Total $4,690.00

Looks like I need to buy the marks clutch set at $370.00 to get the spline adaptor. Unless the Toyo one is 21T?
That will put me at $5k if I am lucky i can keep it under $6k without the engineering costs to come later.
Cheers

Add a bit more for extractors and Y pipe and rebuild on the five core, maybe more like $7.5k.

Cheers

Jeeezz......it looks wide!!!

Lexus V8 is about 700mm wide, do you know how it compares to that? almost looks wider?

Can't wait to see how it fits!!

Across the heads at their widest point 560mm,
steering pump pulley to outside edge of alternator 760mm
The 760mm is very close to being centred about the crank,

From centre of crank to top of engine is 10mm taller than the 3VZE, not a prob with the body lift in place already.

Cheers Shaun.

From rear of head to water pump pulley mount is 70mm longer than the 3VZE. The 3VZE could afford to be 35mm closer to the firewall than it is and still pass engineering, so that makes the V8 effectively 35mm longer than the V6 if I sit to within 15mm of the firewall. The marks fitting instructions indicate that you need to "adjust" the firewall with a hammer, so I reckon it can go to within 15mm of firewall.

Cheers

Well you got me thinking Twisty, so i took some accurate measurments,

Head width.............................V8 515........V6 450
Across all engine parts............V8 740........V6 715
Height from crank centre.........V8 440........V6 485
Length bellhousing to W pump..V8 690........V6 550

useable engine bay width, from center line to brake booster position
Bay 570 V8 width 515 = 27.5mm clearence from head to booster.

If the V8 is taken to the firewall on the passenger side where the head is offset rearward compared to driver side and the firewall is "adjusted" to suit then front of water pump to standard V6 radiator will
be 35mm. Should be heaps to accept an engine driven fan which would need to be 70mm deep on the blades before it clashed.

Who knows how much deeper the 5 core rad is before my mate drops it off?

Length is the only real fitting issue I think.

Cheers

And the parts list so far,

Holden VT V8 with attachments as pictured $2,350.00
Marks speedo interface $230.00
Marks Oil pressure adaptor $35.00
T PIECE FROM COVENTRYS , REPCO ABOUT $15.00

Marks water temp adaptor $35.00
DRILL AND TAP MANIFOLD FOR TOYOTA TEMP SENDER
OR HOOK DIRECT TO HOLDEN SENDER UNIT

Marks bellhousing kit $695.00
Marks clutch master cylinder kit $125.00
HZJ LANDCRUISER CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ABOUT $80.00

Marks diagnostic loom and light $50.00
RUN A WIRE FROM THE ECU TO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ALREADY IN DASH

Marks tacho interface $ 140.00
RECALIBRATE TACHO ABOUT $80/100.00

Marks computer memcal change $345.00
Marks engine mount kit $280.00
Marks VT interface loom $405.00
Total $4,690.00

Looks like I need to buy the marks clutch set at $370.00 to get the spline adaptor. Unless the Toyo one is 21T?
TOYOTA DYNA 10"CLUTCH PLATE WITH HOLDEN PRESSURE PLATE

That will put me at $5k if I am lucky i can keep it under $6k without the engineering costs to come later.
Cheers[/quote]

Took me a while to see why you quoted me Toyrex

The senders are small change so savings there don't worry me,

Yep coulda saved $45 on the clutch master cylinder, the unit looks like it probably is one only it comes with an adaptor plate that changes the angle(read rotation) slightly,

Diag light, if it's that easy I will take the marks one back, will look into it, it has more than one wire though, I can fit the marks unit myself and time is my enemy (busy busy at work),

Clutch plate, YES as HG pointed out and I have now realised, it is simply a standard GM flywheel and pressure plate, with a 10" toyo clutch plate.
I will be seeing the local clutch blokes who looked after HG for my clutch bits.

Some H-Duty clutch gear will be the go,

Cheers

Just some more pics,

What you get at marks for near on $2k,


My 5 core rad ready to go to the radiator man for a rebuild,


Will source the Flywheel, clutch plate and pressure plate next week, then just need to sort out exhaust (manifold/extractors) before starting the fit up.

Cheers

As already stated the 308 pressure plate and Dyna clutch plate is the way to go, I used this setup in my old Hilux and it worked well.

i have been down this road if you budget 5 grand, add about half of that again. I was dead certain i could do my swap for 5 grand, cost me 8 in the end including engineering. Same happens to everybody. Good luck with it hope it all goes smoothly.

i have been down this road if you budget 5 grand, add about half of that again. I was dead certain i could do my swap for 5 grand, cost me 8 in the end including engineering. Same happens to everybody. Good luck with it hope it all goes smoothly.

Yes, I can dream of bringing it home for $6.5k but $7.5k is probably more realistic, fortunately the radiator and sump mods come for free and if necessary I already have a 16" thermo hooked up to the V6.

Cheers

Finally got some info on the required flywheel.

Holden do make more than one for the 5 litre.
The flywheel required for the conversion needs 153 teeth.
The wreckers inform me that these come from VN to VS Commodores.

It would be best to count the teeth before buying one though.



Cheers

Hey Struth
The different teeth on the flywheel is a Chev thing not a holden thing. Holden are the same on the V8. I am running a flywheel off a HT with a commodore starter on my conversion and it all works. I also know people who are running a VS gear reduction starter motor on a VH with no dramas. The only difference with the flywheels is if it is a 253 clutch or a 308 clutch. 253 Clutch is 9.5" and a 308 is 10" so the flywheels are drilled different. I have a 308 clutch in mine , standard holden 10" pressure plate , and a 10" clutch plate for a Supra box. They are all over the counter items.
The teeth difference is Big and Small block Chev. 153 teeth is small block chev and the small block is internally ballanced and i think 167 is Big Block Chev and the Big Block is Externally Balanced. Thats where the difference lies.
If you need any other info PM me for my number.

Your VT motor is a serpentine bely drive setup for the accesories isn't it? If so could you please send me a couple of happy snaps of the water pump pulley and the crank pulley cause i wnat to change mine over to serpentine.
Thanks Matt

Your VT motor is a serpentine bely drive setup for the accesories isn't it? If so could you please send me a couple of happy snaps of the water pump pulley and the crank pulley cause i wnat to change mine over to serpentine.
Thanks Matt

Thanks for the info Matt.
Will send post pics here tommorow.

Cheers

good choise of engine

krf_bb wrote:good choise of engine

Thanks mate, I think it will be the best petrol V8 for the job.

The lexus was very interesting but I am confident of the decision to go Holden.

It is basically ready for the fit up now, but as with all things I just need to find the time.

Cheers

Well 5 months after starting, the conversion is on it's way,

Rent-a-bomb rented for the next month,
Runner is off the road,
new decals fitted,

Just the easy bits left now



Should be in the grudge tommorow getting things unbolted.

Cheers

i like the decals shaun

robsrunner2 wrote:i like the decals shaun

Yep had them for 4 months but couldn't try them out before she was off the road for the changeover.

Nice and subtle I thinks

Cheers

Went to hook up my diag light the other week and the VT doesnt have the plugs for it to work, that diag light works with VS model engines.. Yours might work but id check to see if you even have the plug that you are supposed to wire it up to.. its a white plug that is located about 20-30cm from the 3 main plugs on the loom( 2x black 1xgrey) Mark told me the VT ser1 motors commuinicate via a computer or something and the light wont work, but they are working on something atm...

I hope they get it sorted soon as I kind of want a check light onthe engine for fualt coades...

Or has anyone else found a way of wiring up one of these lights to a VT ser1 motor?

Marks sold me their diag light kit, (for the VT V8) it's the usual confusion from his sales staff, they need training on their own product. Either you have been given the wrong info, or I have been led to purchase a diag light that wont work, time will tell.

I will have a look for the relevant plug and report back.

Cheers