I havent gotten far but can start to shed some light as I go along.
Firstly I am using a VP series II engine in my LN106 with Marks4WD Adaptors gear, background to swapping is not currently relevent.
Marks supply a shortened and re-splined commodore output shaft to adapt to the toyota transfer case, to install this the automatic gearbox is almost pulled down to nothing, after watching a mechanic do it I can tell you that it is definately not a job for a backyard warrior
, almost everything is removed and re-fitted. Atleast this gives you the chance to find out the condition of the box though...Fitting the transfer case onto the rear of the commodore box appears easy(I will add to this later after the correct components have been supplied..), the extension housing would have been removed while the output shaft was being installed so to attach the adaptor itself is a simple task of a gasket and 6 bolts...
With ALL hilux models you must remove the passenger side engine mount tower and clean the surrounding area of the chassis, this is where you will be welding the supplied engine mount tower that attaches to a std commodore engine mount.
The drivers side is connected using a std hilux engine mounting rubber joined to the V6 via another adaptor plate directly to the engine, the toyota rubber mount must be flipped 180 degrees to where it sits on a yota engine otherwise the drivers side of the engine will sit low and it is impossible to get the passenger side sitting true for welding.
So basically now you simply do a trial fit of the engine. Lower it in place with the gearbox and transfer attached, bolt the transfer case down into the crossmember and the crossmember to the chassis as per normal mounting. Attach the D/S engine mount and do it up as per normal.
Now you can sit the supplied engine mount post on the chassis and bolt it to the engine, make sure that it sits true on the chassis whilst the engine is held by the hoist.
The marks adaptors guidebook suggests doing all this, tacking the mounting post to the chassis and then removing the engine and gearbox to do the final welds on the post, I had a skilled and confident welder doing mine and he was comfortable welding it on while the engine was still connected. I guess this could save a damn lot of time if you know someone as confident.
Be very aware of the clearance between the N/S engine mount and the airconditioning compressor and allow for the engine to slump onto the engine mount rubbers once it isn't held by a hoist.
Will post pics tomorrow of the current progress
That's it so far, at this point the engine is sitting in position and ready for the next step etc. I have a gearbox drama that needs addressing but will continue the bible entry and edit this post to suit...
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