Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Posted: **Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:14 pm**

Hi all

Has anyone succesfully completed (registered and engineered) a V6 Commodore engine conversion into a Feroza with Hilux running gear etc?

What costs and troubles etc?

i see alot of speculation on this board but no definate answers.

Thanks alot

Posted: **Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:16 pm**

Yes, it has been done. NO, you probably couldn't get it engineered now if you did it.

There are better engine swap options than a commo V6.

Posted: **Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:57 pm**

I'd personally love to do it with mine, had a bit of experience with Ecotec V6 (moreso than the earlier VN-VP-VR 3.8) and if it were do-able I'd love to whack an Ecotec+auto in my Feroza, so I am interested in whatever you come up with.

If you can put an LS1 in an MX-5, an Ecotec in a Feroza should be doable.

Ecotec engine weighs about 178kg with accessories.

Holden Grey 6cyl are 170kg w/accessories
Red 253 V8 are 213kg w/accessories
7.0L LS7 V8 are 228kg w/accessories

Posted: **Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:25 am**

Yes its been done.

Engine, transmission, transfer ( Lux ), axles ( Lux ) etc etc and a shit load of lift. Is still kicking around in Vic ( was sold just last year ) and is engineered.

As I understand it its not engineerable now if that matters and the outcome was wayyy to high for my liking and like all this type of conversion is FAR from cheap but its been done.

On standard Diahatsu running gear ? -

So the trails been blazed - go ahead and do it. IIRC was at least partly done be Joe ( Blow ).

Posted: **Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:55 pm**

try this for putting the v6 and auto into a 4x4

flyinwall wrote:if you want to put the 3.8 into the jackaroo (or any 4x4 with an asin warner auto gearbox) and you have an auto then the the comodore 3.8 will bolt straight up to the auto bellhousing but you will need to modify the torque converter (or just the feet so it will bolt up to the v6 flex plate) and then do the engine mounts and wiring and your all set to go but remember this only works on the automatic transmission as it is a slightly different pattern to the manual bellhousing i hope this helps others out there

this also works with any vehicle with an asin warner auto g/box as the 94 jackeroo/rodeo auto bellhousing will bolt to this g/box and these g/boxes are found in a variety of cars including toyota's so if you have a car with an asin warner auto then all you need is a bellhousing from a 94 jackaroo/rodeo and a slightly modified converter and your in buisiness without having to spend $$$$$$ for a marks addaptor

then all you need to do is the engine mounts

Posted: **Fri Jan 15, 2010 11:52 am**

Yes its dead easy.......right up to the point of actually doing it.
Have you measured the length of the engine / transmission assembly ?
AW's are a loooooong transmission but very strong.

In a SWB like the Feroza package length is something to be very watchfull of otherwise the rear output shaft ends up on a savage / impossible angle.

Given the fact that its possible to break standard running gear with a standard engine, you would need to do a total swap.

But it certainly is something to look at IMO although i believe the V6 is too heavy for a Feroza and ther are better choices out there.

Perpas its just easier to put a Feroza body on a SWB patrol or suchlike... AKA the FatRoza.

Posted: **Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:22 pm**

Yea the research i have been doing indicates that i gotta chuck the standard running gear for pretty much anything above standard.

is there any "kits" out there that just have the mounts etc and then all you have to do is supply the engine, box etc?

Posted: **Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:27 am**

No I'm not aware of a kit..... its such a low volume vehicle that the converters just wouldn't bother.....

And making mounts is such a tiny part of the job that if you are concerned about that then I wonder if you should really consider it.

Its a very significant task... mechanical, body, wiring, cooling, fuel system ,brakes, etc etc.

And of course, and if it matters - it will never be legal so no insurance and if you ever get caught it will never get back on the road.

Unless you have VERY deep pockets / lots of expertiese / extensive facilities
just leave it as a dream

Just because its "do-able" doesn't mean its worth going.

Posted: **Sun Jan 17, 2010 7:26 pm**

MightyMouse wrote: just leave it as a dream

Just because its "do-able" doesn't mean its worth going.

isn't that what they told Henry Ford

Posted: **Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:25 am**

I was wondering where it went to. I sold it 4yrs ago to some guy who only kept it for a year before selling it again. Geez I miss the ol' Ferozious....the only thing I should have done was to make it an auto instead of manual g'box and add F+R lockers.

Good Luck in trying to Engineer another one with similar running gear

MightyMouse wrote:Yes its been done.

Engine, transmission, transfer ( Lux ), axles ( Lux ) etc etc and a shit load of lift. Is still kicking around in Vic ( was sold just last year ) and is engineered.

As I understand it its not engineerable now if that matters and the outcome was wayyy to high for my liking and like all this type of conversion is FAR from cheap but its been done.

On standard Diahatsu running gear ? -

So the trails been blazed - go ahead and do it. IIRC was at least partly done be Joe ( Blow ).

Posted: **Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:02 pm**

Sorry re my ignorance, but wasn't it you that was the original owner / converter ?

It was awhile ago and the details have sort of faded a bit.......

Posted: **Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:38 pm**

MightyMouse wrote:Sorry re my ignorance, but wasn't it you that was the original owner / converter ?

It was awhile ago and the details have sort of faded a bit.......

Yeah, twas me...........seems like a long time ago now !

If anyone is still interested in asking 'q's about the conversion, they should contact Sandy Bowman, as he did most of the conversion

Posted: **Sat Feb 20, 2010 5:37 am**

its not that hard or complicated, I useda vr v6 & auto, then coupled it to a h/lux trany. marks addapters supplied all the bits & peices to join them together, they even have modded engine mounts to suit commadore to h/lux chassis (whitch was so close they worked fine) superior engenering do an aftermarket handbrake setup that bolts to the h/lux trany..
I also upgraded my breaks & booster for legal reasons for mod plating..
after breaking a few diffs I went to GU & GQ nissan running gear..

goodluck, have fun, & check it out from the engineers first to see what they require to road legal blue plate it.

cheers piglet

Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Engine Conversion V6 Commodore engine in Feroza.

Engine Conversion V6 Commodore engine in Feroza.