Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Just doing some learning

What would be a good V8 engine, autogearbox and xfer case option to put into a fairly short wheelbase vehicle? Low gearing options would be ideal as well. Currently thinking a Rover 3.5L + autobox + toy xfercase would be an ideal combo, but unsure if this is possible, and what auto you would need..

Trying to work out possible combos, costs, adapters required..

why the obsession with v8s. it seems every second person is asking about how to fit a v8 into something. Why not a V6 or a 4 with all the available gearing options a powerful and heavy V8 seems to be overkill. Surely by going with a less powerful engine and low gearing breakages will be fewer and costs will be kept down.

Don't get me wrong I love a V8 as much as the next man I have a VG coupe with a V8 and love it but in the application of a low geared rockcrawler or general 4wd I don't see the need

Well...

I've never had a high powered vehicle, want one, so putting in a V8 is a good idea to me

I'm not looking at a big V8, the rover 3.5l sounds like a great compromise between size/power etc. Price is also an issue, the engines seem to be going for a relatively good price.

I've heard not so good things about dunnydore engines which is why I shy away abit from their 6's and 8's.

I don't like the tractor sound of lux engines

What about a 253 or 308 with a Turbo 350 or 400 ?

Cheap, old school technology for ease of use / repair / replacement

Not sure about weight or how long this combo will be in a SWB.

get a rotary bro. have you got da boost?

rover v8s are cheap and good but they're pretty big and heavy

your not thinking of putting a v8 into the feroza are ya murry ???
get a solid axle under the front first
the IFS will be sh!t with the weight of a v8 on top of it

Nah, not the Feroza...although...that would be interesting!!

I get paid out from my current job in a few weeks, looking at building a new rig. Contemplating putting a v8 into a Daihatsu Rocky with hilux running gear, just working out strenghts, ratio's, costs etc....feasability study

Know a V8 can fit, theres a Rocky in NZ with a v8 in it. I want shorter wheelbase than a hilux...and a uteback rocky looks pretty good

nah murry get a early 80's lux and do it up
its your best bet and you got a heap of dudes up there to help ya along
although the rocky would be cool

Heh...problem is I just don't like the look of a lux!! Too damm long for me, fugly too

i dont know about you guys but here is the reasons i went for an 8:

my diesel sounded like a tractor on video
V8s sounded heaps better


plus they sound coooler, you can always add a turbo later!

I'm not denying you can't go past the sound of a V8. I love the sound of a big block 440 or a Cadillac 500 mmm noisy!

N*A*M wrote:rover v8s are cheap and good but they're pretty big and heavy

Big and Heavy compared to what?

rover V8's can be carried around easily by 2 guys...
i think they weigh around 315 pounds or 140 kg's which is not heavy IMHO
there are 2 manuals and 2 auto's which will fit behind it
a 4 or 5 speed manual or a 3 or 4 speed auto
the 4 speed manual LT77 has it's own intergrated t/case
while the other 3 gearboxes all had the LT230 transfer case
low range reduction gears for the LT230 are available from maxidrive

Ferwoaza wrote:Heh...problem is I just don't like the look of a lux!! Too damm long for me, fugly too

Good. Don't be a bloody sheep and do a lux. Original and different is cool.

landy_man wrote:rover V8's can be carried around easily by 2 guys...
i think they weigh around 315 pounds or 140 kg's which is not heavy IMHO

Murray for a comparison the Feroza HDE weighs 95kg, so 140kg is pretty good for a V8.

Here are a few V8 engine comparisons

RUFF wrote:Here are a few V8 engine comparisons

As can be seen 3.9 Rover is f***ing light. Also 4.4 leyland is basically the same but getting rare (plus bigger bores= less metal so lighter). Alloy Rover blocks are good, 3.9's are even better but reliabilty of any LUCAS EFI has always been an issue- never think about putting the original EFI in it.

Twin 2" SU's are good too if you can find someone who can tune them or kjnow how yourself - if you've done proper mototbike tuning it's easy.


Yeah other options like SR20s and that exist but they wont match the low end grunt or idle speed no matter how you tune them or turbo them.

The feroza is gonna be a squeeze though for any implant especially a V8 and being a ULP model you can't go backwards so the motor would probably need to be a 3.9 Rangie engine for Major expense.

You already have HEAPS more power than the zuki boys so maybe turboing your own is a better option, or a supercharger of a Yota 4AGZE or 1GGZE?

Have you considered something like a 2.6 astron motor from a sigma? With the auot and say a MQ LWB divorced transfer. Just an idea.

landy_man wrote:rover V8's can be carried around easily by 2 guys...
i think they weigh around 315 pounds or 140 kg's which is not heavy IMHO
there are 2 manuals and 2 auto's which will fit behind it
a 4 or 5 speed manual or a 3 or 4 speed auto
the 4 speed manual LT77 has it's own intergrated t/case
while the other 3 gearboxes all had the LT230 transfer case
low range reduction gears for the LT230 are available from maxidrive

i have a feeling that may not have been complete. As I remember buying one thinking cool, that is mega light. They ended up being heavier than I thought. Probably closer to 250kilograms. AND i dont think 2 people could lift one complete. Thats from fan to bellhousing. Filter to sump, including extractors, and probably a pallet?

they're not THAT light in real life. took 5 guys to get mine off the chassis. this was just the long motor.

an hour later but yeah at least you agree. I think a short motor MIGHT weigh 140, but i doubt it

i went out to lunch

maybe a short motor would be
it's still a great engine to use

What about a Lexus 4.0L Quad Cam V8. There pretty light and not too expensive. Have seen em for $1500 + computer.

Maggot4x4 wrote:What about a Lexus 4.0L Quad Cam V8. There pretty light and not too expensive. Have seen em for $1500 + computer.

that is a very good idea. I wonder if anyone has put one of them into a 4WD on this board before?

i don't think anyone's thought of that before. why would you want to

N*A*M wrote:i don't think anyone's thought of that before. why would you want to

I know someone who put one in a celica mustang back, with TWIN TURBOS. The thing did 8's or 9's at eastern creek.

I also know someone thinking of putting one in a SWB serria.

i know someone building a uj45... it'll be fully on roids!

N*A*M wrote:i know someone building a uj45... it'll be fully on roids!

I just saw BJ's. Looks interesting.

Maggot4x4 wrote:What about a Lexus 4.0L Quad Cam V8. There pretty light and not too expensive. Have seen em for $1500 + computer.

You'd want to get one with a computer, otherwise you're looking at custom wiring looms, buying an aftermarket computer, getting someone to program it, plus dyno time..... $$$$$.... And then you'll be lucky if it runs as smoothly as with the factory computer- especially things like cold start mixtures which take a lot of experimenting to get right.

I wouldn't recommend this route unless you've got a lot of pals in the auto industry who owe you favours!