80 series V8 Conversion..almost complete
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:50 pm
Well I am almost finished, I just have to get the wiring done now. I have wired up a couple of things and have got it to crank over but not start until I can plug up a few hoses and get the fuel sorted out. I have however run out of time to get things sorted before christmas as I need some professional help with the electrics 
and everyone I'm sure is going to be booked out.
I really wanted to explain how these conversions can get so seriously out of hand cost and time wise. I can assure you given my time again I would seriously think long and hard as to whether I would want to do it again even with the experience I have gained from this one.
Just thinking about all the things that have to be changed, modified and replaced and even marking and remembering where things went is very hard and time consuming.
As far as expense goes........well I didnt really start with a budget, I was just going to do it and take it as it comes. I thought being a carby chev I would not have to many troubles with wiring which would be another costly thing to worry about and the purchase price of the engine would be cheaper as well.
This is a run down of costs at the moment that I can remember:
350chev carby (with fly wheel not flex plate and Block hugger headers) $2850
Marks adapters kit with engine mounts $1150
Marks adapters mount and drive kit $750
Custom exhaust setup $520
30mm front coil spacers so that the diff doesnt hit the exhaust at full articulation $60
Towing to and from exhaust workshop $120
LPG mixer and converter $120
LPG line from converter to mixer and connection $55
New water temp sensor and oil pressure sensor $30 (from repco, toyota wanted $150)
Various nuts and bolts $30
Flexible heater hose $40 (think I got ripped off but it was a special length)
Auto elec to get it cranking over $230
Auto trans fluid and engine oil $65
TOTAL : $6020 and still not finished
Still to come that I can think of now...
Auto elec workshop to sort the wiring out properly
Electric fuel pump and connections
Other heater hose variations
Engineering
Anything else that may pop up that I didnt account for ?????
Will keep you all informed.
and everyone I'm sure is going to be booked out.I really wanted to explain how these conversions can get so seriously out of hand cost and time wise. I can assure you given my time again I would seriously think long and hard as to whether I would want to do it again even with the experience I have gained from this one.
Just thinking about all the things that have to be changed, modified and replaced and even marking and remembering where things went is very hard and time consuming.
As far as expense goes........well I didnt really start with a budget, I was just going to do it and take it as it comes. I thought being a carby chev I would not have to many troubles with wiring which would be another costly thing to worry about and the purchase price of the engine would be cheaper as well.
This is a run down of costs at the moment that I can remember:
350chev carby (with fly wheel not flex plate and Block hugger headers) $2850
Marks adapters kit with engine mounts $1150
Marks adapters mount and drive kit $750
Custom exhaust setup $520
30mm front coil spacers so that the diff doesnt hit the exhaust at full articulation $60
Towing to and from exhaust workshop $120
LPG mixer and converter $120
LPG line from converter to mixer and connection $55
New water temp sensor and oil pressure sensor $30 (from repco, toyota wanted $150)
Various nuts and bolts $30
Flexible heater hose $40 (think I got ripped off but it was a special length)
Auto elec to get it cranking over $230
Auto trans fluid and engine oil $65
TOTAL : $6020 and still not finished
Still to come that I can think of now...
Auto elec workshop to sort the wiring out properly
Electric fuel pump and connections
Other heater hose variations
Engineering
Anything else that may pop up that I didnt account for ?????
Will keep you all informed.