hey
not sure what i wont to do but like the sound of olde skool V8's!!
can anyone lead me in the right direction to the best sort of V8 for a kombi (prefer no radiator-air cooled)
cheers
rhys

You've got buckleys of finding an aircooled V8.
I've seen several watercooled conversions done with the radiator underneath the car with no apparent dramas.

do they need computers and shit????? spose a radiator aint that much hassel!!
cheers
rhys

take a look at http://www.baja.com/kombi 

Not sure in the tecnical details, but it seems the way to go is the Leyland V8 (3.5l, all alum.). There's two I know of in Brissy.
Also in the states a few people have use the Chev corvair motors, air cooled flat 6 with success.
Both a achievable, and if your handy not overly expensive.

If your ambitious and rich, there's always a porche flat 6, or Tatra also made an air cooled V8, but thay are rare and mybe hard to find parts for.

Or what I'd love to see one day (or even do) is a Deuts air cooled diesel motor in a Kombi.
:thumb

Guys, guys, guys.
Anything's possible if you just put your mind to it. No aircooled V8s you say? Well chech out this site.

http://www.tatra.demon.nl/cars-NW-Tatra.htm 

The Tatra car company back in the 30s to 50s had a range of cars with rearmounted, aircooled V8 motors!
Check it out, these cars are quite unique.
(Models T77, T77A, T87)

Kombi_kid, I reckon you should import one of these engine, pep it up a bit, overbore it, stroke it and cram it into your bus!
Not only would you be keeping with the whole aircooled mentality, but the thing would sound like it should. All bonuses.

Cheers
Tnate

If you're going to do an engine swap at least get something new tech from japan. Engines dont speak different languages. A V8 from a lexus or something will sound like a V8 once fitted with a short rear engine exhaust.

It would be easier to go and buy a torana if you want a V8 though.

Pretty sure it would be hard to import a 1930-1950 tatra V8. Looking at the specs it would be a waste of time even if you could find one. And do repco stock oil filters for them?

Best place for a V8 when you have a kombi is in the boat thats on the trailer behind it.

Rhys , how about a corvair ? Flat 6 aircooled . I have 2 dismantled motors with adaptor plate to suit VW , one pair of heads are reconditioned . $500 will buy the lot. Mark

hey
very tempting mark will talk to dad about it!
cheers
rhyas

Hey Kombi kid, if your keen on the Corvair option, have a look at http://www.type2.com/archive/search-type2.html  (US based)
and search for corvair. There's a wealth of info, and if you get on their list, the guys are sure to help.
The corvair makes a nice retrofit with good power/torque.
There were some known problems with the flat 6, but nothing you can't avoid if you know what they are.
Good luck.

hey
is the sourcing of parts for them hard in aussie????
iu have a teacher who has been a mechnic and know teacher of engineering skills etc for the past 30 years so ill ask him if he knows much about them!
cheers
rhys

There are a couple of VW bussinesses "in our VW businesses guide" NSW near Penrith that have done the V8 conversion.
they may be able to help out with adaptor plates etc..

Rhys, all engines are air-cooled, but some use a liquid coolant to carry the heat away from the motor to the radiator where the heat is exchanged to the airstream.

The Leyland V8 is a 4.4 litre. The 3.5 litre was found in Range Rovers and SDi's (SD1's?). Kits are available from Bill Sherman in Qld. Last time I heard they were around $500. Bill told me that rear discs are a must to gain an engineers certificate. He sells rear disc kits too.

Other conversions have been done using small block cast iron V8's such as Holdens, Fords, Chryslers and Chevs, but these are a bit antiquated like the P76 and also add a considerable amount of weight - I wouldn't even consider them.

If you are seriously looking to instal a V8 into a kombi, I'd take a look at the Toyota Lexus V8s. They have different models around the 4-litre mark, so one of the older, smaller ones should be available for a reasonable price. You'd need to follow basically the same process as Wes did to put the V6 in his Baja, taking in the clutch conversion, adapter plates, starter motor, engine mounts, firewall, etc. It's a huge job. Even the older Lexus V8s are considerably more efficient than any of the older options though, and have the advantage of being an alloy block to save weight.

I think I saw somewhere recently that Toyota is now putting Lexus V8's into Landcruisers, so there should be plenty of them floating around soon, which will drive down the prices of the older (smaller) ones quite nicely. :thumb

Ok looks like there's some confusion on the alloy V8 front.

The 3.5L all alloy rover motor was found in the P5 and P6B Rovers circa '68 to around 74, where the rover hatch took over, also with the (more or less) same alloy 3.5L V8, then in the first run of 2dr Discovery 4x4's. this was based on a Buick V8 design.

The 4.4L all alloy rover (leyland) motor was ONLY found in the P76, and is the same motor as the rover, except for the taller block and longer stroke.

Later Discoverys used a revised 4.4ish alloy V8, but they start at $5k second hand bare.

The ONLY Lexus V8 is the 1UZFE, and is a 4.0L. these are found in the Aristo (GS300 body) Soarer (LS300 body), Crown, and Century, and also the Harrier 4x4 (Prado body here). The only other late model toyota V8 is in the 100 series and later land cruiser, which is a 2UZFE, and is 4.7L.

The 1UZ is around $2500 in a front cut complete with wiring, computer, sensors etc etc. it puts out a gearbox frying 200kW standard, depending on model.

Toyota made some all alloy pushrod motors back in the 70's found in jap crowns and centurys, and were based on the chrysler hemi designs. from memory they were a 4V and a 5V designation, and the capacity was around the 4.0L mark. these were a carby motor and many internal parts are shared with the M series cressida and crown motors here.


IMHO if your going to waste your money on a conversion, dont piss about with old rover crap, go for something newer. Nissan also make a V8 around 4.0L, which is rapidly building a solid reputation amongst the rev heads.

the lexus V8 would have to be the smoothest V8 ever built. When you open the bonnet the engine doesnt even look like its running. There's no vibration at all. I reckon it would be schweeeeeet. If you're into that sort of thing.

hey
this is good info!!! i just like the tough sound of the old carby model V8's much tougher then todays models
cheers
rhys

torana mate. Or perhaps a nice monaro. or maybe an XE falcon with an LTD front, twin 6 inch exhaust pipes (the chromed turned down tips are good), 10 inch wide wheels, GT shaker bonnet scoop, cut springs, 2 3/4 inch triple overhead underhangers....... Just remember that if you own an aussie V8 you have to have bad teeth, a mullet, and no sense of personal hygiene.

lol only goon comes in 5 litres

the guy next door had an HX with "only milk and juice come in 2 litres" on the back of it. He drives a subaru now.

can i have best of both worlds????? working on the mullet!!!!!!!
ahahahahahahahahahahaha
cheers
rhys

My brother had a kombi with a leyland v8 in it for a short period.


Went very well (even did wheelies)

Only problem is that at 100kmh the engine does about 3k rpm unless you play with the gearbox as well

The result of this is a range of aprox 130km per tank.

:bounce:bounce:bounce:bounce:puke

Anyway If your going to convert a kombi you would have to go with a lexus v8 .... you cant beat the quad cam ......

OK, I said you'd have buckleys finding an aircooled V8, I didn't say they didn't exist. But what kind of parts supply is there likely to be for an engine built between the 30's & 50's??. What kind of parts supply is there for 36hp engine parts?? and they come from the most popular car in history.

Col, I've said this before, and I'll say it again. His name is "John Sherman" not Bill.

My boss has a Lexus V8 engine in his Offroad racing buggy which won the Australian Class 1 title for 2002
He's running an Autronic computer and a Gonzos exhaust, and everything else is standard from the Jap wreckers. Idles smoothly and quietly, but stab the throttle and it revs like a V8 Supercar....

Sorry, I keep getting him confused with the guy that does our lawns at work.

thats sweet!!!!
cheers
rhys