thegreathowardo wrote:NEWS UPDATE!
The Rover engine is bolted to Tim's adaptor and the whole thing is swinging on the engine crane in situ as I type. There are a couple of issues with the conversion in this style of Transit. The original engine mountings are in line with the centre of the engine (looking from the side), so if using centre-exit downpipes (P6 type or MGB block-hugger tubular manifolds) the mounting will be in the way. There is also a problem insofar as the exhaust route will have to go UNDER the front cross member as with the bellhousing and the power steering rack on the driver's side there is no room for the pipes to go above the crossmember. On my Mk4 it had the old steering box on the inside of the front wheelarch so no problem there. Also you will need to use the Rover P5 or P6 sump. The engine has to sit at 5 degrees to the horizontal, the Range Rover sump fouls the power steering rack. The P6 sump has a more central 'well' for the oil and clears the rack easily. I will move the position of the engine mounts to line up with the positions on the Rover Engine, this will leave enough room for the exhaust downpipes. Pictures will be posted tomorrow when I have moved the mounts and got the engine in the right place. There will be no need to cut the bulkhead you will be pleased to hear, I will just swing the engine over about half an inch, slightly stressing the rear gearbox mount, although I may cut one of the mounting holes bigger so the engine/gearbox can sit slightly askew in the chassis. All in all it was never going to be plug and play but I am here to do all the development so you don't have to! Full instructions will be available once the conversion is complete.
**UPDATE** Although there is plenty of room on the passenger side for the rear-exit type exhaust manifold/pipes of the P5 or Range Rover type, I think there is insufficient room on the Driver's side due to the large lump on the gearbox where the original starter went and the steering rack arrangement on my particular Mk5.