Feedback on idea for engine swap

[vitasik]

Hi everyone
Me being me....I have one idea in the back of my head for ages now. Basically I want Petrol van, but proper power and not the limping 2.3 like transits come with. I am going to be using it not very often for towing my 14ft car transporting trailer and carry occasional engine/gearbox for other cars.

I have been considering 2 options:

Option A ( dont spit on me)
Vito or sprinter with a v8 4.3 engine with auto transmission ( specific enough as I happen to have that particular engine stashed in storage removed from CLK). Quite a bit of electronics involved, not sure how its going to fit in engine bay, but shouldn't be too hard as viano (vito people carrier) comes with v6 petrol engine and same gearbox that I have. On these v6 is same 90degree Vee as v8, just shorter.

Option B - transit mk6/7 with jaguar s-type engine and manual transmission
I am current owner of a s-type and looking into some of the stuff for it realized that smaller versions ( mine is v8 4.0 ) like v6 2.5 and 3.0 are ford engines, with all ford ecus, wiring etc,etc,etc. Do you think its an option to fit a s-type 3.0 v6 with manual transmission ( probably from same s-type) to a rwd transit . Oh s-type is RWD if someone is not sure. I have tried to see anyone doing or trying this conversion, but no luck. I dont think transit has enough space widthwise in the engine bay to fit the 4.0 or 4.2 s-type v8. Fitting the mercedes one in transit is nightmare as it has quite a bit of electronics, quite wide and its available with auto only. Gearbox, to be fair, is one of the best ever build automatics. Additionally merc engine uses 2 sparks per cylinder, so 16 sparkplugs in total

I have 2 mk6 transits for bits - one FWD and one RWD, so getting transit in good condition, but with gone engine sounds easier, v6 ford 3.0 is 238bhp that should be ok for the van + trailer. Still would rather have v8, but that will do as well. Mercedes vito/sprinter seems not bad option, but too much electronics are involved, gearbox needs a major service ( 200quid bits only + oil), 16 sparkplugs are a bit overkill. On another angle, I have engine, box, prop, full wiring loom.

Any thoughts would be helpful, maybe another point of view on these things.

[jumbo 57]

I want this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzrv6PMraG0

[paul2012]

Hi everyone
Me being me....I have one idea in the back of my head for ages now. Basically I want Petrol van, but proper power and not the limping 2.3 like transits come with. I am going to be using it not very often for towing my 14ft car transporting trailer and carry occasional engine/gearbox for other cars.

I have been considering 2 options:

Option A ( dont spit on me)
Vito or sprinter with a v8 4.3 engine with auto transmission ( specific enough as I happen to have that particular engine stashed in storage removed from CLK). Quite a bit of electronics involved, not sure how its going to fit in engine bay, but shouldn't be too hard as viano (vito people carrier) comes with v6 petrol engine and same gearbox that I have. On these v6 is same 90degree Vee as v8, just shorter.

Option B - transit mk6/7 with jaguar s-type engine and manual transmission
I am current owner of a s-type and looking into some of the stuff for it realized that smaller versions ( mine is v8 4.0 ) like v6 2.5 and 3.0 are ford engines, with all ford ecus, wiring etc,etc,etc. Do you think its an option to fit a s-type 3.0 v6 with manual transmission ( probably from same s-type) to a rwd transit . Oh s-type is RWD if someone is not sure. I have tried to see anyone doing or trying this conversion, but no luck. I dont think transit has enough space widthwise in the engine bay to fit the 4.0 or 4.2 s-type v8. Fitting the mercedes one in transit is nightmare as it has quite a bit of electronics, quite wide and its available with auto only. Gearbox, to be fair, is one of the best ever build automatics. Additionally merc engine uses 2 sparks per cylinder, so 16 sparkplugs in total

I have 2 mk6 transits for bits - one FWD and one RWD, so getting transit in good condition, but with gone engine sounds easier, v6 ford 3.0 is 238bhp that should be ok for the van + trailer. Still would rather have v8, but that will do as well. Mercedes vito/sprinter seems not bad option, but too much electronics are involved, gearbox needs a major service ( 200quid bits only + oil), 16 sparkplugs are a bit overkill. On another angle, I have engine, box, prop, full wiring loom.

Any thoughts would be helpful, maybe another point of view on these things.

The Early Jaguar S-type AJ-V8 4.0 (AJ28) 290bhp engine are Ford.
Never fitted to any Ford models here in the UK, although fitted to the Thunderbird & Lincoln in the US

Jaguar S-type 3.0 v6 engines is a AJ-V6 engine available in AJ20 (2.1) AJ25 (2.5) & AJ30 (3.0) with direct acting mech tappets (DAMB), One piece cam & VVT (Variable valve timing).
That engine is NOT a Ford & differs from the FWD Ford Duratec 30 V6 fitted to Mondeo mk3 ST220 at 224bhp & Mazda variants.

AJ-V6 AJ30 engine As fitted to the S-Type 240bhp, X-Type 230bhp & Jaguar XF at 240bhp

Wiring looms, PCM's & all other modules for both Jaguar AJ30 & Ford Duratrec 30 engines are completely different to Transit mk6's.

I have a question. If using mk6 to tow a 14ft car transporter trailer. Why the quest for top end speed
Engine Torq (lb-ft) is for acceleration.

BHP is for top end speed, which you'll never reach when towing a trailer.
Plus with engine conversion you're effectively adding more weight to van. Resulting in less weight you can tow

[vitasik]

As to why..because I think I can. I am petrolhead and ex-lpg specialist. Running cost of something like that even with v8 would be same as running diesel, but i bet alot around would rather have v6 3.0 or more in their vans. I am not after top speed, but nowadays diesel engines became too complex for their own good, not build to same standards like they used to ( just compare any tdci with old school banana Di as to reliability). Yes diesel has better torque low down, but trust me that merc v8 4.3 has more torque than diesel equivalent vito. As I mentioned that particular engine there is another interesting point about it - its peak torque starts at 3000-3500 rpm based on different sources. For petrol engine its fairly low.

I have seen topics of people making FWD petrol transits ( which to my knowledge never came from factory), but due to space limitations nobody managed to put bigger, even though someone was looking into x-type v6 engine. I havent seen anyone trying old school RWD v6 conversion on tranny mk6/7.

EDIT:
Forgot to mention its not my first rodeo with engine swaps. I have mercedes 300se (w126) with engine from e280 w210. I had to rewire the whole engine management system to get it running properly - old one was mechanical injection new one is fully electronic with vvt and variable intake lenght. So dont get me wrong- i have been there and got a t-shirt.

[jumbo 57]

It sounds like a plan.
And you use all the right words in proper sentences and everything so your in with a good chance on this I think.

Joking aside, plenty Polish gents are throwing 4.4 BMW M62 lumps in theirs, for drifting no less.

M62 was thrown into 2002-2006Range Rovers, who then they threw in the JLR 4.2 and 5.0 Supercharged under Ford ownership.

Have you got a measuring tape.

[paul2012]

As to why..because I think I can. I am petrolhead and ex-lpg specialist. Running cost of something like that even with v8 would be same as running diesel, but i bet alot around would rather have v6 3.0 or more in their vans. I am not after top speed, but nowadays diesel engines became too complex for their own good, not build to same standards like they used to ( just compare any tdci with old school banana Di as to reliability). Yes diesel has better torque low down, but trust me that merc v8 4.3 has more torque than diesel equivalent vito. As I mentioned that particular engine there is another interesting point about it - its peak torque starts at 3000-3500 rpm based on different sources. For petrol engine its fairly low.

I have seen topics of people making FWD petrol transits ( which to my knowledge never came from factory), but due to space limitations nobody managed to put bigger, even though someone was looking into x-type v6 engine. I havent seen anyone trying old school RWD v6 conversion on tranny mk6/7.

EDIT:
Forgot to mention its not my first rodeo with engine swaps. I have mercedes 300se (w126) with engine from e280 w210. I had to rewire the whole engine management system to get it running properly - old one was mechanical injection new one is fully electronic with vvt and variable intake lenght. So dont get me wrong- i have been there and got a t-shirt.

I agree newer diesels have got far more complex. Although so have petrols.

I fine fitting a big engine for a show piece or track day vehicle here in the UK. For an everyday vehicle use, such a big engine would be to costly to run.

I have a Jaguar XJ8 SE 4.2 Auto here, it only does 21 mpg. No one wants it

As I mention previously. Conversion for bigger engine. You're effectively adding more weight to van. This will reduce the weight you can tow

[ned]

I'll have the xj8 if its free N

[vitasik]

When you say 21 to the gallon, I see 40 as I can easily convert it to LPG and it will do 20 on lpg which is half price. When someone starts looking at this from this angel it becomes different. Additionally if I make it all legit including LPG I can cruse around london without worrying about congestion charge or LEZ. Besides playing with my junk for fun of it means its not going to be used for business really, so upcoming tighter rules for diesels wont affect my toy.

Still haven't decided what to start with - vito/sprinter or transit. All have both advantages and disadvantages. It is a long term project ( half year mark). I am thinking to make my mind up and start looking for van just after my holiday in feb.

As project wise I think mercedes will require way less mechanical mods, but more sophisticated wiring, especially immo
Transit with jag engine will need more mechanical work, but slightly less complex wiring. Immo might be an issue as well.

Personally I can do both mechanical and electronics, but currently its easier to work with electronics as I am doing it in my drive.

Any feedback and ideas might sway me one way or the other.

I have driven vito before and they are quite good, but they do have their gremlins. One thing i found annoying was how uncomfortable seats are. I used to drive Renault Trafic as well and that being fairly unreliable had best ride and feel ever. Better than transit, sprinter or vito by miles. Would have that as project as that doesn't have rust issues like mercedes and transit have, but these are FWD only and to modify it to RWD is another matter entirely, not much room to put bigger engine transverse. Transits on the other hand cost next to nothing, parts easy to source, jag engine as well, but average looks and annoyingly for towing will need to be MWB at least due to funny train weight for swb. even vito is much better plated than transit, wont even compare it with sprinter.

[vitasik]

Hmmm XJ8 4.2 v8 engine.....hm.... got a measuring tape? That is slightly different beast...same level electronics as mercedes engine I have, questionable 6 speed auto gearbox that has better feel than my 5 speed ford box on my s-type, but quite less reliable.

Saying that I dont mind running XJ8 as well, i will just lpg it too

[vitasik]

After long debate with friends that are in motor trade reached conclusion... unfortunately for forum the winner is Sprinter.

Project van is 313cdi mwb low roof crew cab. Its going to be ongoing project as van is quite clean and engine is good as well. Will be running it as it is until higher tax rates kick in for diesels. Than it will undergo a heart transplant to the v8 4.3 that I have.

Plan starts to clear up.

[Jim Archer]

Anyone know where the Range Rover V6 and V8 diesels originate from? And which gearboxes they use?

Same with the Volvo lumps?

Jim

[vitasik]

If I am not mistaken v6 and v8 diesels are from PSA-Ford. As for gearboxes , again if I am not mistaken, are ZF. Same boxes are used on BMWs.

Volvo diesel ( 2.4 5 cylinder) is volvo own development and its superb engine.

With transit modification to v6 or v8 main mechanical issue would be the width of the bay. I am not convinced 90 degree Vee on most v8 and some v6 ( like mercedes) will have enough clearance. That is why when I was thinking about transit I was considering Jag v6 and not v8 due to smaller angle between heads that makes the whole engine assembly a bit narrower.