Transit Engine Conversion

[Bryan]

My Transit luton has been off the road for about 6 months now awaiting a second hand turbo unit but to no avail. They seem to be like hen's teeth. So I've been thinking about doing an engine conversion on it instead to something more reliable and modern.

I would love to convert it to a big thirsty V8 diesel american engine but they're far too expensive so I was thinking about the Vauxhall Omega 2.5TD engne and gearbox - the BMW 6 cylinder unit. The Omega is RWD so the engine and box are already in the correct position but it's a question whether or not the engine mounts will match up to the Transit ones - I'm not too worried about the gearbox mount as it can be easily modified.

I don't want to go down the road of a sprinter engine as they're far too expensive. The reason I was thinking of an Omega is because they're quite popular and I could pick up a whole car for the engine/box and wiring loom for pretty cheap.

Is anyone familiar with this engine and box to give me an idea whether this idea would work?

[AndyG]

Those BMW diesel engines are extremely fussy on getting their oil changed on time, so make sure you pick a good one
Next question I have for you, is, have you measured correctly As the engine seems rather long to fit in there with the radiator

[Bryan]

I don't know I haven't actually seen an Omega engine in person - just the only engine I could think of that would be cheap to get my hands on a complete car for all the parts needed.

I'd also thought about an Iveco lump but they're mega money for the engine alone.

At the end of the day a new turbo will set me back £350-400 so for a little more I could have a decent modern engine if it will fit, that is.

[djswampy]

Could you not convert it to 76ps to get you going again until a turbo arrives, or do a guy88?

[bazw]

i could fit the omega engine into my sprinter but i dont think the tranny has enough room on the drivers side

remember it is a quad cam so the heads are very wide

i did think about this swop and could not get an engine box and harness for less than £300

mind you i did think about a jag V12 swop as i had one at the start of frankensprinter , all it needed was 2 6"X6"X3" boxes welding into the fire wall to fit it as the sprinter is made to take a 5 pot engine

the guys who have the cossy V6 will give you a good idea of how much room there is and i think the cossy is 2" narrower than the omega engine

[OxtonyxO]

if the omega engine is 2" wider than the cossie 6 pot then you will need to do a lot of work on the bulkhead also you may find that where the clutch cable goes through the bulkhead will be in the way

[Mike400]

I think you are missing the point - he wants to fit an Omega TD engine which is a straight 6 not a V6. Either way its probably too long.

Besides the gear ratios in the Omega box wont be that well suited to a van?

[Guy88]

i dont think a straight 6 has a chance. without serious bulkhead mods

[intransit89]

i dont think a straight 6 has a chance. without serious bulkhead mods

it would be same size as the tranny engine but half the transit engine again and if you get me it will be as long as the tranny engine but maybe with a other 1/2 of the engine aslong long as you will have to redo the gear box hole more backwards and the bulkhead behind the engine as guy says i know its about 1/2 longer of a transit engine as we use to have a stright 6 carlton engine and that was 1/2 longer then a transit engine hope this helps as it has 2 more cylinders to add

[MRspivvy]

if you can find one, an audi 5 cylinder diesel? you can convert these to RWD using a volvo 740/60 diesel gearbox