Vintage Renault conversion

[Barch]

Hi all, hope someone can help with my unusual request.
I am restoring a 1963 Renault Geolette Renault army ambulance but would like to replace the engine and gearbox for something more useable and serviceable. The original engine was a 2.0l petrol with a 4 speed box but the engine has had it.
My preference is a Ford Transit but my problem is limited space in the engine compartment that is quite narrow. I think pinto unit would fit in but I'm not sure whether I could fit a diesel.
I don't mind petrol or diesel but it would have to be skinny, there are chassis rails running down the vehicle so mountings shouldn't be too hard, weight is no problem either as the vehicle is very well sprung. I have about 1.4m in length but that would have to include the rad in the front. I think the MT75 gearbox would fit nicely onto the prop shaft (with appropriate adaptor) but what would be a suitable engine?

Suggestions would be very much appreciated, I've attached a couple of pics to help.

Thanks

Barch

[Keef]

The pinto is a popular conversion on the Citroen HY vans which look a similar layout to yours.
300kg of Transit Di lump might lower the front a bit but hey, nothing ventured.

[Altransit]

The LDV Pilot is quite a narrow vehicle, would the Peugeot 1.9 from that van fit in there

[marcrbarker]

What's the state of the original engine? Head OK? Crank OK or needs regrind/shells? Cam OK? I expect would need a block rebore + pistons.
No need for a van engine. No need for BHP.
I'm thinking of a carburetter pre-EFI RWD car engine+gearbox from 80s. Like Datsun Sunny. Toyota. etc. Japanese is well engineered.
I think keeping it petrol carburetter is way to go. If considering EFI instead I'd say it's best to get a complete running donor car from the 80s.

[Barch]

Thanks guys for all the ideas, I think the 2.5di would be a great replacement if I could fit one in. The LDV unit too might work but I'm not so sure I'm so keen on those units and they are not so easily available.
I do like the idea of keeping it a petrol unit and hadn't thought of the Japanese direction but they did produce some very good inline units.
The existing engine would be useable if I could get the parts as it needs one cylinder liner, main and con rod bearings as well as a crank grind. I'm on a French forum for these vehicles and have tried a lot of French 'old vehicle' parts suppliers but the French do an awful lot by word of mouth, I'm sure the parts are there but I just can't find or buy them.
I just want to get this quirky little van into a useable condition.

If I used a 2.0l Pinto engine, would a MT75 gearbox fit on it? the standard Pinto box appears to have a long tail, what was the box fitted to the Transit that had the Pinto in it?

Thanks again for your suggestions and help, I'm sure I can crack this

Barch

[marcrbarker]

In case you're thinking something modern This image is LDV model with the 90's 'epic di' injection system. showing the electrical so you can see how complicated it is compared to a non-EFI petrol or simple diesel with mechanical inject pump/accelerator cable

Image1.png

Notice most electrical components attached to engine but there's others are apart
The accellerator isn't a cable here it's electric wire from pedal sensor assembly. There would need to be a custom made harness, about 20-30 wires going to Fuse box and to new added relay/diagnostic connector/ engine management computer/ warning lights/ fuel filter plus sensor plus the extra pipes.

[metalworker0]

this van is abandoned near Llandudno..hear the owner is desperate to get rid because of whats going on - council pushing , vandals etc

looks like a contender for engine to me - 1966 Citroen H Van french shared a lot of stuff ..maybe similar ..same era same looks

news article ..January 2023

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north- ... t-26044904


all the best...mark

[marcrbarker]

Probably had the engine removed to make it lighter to tow! Convenient way of transporting a complete rolling chassis for spares, just hitch up plug in and go
edit.. having said that, that may had been the reason why one of its wheels has a issue, someone may had tried to tow it away

[Barch]

In case you're thinking something modern This image is LDV model with the 90's 'epic di' injection system. showing the electrical so you can see how complicated it is compared to a non-EFI petrol or simple diesel with mechanical inject pump/accelerator cable

Image1.png

Notice most electrical components attached to engine but there's others are apart
The accellerator isn't a cable here it's electric wire from pedal sensor assembly. There would need to be a custom made harness, about 20-30 wires going to Fuse box and to new added relay/diagnostic connector/ engine management computer/ warning lights/ fuel filter plus sensor plus the extra pipes.

Yes Marc, thanks for that brilliant illustration, you are right I think going down the 'modern' route will be much too complicated for this very simple van, and for me for that matter. I'm leaning more and more towards the simplicity of the Pinto setup which is where I started.

Barch

[Barch]

Citroen HY vans are not really a contender, they are front wheel drive, the engine would work but matching up that to the Renault flywheel, clutch and gearbox would be a big issue I think, but nice idea though.

Barch

[marcrbarker]

Just had a thought, you're in France aren't you? (I was just about to mention the solid Peugeot-engined Citroen CX really common there then realised it's FWD..)
There's cars like Peugeot 504/604 which are RWD from the 80s that would make a good donor engine. With carberetter, no catalyser, understand run OK on unleaded.

[Barch]

Just had a thought, you're in France aren't you? (I was just about to mention the solid Peugeot-engined Citroen CX really common there then realised it's FWD..)
There's cars like Peugeot 504/604 which are RWD from the 80s that would make a good donor engine. With carberetter, no catalyser, understand run OK on unleaded.

No Marc, I'm in the UK, Peugeot 504/604 as fitted in the pick up trucks could work but there are more Pinto engines to choose from and the spares are more readily available here.

[marcrbarker]

No Marc, I'm in the UK, Peugeot 504/604 as fitted in the pick up trucks could work but there are more Pinto engines to choose from and the spares are more readily available here.

Yeah in that case a Sierra or Scorpio saloon , were loads of those pinto engines about .

[Keef]

Although a decent pinto engine is not a cheap thing these days.
If you go that way, rather than using a car gearbox, a transit gearbox might put the gearstick in a better position in your van?

[marcrbarker]

rather than using a car gearbox, a transit gearbox might put the gearstick in a better position in your van?

And it's a Pinto engine too