Pinto engine change in mk 2 van.

[muppett]

HI there, am new to transit world having just bought an '85 160 twin wheel bus which has been converted to a camper van. The two litre pinto in it seems to have broken a piston ring and I was just wondering if it would be easy to fit a sierra pinto and 5 speed gearbox in it. Have changed pinto in cortina in past without too many probs but have never changed gearbox from 4 to 5 spd before. Thanks.

[Luke]

the pinto is basically the same engine but the sierra box is slightly different - personally i'd get a transit MT75 box and parts ie adapterplate flywheel etc. and fit all that to the sierra engine and drop the lot in especially if the sierra is an injection

[muppett]

Hi thanks for the suggestion but I have access to a sierra engine and box and was hoping to use these to keep the costs down as I'm a bit short of money after buying the van. Am also considering repairing engine I have but am not sure I want that much work. I figured pulling out the engine and box and putting another straight in would make it a quicker and easier job! cheers!

[Luke]

well the sierra should have a type 9 box they were fitted in transits but if you dont use the transit selecter then the stick will be further back - it'll still be ok just a bit too far back

if you wanted you could keep your box and just bolt the sierra engine up to it

[muppett]

That's my other option, was just being lazy and trying to avoid splitting engine and box lol. I'll take a few measurements and see if I could change the gear lever to work with the selector being further back. Thanks again.

[Luke]

if you did find a transit Type9 selecter - they are quiter rare tho it would bolt strait onto the sierra box

[muppett]

Im guessing the prop would be different as well so I may be better off keeping my original gearbox for the time being. Presumably the sierra engine will be a bit higher on compression so may be a bit more powerful. Rest of the van is in pretty solid condition so I'll have to do something with it anyway. Am gutted that piston ring has gone after I've only owned it a few weeks, but i suppose thats the fun of old vans . will let you know how I get on, Thanks.

[Luke]

yeah prop is a little shorter - yours could be shortened as the fitting is the same but for easyness keeping your box is probly best, depends how fast you drive it you nmight not benifit from a 5th gear

long term you should be on the look out for the MT75 conversion unless you want origanality its the way to go

how about posting some pics of your van in the gallery too

[FredTransit]

TBH I would save up, and fit the MT75 box at a later date, just fir the engine for the time being. The type9 box is no where hear as good as the MT75. We've had an MT75 for at least 10 years in our LWB, but saw off plenty of type9s in the lutons.

[muppett]

Thanks very much to everyone for all the advice, It's nice to be made to feel welcome on a message board for a change. Have investigated my options and unfortunately due to time money and space requirements have reluctantly put her up for sale on e-bay (item no https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230218552370). Thanks very much for everyones help and will hopefully be able to find another one with a decent engine before too long. Cheers, Stu.