302cu (5litre) Windsor into a Transit?

[V8alltheway]

I am keen to start a little(!) project and like the idea of dropping a 302cu Windsor into a Transit. I've searched the forum and seen that it has been done but can't find any info about doing it.

I've seen Sundowner's work in progress but the guy is obviously a genius whereas I am a complete muppet! (I think the 460 is just a little bit bigger than a 302 anyway ).

I'd be grateful if anyone could answer the following questions:

1. How much work to the firewall is needed to get the engine in?

2. I'd go for the auto transmission (C4?)... would the tunnel need modifying too?

3. Would the engine mounts need to be fabricated or does anyone sell 'em?

4. Apart from brakes, suspension, propshaft (I'm guessing this would have to be specially made), bigger fuel tank and rear axle (narrowed 9"?), what else would need doing? (I'd be running carbs).

5. Are Mk2s rare (expensive!) nowadays? If so, would go for a Mk3 or later.

Any help would be much appreciated. Still at the planning stages at the moment but in about 10 years...

[rover]

I am keen to start a little(!) project and like the idea of dropping a 302cu Windsor into a Transit. I've searched the forum and seen that it has been done but can't find any info about doing it.

I've seen Sundowner's work in progress but the guy is obviously a genius whereas I am a complete muppet! (I think the 460 is just a little bit bigger than a 302 anyway ).

I'd be grateful if anyone could answer the following questions:

1. How much work to the firewall is needed to get the engine in?

2. I'd go for the auto transmission (C4?)... would the tunnel need modifying too?

3. Would the engine mounts need to be fabricated or does anyone sell 'em?

4. Apart from brakes, suspension, propshaft (I'm guessing this would have to be specially made), bigger fuel tank and rear axle (narrowed 9"?), what else would need doing? (I'd be running carbs).

5. Are Mk2s rare (expensive!) nowadays? If so, would go for a Mk3 or later.

Any help would be much appreciated. Still at the planning stages at the moment but in about 10 years...

Lets do this in reverse order then...

Mk2's are getting rarer but they are still around, for a good one (not a lot of tinworm) you would be paying a grand+, they do have a little more room for a bigger engine although a bulkhead mod would still need doing to fit a 302 I would think.
The front suspension is not independant but if that bothers you it can be done (ckeck out Lukes thread on fitting IFS to a Mk1)

If you went for a later Mk3/4/5 SWB they have IFS and good brakes anyway so that would not need any mods other than possibly stronger springs.

Engine mounts would need fabricating.

I would suggest a borgwarner auto box, I dont think the A4LD (you said C4 but the A4LD is the successor of the C3) would take the amount of torque a 302 would put through it, I wouldnt have thought any tunnel mods were needed as there is plenty of room.

IF you do use a MK2 then a bigger fuel tank is probably a good idea, mk3 onwards has a 68litre tank anyway, even with a 302 you should see over 200 miles to a tankfull.

Rover.

[Sundowner]

Firstly are you in the Uk or aus?

Dimentions of a 302w
weight> 460bs

width> 24"

length> 29"

height> 27.5"

i dont know what the euro spec engine mounts look like but new items will be needed

trans tunnel will remain untouched with a C4 (or a 16 speed road ranger) theres heaps of room, you can use the transit diff fuel tank and propshaft though you will need to get the C4 yolk fitted to it

You will need to mod the firewall this can be easy if you dont want a removable cover

[V8alltheway]

Thanks for your replies! It looks like I might actually be able to do this.

Any further advice would be much appreciated (esp. an idea as to how much it would cost for someone else to do the bulkhead mods).

I'm in England (Bristol).

Cheers

[Luke]

5. Are Mk2s rare (expensive!) nowadays? If so, would go for a Mk3 or later

as much as i love mk2's finding a good one theses days (in the UK) will be difficult i'd be inclined to go for a mk3/4/5

[WRECKERSTEVE]

just got a latest copy of the mag doing the v8 conversion and i think they are using similar engine some good pics

[Aragorn]

by 'the mag' i assume u mean practical performance car?

ive not seen the lastest issue, i'll get it next week, but they had a ford modular v8 from a new mustang, similar to the 302/351 but with overhead cams and other newer features

last months issue did seem to suggest it was going to be a nightmare to fit so perhaps they've changed the engine?

[Granadadriver]

5. Are Mk2s rare (expensive!) nowadays? If so, would go for a Mk3 or later

as much as i love mk2's finding a good one theses days (in the UK) will be difficult i'd be inclined to go for a mk3/4/5

In case of MK2s, Germany's again the place to go for! OK, less panel vans here, but lots of (nearly) rust free SWB minibuses and LWB srw ambulances! They're waiting to be converted back into a panel van!

[V8alltheway]

Dimentions of a 302w
weight> 460bs

width> 24"

length> 29"

height> 27.5"

You will need to mod the firewall this can be easy if you dont want a removable cover

I've spent hours reading the 24v conversion posts and it seems that this would be more work than fitting a carbed V8. (Hats off to you guys! You're an inspiration!)

Please correct me if I'm wrong but the only major work to do for a V8 would be engine mounts, radiator and exhausts... all of which (and more) seem to be a hassle with the 24v.

Could anyone tell me, based on the engine dimensions above and taking into account the bigger rad/gbox, how much I am going to have to mod the firewall and is it just a case of whacking it with a lumphammer?

(BTW Going to go for a Mk3/4/5 for the IFS and cost reasons. Will buy the mag tomorrow! I'd want a RHD van but cheers for the tip about Germany!)

Thanks!

[Luke]

Please correct me if I'm wrong but the only major work to do for a V8 would be engine mounts, radiator and exhausts... all of which (and more) seem to be a hassle with the 24v.

i think your about right - certanly the electrical side would be easier than 24v

sump clearance with x/member and rack would be something to check especially the rack column also if you want a PAS rack the pipes come in to the top - they caused me a minor problem

not sure on the tunnel - there isnt much of one on a transit but i think you would be ok

[V8alltheway]

sump clearance with x/member and rack would be something to check especially the rack column also if you want a PAS rack the pipes come in to the top - they caused me a minor problem

not sure on the tunnel - there isnt much of one on a transit but i think you would be ok

Just had a quick look on t'internet and found a company that sells all kinds of sumps so, touch wood, that shouldn't be a major issue.

If the steering gets in the way at all, do you have any ideas how I could get round this? I'll be getting aluminium heads to save weight and I'm hoping I won't need PAS... one more thing to go wrong!

Sorry for all the questions but I really want to make sure this is "do-able" before I start throwing money at it and I am most definitely what you would call an amateur!

[Luke]

i think you'll find the rack will be ok - just something to check for example with the 24v cossy the oil filter/cooler is right in the way

like you say if you can get different sumps then thats a bonus, when i was putting the rover engine in my mk1 escort i wanted it as low as possable so what i did was took the sump off, mounted the engine in a position where the crank didnt touch the crossmember then modified the standard sump to suit

as far as "do-able" - i'll measure up my mk4 to see if you can get the engine in but i'd be pritty sure it can be done

[Luke]

right just had a measure

Its a big bugger i'd say the biggest problem would be the width and catching on the rack/ column not sure how the measurements work but if it was a square box of that size it would have to be fitted very high up but i'd guess they are max dimentions so thats gonna be at the heads. could do with a front on shot of the engine - see what you can get and post it here

as far as the other dimentions it will go in but bulkhead mods would be needed - best way would be when fitting it - jack it up and as bits of the bulkhead are in the way chop them out, eventually you would end up with it in position and then copying sundowner make a neat cover or just plate the holes over the good thing about the transit is that space taken up is not used so no loss

what would you be using the van for

[Luke]

one more thing the rear axle might need swapping - the transit ratio might not be suitable and it might be too weak

but your best doing what i'm doing - get it running iron out all minor problems then swap the axle later - it will also give you a better idea of the ratio you need having driven the van with the engine/box combo in it

[Sundowner]

windsor pic



can someone get me a pic of a mk3 bay minus engine?