202 efi conversion to 253 carbie

[Bastian]

Hi currently I've got my 202 efi motor in my VK and I want to go for a V8. I know everyone will be asking why a 253 when you can go a 5 litre, but the point is, this car is a cruiser and I don't need a real lot of power. I really only want the deep lumpy sound of the V8, and I know the 253 will provide this.

I have a mate that went from a 202 carbie to the 253 and now to a 308 on his VK. The 253 is sitting in his shed, and has been for a couple of years now I think, but I'm told its only done about 30 thousand K's since being rebuilt when he put it into his VK. Now he's offering me the motor for $100 bucks, and I was just wondering what everyone thought about it? I'm not very mechanically minded when it comes to cars, and I've heard mixed stories about a 6 to 8 conversion on a VK, and whether the diff, transmission, fuel tank etc needs to be changed or whether the current running gear will handle the 253 fine. Anyone able to tell me what would be involved with this... what will need changing, and will I need to get an engineers certificate? My mate said he just let Vicroads know that it was changed.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[DANNY8]

Has the 253 got an auto behind it? If u pull ur motor and trans out, the 253 and auto (needs to be a v8 auto) will bolt straight in. You'll have to source a V8 tailshaft coz they'll be different lengths, you'll only need the front half. You'll have to change the exhaust over to a v8 exhaust. Wiring is different coz ur going from efi to carby, but the easiest way would be to run new wires coz the carby motor only needs like 4-5 wires and she's good. I'm not sure how the efi tanks work tho, but ya might get away with just removing the electric pump and filter, and replacing it with fuel hose so they're not there. Chuck a filter up the front then chuck the line on the mechanical pump. Just block the return line off at the tank coz ya wont need it. That's of course if the EFI tank is ok to use, ya might have to get a carby tank.

You'll also need to change ur radiator over to a v8 one, also the fan and shroud.....but the 6cyl fan and shroud will prolly fit the v8 radiator.

Use the diff u have already. Doesn't matter wat motor u have, if ur car is auto there's a lot less strain on the diff, and as long as u don't do neutral bangers ya should be fine.

We chucked a 308 in my wagz and just needed to fill out a bit of paper, get it sent off to regency, and they change it from a 6 to an 8 (as long as everything seems ok) and send out the new rego sticker. I know other people who have done the same but they've been asked to show their car for an inspection. That's in SA tho, dunno bout VIC.

If this isn't ur daily (or u have another car), just do it and work out the problems as ya go. That's the best way to learn!

[VK SL 3800]

Ill just add that in NSW the RTA state that the engine in the vehicle must be manufactured at the same or later date then the vehicle, so a 253 essentially is illegal to have in a Vk but you see plenty of cars with them fitted without a worry.

As for you conversion, as Danny states you should work out problems as you go but there wont be any major problems fitting one in.

[DANNY8]

I always thought the same in SA about the older motors in newer cars not allowed. But when I got my VK done, the number I gave them which was off of a 308 turned out to be a 253 number (had been restamped obviously). They said it didn't matter if it was a 253, would actually be easier to rego with a 253 they said coz they'd pass it straight away.

I guess if u were putting a 253 into a VT it would be a different story tho haha.

[Bastian]

Would I be better off going all out and doing a 5 litre efi out of a vs or something. Would there be much more involved. Do you guys think its a good deal getting the 253 for $100?? The problem I have is that this Vk is my daily driver so it really couldn't be off of the road for too long... and I wanna avoid going through all the RWC crap again.

[vktorana]

ya realise a efi with the standard extractors etc is pretty much just as powerful as the 253? i drag em all the time and cos i got the 6 which is lighter its pretty even! if ya want the lumpy note just do what i did and get a race cam and a 2 1/4 inch exhaust! alot less hastle and dont hafta put ya ride off the road to do the conversion. there is my two cents lol decision is up to you in the end! oh and the 202 efi would be more fuel efficient then the carby! cheers!

[Bastian]

Hmmm its something for me to think about. How much would it cost for me to get a cam an shit installed an who exactly will do it?

I love the sound of a V8. The VK with the 202 an extractors does sound tougher than your average 6, but you really can't beat a V8.

I'm not that worried about power. Just would like a V8, and I'm not really worried about economy... the 202 efi is horrible on fuel, worse than any other car I've seen.

[vktorana]

lol dude your vk efi comes standard with extractors! sound like ya not happy with it! my vk was great with fuel yours might be a little worn out. they tend to use more fuel over time. good way to get better fuel econ would be convert it to a 5sp manual. that way ya have the extra gears for cruising long distance! the trimatic is 3 gears and hits 3rd at like 80 or so. any faster then that and throw the econ out the window! as far as puttin the cam in and shit it would cost prob half as much as doin an engine swap! seriously mate the 202 is great if ya give it a chance!

but once again its up to you lol!

[DerekP]

lol dude your vk efi comes standard with extractors! sound like ya not happy with it! my vk was great with fuel yours might be a little worn out. they tend to use more fuel over time. good way to get better fuel econ would be convert it to a 5sp manual. that way ya have the extra gears for cruising long distance! the trimatic is 3 gears and hits 3rd at like 80 or so. any faster then that and throw the econ out the window! as far as puttin the cam in and shit it would cost prob half as much as doin an engine swap! seriously mate the 202 is great if ya give it a chance!

but once again its up to you lol!

Hit third at 80?? Trimatics hit third depending on load going through the box and kick down position and is not really dependant on speed. My trimatic changes into third anywhere from 20 / 30km's to, well, depends on how hard my right foot is planted!!....... admittedly is a 308 but should be similar in a six.

Just my two shillings worth....

[JoshSvc]

I had a EFI VK and i loved it, the thing went very well, however when i had a torana in the years to follow i went from a 202 to a 253 and loved that even more, but not the fuel bill!

[Darren_L]

carbed V8 into a 6 cyl Commodore is an easy swap. Engine & trans drop straight in (just need the V8 engine mounts and trans mount). See if you can grab the engine harness with the V8, which makes the wiring a lot easier.

from memory tailshaft is a different lenght so might need to swap that over too. You can hang onto your 6cyl diff - the 253 uses the same diff anyway, as long as you use a tailshaft with the smaller uni-joints or swap the rear end of your 6cyl shaft over.

As mentioned, you might have some dramas registering a VK with a 253, as the engine is older than the car. I'd be looking at a 308. A complete engine is dirt cheap these days, and the conversion is exactly the same. An EFI 5L conversion is an excellent conversion (done it to my VH), but there is a lot more cost & work involved and either you need to know some basic auto electrics or pay someone else to do the wiring.

[vktorana]

lol i was going on an average and mine is a 6 so if ya just slowly building up speed 80 is about right. so have ya decided what ya gonna do yet?