202-->308 This will be fun!!!!!

[WHT85Berlina]

So I was out in the garage wednesday night working on my 3.3ltr EFI engine preparing it to go back into the car when it was as though someone whacked me over the head and said 308!!!!!!!

So im doin it.

I have purchased a 308 with transmission, radiator, tailshaft, pacemakers, and all bolt on accessories and a few other bits and pieces.

The million dollar question is this

What else needs to be changed?
Suspension?
Brakes?
Diff?

I keep hearing conflicting stories from people about what has to be changed.

So please help me?

Bill

[Sabbath']

Depends how well you want to do the job.

You can do half a job and just whack the motor/trans in. Or you can do it right and do it all at once.

[WHT85Berlina]

definately want to do it right

So your saying I should change everything?

[VR38]

If the car was factory EFI then it will have V8 tail shaft and diff already AFAIK. If it is trimatic for trimatic or equivalent then it is straight swap.
Swap the hi pressure electric fuel pump for a low pressure one if running a carby.
You will need to extend or replace wiring loom for things like alternator and senders.
Engine mounts and you are away.

[the_boozer]

if its an 85 vk with a 3.23 bw and a red sticker on the ecu itll have a 25 spline borg warner diff (disks on the back) the boys told me on another thread they wont last behind a v8.
the 25 spline borg warner never came out behind v8s all vk 308s Ive seen had large salsbury type diffs.
Happy to be told I'm wrong if I am.

[WHT85Berlina]

Just had a look at the diff, it has drums. 10 bolts one of which has a tag which looked to read ratio 323?

[VBRED]

Mate If you want to do it right first check then engine number of you 308 you just purchsed to see if it is all compliant and that it can be fitted for rego. You cannot fit an older 308 block to a newer car.

[MY_84_VK]

I just did this conversion about a month ago . Diff needs to go, I changed mine for a 10 bolt salisbury, make sure its a 10 bolt thought the casing will be oval not round. Front brakes I upgraded to bigger vt twin pot calipers and discs, along with a vs booster master cylinder combo so it pulls up on a dime. Other than that everything is pretty straight forward swap, as you said you have all the gear there, radiator, engine + box, cross members etc.
Enjoy I know I did

[vkberlina]

If the car is EFI then Keep it EFI buy an old VN/VP 5L, just turning the key and it starting is very nice, plus the added power & economy and drivability on regular unleaded should be easier enough to convince you too.

There is a VR/VS for sale near me(didnt get a close enough look) 5L on gas for $3,800 wave $3200-$3500 under his nose he would probably take it. rear discs on it will bolt onto the earlier diff if the diff is an LSD rip the centre out into a VL housing with VK V8 or turbo axels and you will have a cheap very good LSD also.

Sell the gas off it for say 800 other odds and ends and I would say it would set you back $1500 or less for the complete engine & gearbox if you keep 1 3/4-2" pipe off your headers you can save on needing the VN/VP cross member & rack etc.

As for the diff either the 25 spline borg or the 6cyl salisbury will hold if your nice to it, dont do hard changes and it will last, I used to twist the splines off the salisbury with my 202 changing from first to second

Next look at VE twin spots smaller piston size will give better pedal.

Scott

[ari666]

You cannot fit an older 308 block to a newer car.

come on VBRED, you know better than that! he CAN fit a QT, as long as all the pollution gear is hooked up. i.e. changed heads to U shape or square EGR crossover. thats all it needs [enginewize]. some would argue that you have to change the chainset from the QT series to a later vk black series (the timing is slightly retarded on a VK) but no one is gonna know.

then hook up the quaddy, then hook up the carbon can, the the exhaust butterfly, then EGR then its all done.

of course if he just gets a VT*** prefix, he just needs to ring vic roads. which is MUUUUCH easier.

just sayin'

[WHT85Berlina]

thanks everyone.

It is a VT**** as it came out of a VK.

I am currently sourcing front brake upgrades

as for the diff, I might be nice to this one for a while and just get it on the road unless one pops up in the meantime

[DANNY8]

The front brakes were the same on VK 202 and 308's anyways. Even with the VN-VS's, the V8 brakes are pretty much the same, just use finned calipers. So they aren't heaps important IMO. Just change the springs to V8 springs and u pretty much have a V8 front end.

If the tag on the diff says 3.23 then it's definitely a borg warner...just leave that one in there, that will be fine. They can handle a fair bit of crap. Just upgrade the rear to discs if ya really want. I'm still runnin drums on my EFI 5L VK and it pulls up fine. Does the job anyways.

If u did want to go EFI 5L, the best donor car to buy is a VN 5L, next would be a VP 5L. Whole complete runners can be had for $1000 and under!

[Sabbath']

thanks everyone.

It is a VT**** as it came out of a VK.

I am currently sourcing front brake upgrades



as for the diff, I might be nice to this one for a while and just get it on the road unless one pops up in the meantime

PBR Brake Upgrade VB-VQ (Front)

Cheap front brake upgrade kit. Twin piston calipers, 330mm front rotors, DOT3 braided line.

[ari666]

my mate was running a little salisbury in his 308 one tonner for AGES and it held up ok. that borgie should be fine for everyday use.

[kane_coro]

The salisburys hold up OK.Ive been running mine for a year now and it gets abused,a little bit whiney but no problems yet

[notthekingswood]

my 83 VH has a 1969 HT 253 with HT heads and intake, small salisbury and drum rear and it passed the emissions test easy and that was with a 350 holley, cam, headers and a loud single system on it.
nows its past rego i have a 465 and edelbrock intake.
they advised the fitment of v8 front springs but thats all.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

For the brake upgrade, I do a VE conversion kit that has 322mm rotors, twin piston VE calipers and you don't need to change the booster or master cylinder. $775 shipped to your door.

Change the front springs to the V8 ones too as they are a different spring rate to the 6.