253 into vk?

[ported]

I can get my hands on a good running 253 for next to nuthing. Wondering
a)will it bolt strait into a vk?
b) will it be legal if i run it on strait gas?

[Shifty1]

Legalities are depending on what state your from. In victoria, its illegal to put an older engine into a car.

EDIT: I just noticed you've got a calais, this is EFI. the EFI 202 puts out more kw than a 253, so why would you want to change it?

[ported]

nah i got a 308 but its preety much shagged i can swap a 308 block for a running 253 so thats why i was thinking about it.
Im in victoria too so its not legal?

[Shifty1]

No, not legal.. you can only put either a black 202 or a black 308

[VS Omega]

Shifty's right, they'll get very angry and won't pass a roady on it if it's got a 253, the reason being that the 253ci motor was no longer used by holden after 1983 I believe, with the last car it being in the VH Commodore and as stated can't drop older motor into newer car in victoria (replaced by the EFI enhanced 202ci 6 cylinder)

(I bet there'd be a few XU1 spec 186 powered Commodores though, how sweet would that be.. but I can see where they're coming from, it's to do with making it better for the environment as people be inclined to put the cheaper, environmentally unfriendly motors into their cars if their existing motors became cactus)

[ported]

I was under the impretion that you cant put an older motor into a newer car UNLESS it ran strait, gas that way you void all the emmisions crap

[Shifty1]

Nah, it cant be older than the car I believe.. you can do it but theres big fines if your caught..

[Bravotwozero]

Nah, it cant be older than the car I believe.. you can do it but theres big fines if your caught..

Who would even notice? 253 and 308 are the same block.

[Pub247]

Its the pullotion gear that would give you away not to metion engine numbers. Vic roads are clued dont think theyre stupid they could tell that my mate had different injectors in his vl just by looking at them i'm sure they'll know the difference between a 253 and 308

[VS Omega]

Police are often trained to know the differences, they can be quite cluey about cars (and other times not so much)

How do i tell the difference inbetween a 253 and 308 engine?

There are several external differences inbetween the 253 and 308 engine,other than the internal differences ie..bore size,crankshaft counterweights etc etc. Visually it can be quite difficult to ascertain which is the 308 and which is the 253. The following details are provided so the user can denote quickly as to what motor they are looking at.(as most people will get abit ****ty if you start to pull the engine apart in front of them!!)

1 Manifold- the first difference visually is manifold design, the 253 engine comes with a 2 barrell inlet manifold, with a WW stromberg carburettor, except for Commodores VC onwards and WB Holdens which have a rejetted 4bbl Quadrajet, The 308 engine comes with a 4 barrell inlet manifold and a rochester Quadrajet carburettor, however a common modification is to use a 308 manifold on a 253 engine. so further inspection is always a must.


2 Engine_Prefixes- This is the fool-proof method on checking whether or not you are looking at a 253 or 308 engine, this is assuming that they visually look the same. The Engine Prefixes are different.


3 Check the block- The "308 or "253" is cast into the engine block on the starter motor side of the engine(passenger side)you may have to get a little dirty and often it is extremley difficult to find the stamped "308" or "253" on the side of the engine block due to extractors, starter motor, engine wiring harnesses etc.

Ported - I've just read on another forum, someone asked a similar question and a response was that if the emissions are made up to scratch and the system uses LPG then it *may* be legal, but you'd be better off just phoning VicRoads and asking them straight out what the go is..

[SL/ENUT]

253 and 308 are the same block.

They aren't a 253 don't and cannot be bored with a 4 inch bore, not like a 308, 4 inch bore standard. Also as stated 253 would be cast into the block.

[Reaper]

Its the pullotion gear that would give you away not to metion engine numbers. Vic roads are clued dont think theyre stupid they could tell that my mate had different injectors in his vl just by looking at them i'm sure they'll know the difference between a 253 and 308

The "253" cast into the side of the block just near the starter is a bit of a give away too.

Reaper

[JD]

you guys sure it cant be passed?
ive seen a few vk 253's and even considered buying one before a bought the vc and that was passed by regency ( sa roadworthy )

[VS Omega]

you guys sure it cant be passed?
ive seen a few vk 253's and even considered buying one before a bought the vc and that was passed by regency ( sa roadworthy )

Different states have different laws, original poster lives in Victoria.. It could be completely legal in SA for all I know, it's confusing with so many states..

[vkberlina]

Your best bet is to talk to an automotive engineer in your local state. The main concerns with fitting an older engine is emissions. If the car is setup on straight gas and the petrol system removed there should not be a problem.
It would cost around $300 to be certified by an engineer and would have to pass an exhaust noise test for the year of your car.
If the engineer says you need to do a EPA test as well this could start to cost $$$ and owuld probably not be worth the trouble.

cheers
Scott

[craigvk]

There is no reason why you couldn't run a 253 in your VK. As Scott says, it would depend on emission control.

It really comes down to. A) Do you want to pay someone $$$ for a engineer cert. or B) Would you rather not just get a VK with a 308?

[Shifty1]

There is no reason why you couldn't run a 253 in your VK. As Scott says, it would depend on emission control.

It really comes down to. A) Do you want to pay someone $$$ for a engineer cert. or B) Would you rather not just get a VK with a 308?

His VK currently has a 308 in it.. he is looking to change engine because its had it

[craigvk]

What's wrong with it? If it's the heads that are stuffed like burnt valves or whatever, you could get them recoed.

[ported]

What's wrong with it? If it's the heads that are stuffed like burnt valves or whatever, you could get them recoed.

the motor in it has been running on gas for the last 10 years and its getting a bit rately n just preety much shagged. I was going to swap the 253 for another 308 block I have in the garage thats in peices waiting to get rebuilt

[265grunt]

I can get my hands on a good running 253 for next to nuthing. Wondering
a)will it bolt strait into a vk?
b) will it be legal if i run it on strait gas?

a = yes it will bolt in use all ur 308 parts ie: sump, pick up, mounts

b = yes it is legal either stait gas or petrol, is it a red 253 or blue? if its a red u will need to make sure u use all the emmissions u have on your 308 on it, if its a blue 253 out of a vc vh it should have most of it already.
either way just make sure u put all the emmisions from ur black 308 onto the 253. if u are going to run strait gass none of the emmissions mean anything u dont have to run any of it. if your running strait gas now just go to vic roads and do a engine number change.

Shifty's right, they'll get very angry and won't pass a roady on it if it's got a 253, the reason being that the 253ci motor was no longer used by holden after 1983 I believe, with the last car it being in the VH Commodore and as stated can't drop older motor into newer car in victoria

you can put a older motor in a newer car and visa versa, i have a 70mdle hemi in a 84 vk, all i did was use the vk emmisions with some of the cm hemi emmissions to pass ADR 27/27a, but with the 253 in a vk you will just need to make sure it meets all the emmision regs, this is as simple as a $60 vic roady, as the litres is dropping but still a holden v configuration. i am speaking from experience i have a hq 308 in my hz ute and for the roady i needed to fit the hz emmissions onto the hq motor to meet the emmissions, then just went to vic roads with the roady and all was good.


how eva i agree that a 253 isnt the best option for power but if u need a motor and its all u can afford then do it.