3.8 to 304 conversion. Trans??

[Cobez]

Hey guys, when you do a 304 conversion into a VN - VR (auto), can you use the same auto that was being used on the V6, on the 304?

[vnv8driver]

no the 304 auto is bigger and stronger. you will need a v8 tailshaft and uni's as well.

[vnv8driver]

if your wondering about any thing else to convert your vp to a v8, 80 litre fuel tank and dual pumps arent a bad idea but not necessary, youll need v8 strut assembly, swaybars, k-frame, discs/calipers/booster/cylinder, wiring loom and memcal, ignition module, bigger radiator, few other minor things i might of missed but thats basically it....

Things you can keep, ecu, catback exhaust, fuel tank and intank pump if your a cheapo!

[vnv8driver]

oh and your diff probably wont hold up after too many skids, the v8 gears are shot peened where the v6 ones arent.

[Cobez]

Yep, that means i'll be buying a complete running VN or VP 5 litre then. Screw fart assing around chasing all those items. Easier and cheaper to buy complete for sure. Cheers dude

[vnv8driver]

like ive said before, get a stock one off a mature owner over one for the same price and has mods.

[Cobez]

Yup, as soon as i see P plates in an ad, i hit the "BACK" button on my browser.

[1991_Vn2nV]

no the 304 auto is bigger and stronger. you will need a v8 tailshaft and uni's as well.

The only difference is the bell housing..... Both transmissions are the same model and have the same load and torque ratings so im fair sure there are no internal differences other than input shaft and perhaps gear ratios.

oh and your diff probably wont hold up after too many skids, the v8 gears are shot peened where the v6 ones arent.

Just because the gears are shot once with a small metal ball doesnt mean that only a V8 diff will survive in a V8...

The V6 diff will be fine...Again they're the same model and they are the same internally other than the shot peened gears.

[Tom_1569]

By a rolling V8, to get all the gear off that fits the VN, such as k-frame struts etc, then get a wrecked LS1 and 6 speend and put that in :P

[vnv8driver]

the ratios are the same, people have said that the v8 autos are the same the v6's internally but have been told otherwise by a transmission builder and ive compared them to ones at the wreckers my mate owns, heaps heavier than the v6 box

the single spinners going to be crap on a v8 anyway, im sure the shotpeening is better for handling the extra twisting effort, and theres quite alot more than a v6. i cant imagine them shotpeening all the v8;s for no/little gain in durability.

[Cobez]

By a rolling V8, to get all the gear off that fits the VN, such as k-frame struts etc, then get a wrecked LS1 and 6 speend and put that in :P

*sticks hand up arse and pulls a huge wad of cash out*


Yep, no worries

[vnv8driver]

also the torque converter on the v8's bigger, youll need one of those too : )

[Cobez]

Yeah, i'll just buy a complete running VN 5 litre. Then i'll have everything i need

[FusionX]

That's what I did to do a manual conversion on my car last year. $1750, 5L VN Bt1 5speed... couple of broken windows, plenty of rust. I just stripped the car out in a weekend and gave the shell to a scrap metal place. By the time I had sold off what I didn't use, turned out quite cheap.

[greenfoam]

The gearbox's are the same except the front of the castng for the different bolt pattern on the V6 block, just as vn2nv said.

You can get an adapter plate from crs to use the V6 one with a chev pattern motor if you can't get a V8 gearbox, but it's much better to get a stacked 5 litre at the auctions. If you were to buy a statesman in the first place you would end up doing the conversion almost for nothing after you sold a few bling parts

[Cobez]

Yeah i'm thinking a trip to the auctions is in order when i have the cash. Even if i don't find anything, they are still good fun to go to

[vnv8driver]

i just spoke to my trans builder, he said the input shaft, drum, bellhousing, toruqe converter is differant but the clutch packs and internals are the same..... i knew the pan and rear was the same but could of sworn the whole box was bigger, must of been just the bellhousing disguising it.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

If you were to buy a statesman in the first place you would end up doing the conversion almost for nothing after you sold a few bling parts

BINGO! I bought a smashed VQ to get the motor & auto for my WB ute, paid $2000 for it and by the time i sold all the bits out of it i got the complete motor & auto will all the hangs etc. etc it owes me about $250! Do yourself a favour and buy a Calais or Statesman, that way there is heaps more stuff to sell to recoupe your money.

Just to add, you will need a VN-VP only as VR's have a fully electronic auto, BCM, theft deterants and all that rubbish all of which will be no good for your VP.

[xtoggy]

hey i have done a swap over v6 to v8 all that needs swaping is.....
k frame
tale shaft shortend
lome and jazz
but the auto r the same i did put a 5 liter in but the turbo 700 same **** diff bell houseing diff havent done just mini spool fine and thats with 190rwkw all good
but each to there own
ryan

[pandaman]

The only difference is the bell housing..... Both transmissions are the same model and have the same load and torque ratings so im fair sure there are no internal differences other than input shaft and perhaps gear ratios.



Just because the gears are shot once with a small metal ball doesnt mean that only a V8 diff will survive in a V8...

The V6 diff will be fine...Again they're the same model and they are the same internally other than the shot peened gears.

While all the evidence i've seen suggests that the V6 diff is plenty tough, I think you're understimating the advantages of the shotpeened gears. Shotpeening is not just firing one small metal ball at the part, it's more like beadblasting with ball bearings, the idea being that the entire surface becomes work-hardened. Look it up, it's pretty cool.

[1991_Vn2nV]

While all the evidence i've seen suggests that the V6 diff is plenty tough, I think you're understimating the advantages of the shotpeened gears. Shotpeening is not just firing one small metal ball at the part, it's more like beadblasting with ball bearings, the idea being that the entire surface becomes work-hardened. Look it up, it's pretty cool.

Im not underestimating the advantages and I looked into what was involved when I purchased my diff (which IS a V8 diff), but out of the VN/VP diffs you've heard of braking...How many were due to non-shotpeened gears?

There is no bias here btw as I myself bought a 5L diff but only for the LSD. I didnt deliberately go out and buy a V8 diff just for shotpeened gears.

[AirStrike]

Im not underestimating the advantages and I looked into what was involved when I purchased my diff (which IS a V8 diff), but out of the VN/VP diffs you've heard of braking...How many were due to non-shotpeened gears?

There is no bias here btw as I myself bought a 5L diff but only for the LSD. I didnt deliberately go out and buy a V8 diff just for shotpeened gears.

Gears will never go, the LSD will wear or blow an axle long before. Also how many people will go to the trouble of an engine swap and not change the gears somwhere along the way.