V8 conversion query

[gtrboyy]

Easiest way would be to wait for vs series 3 ute driveline to go up for sale...then it's just swap over plug & play.

Anything earlier there will be some differences in parts or electricals....can be done but expect issues to arise.

 

[putrol]

Must be a WA thing.

In SA and most of the eastern states if you tried to do that the engine number would get flagged right at the start of the process and your application would get put in the bin.

In SA the engine number has to be from that variant of car or newer aka VN-VS VU prefix block, and old mates car being an S3 would need a roller cam prefixed block technically as the emissions we're stricter in the S3, but can't be older even if you retrofit emissions equipment etc.

What would be the earliest year/model/prefix & how late a model could be used

 

[putrol]

If it's an auto keep it an auto, if it's manual keep it manual thats the easiest way to do the conversion.

You'll need: Tailshaft, kframe, power steering pump, lines, alternator, V8 trans, V8 engine harness and ECU, V8 gauge cluster, radiator, V8 ignition module and coil as a rough start.

It's not a hard conversion I've done it a couple of times now, can be done over a couple of weekends if your handy on the tools it's just getting all the bits you need.

Your best off buying a wrecked V8 car and swapping everything over, if you plan to buy everything you need separately it's going to cost you a lot more and your car will be off the road longer. If you've got another car you can rob all the bolts, brackets, mounts etc you need off it on the fly it makes it way easier. Just remember everything on V8's are getting hard to find now, if your 3/4 of the way through a conversion and you need a certain type of bracket for P/S or alternator etc you can't just run down to supercheap and grab one.

As for 308/304: 304 was around from the VL onwards, in the VN onwards it was EFI, this is what you'll need if you want to stay legal.
308 was in the Kingswoods/1st gen commodores up to the VL.

The summary is though: It's not an unbolt V6 and bolt V8 in kinda job, theres a fair bit that needs to be changed.

Is a VT k-frame the same

 

[stick3]

Is a VT k-frame the same

no you need a vn/vs or a lot of companys are making v8 engine mounts to suit v6 k frames
https://www.tuffmounts.com.au/produ...-for-holden-v8-in-vn-vs-commodore-v6-k-frame/

 

[putrol]

no you need a vn/vs or a lot of companys are making v8 engine mounts to suit v6 k frames
https://www.tuffmounts.com.au/produ...-for-holden-v8-in-vn-vs-commodore-v6-k-frame/

Thanks looks easier than changing k-frame

 

[EYY]

Any vs will be plug and play. Could spend half a lifetime hanging out for a complete Vs s3 sequential conversion.

Can also use VR engine and computer with Vs loom, just need appropriate memcal.
If you could find a complete 304 for a reasonable price it wouldn’t be too difficult to piece a conversion kit together. Theyre a pretty simple conversion really. I had mine done in a day, but I’ve also removed 30+ 304’s in the past 6-7 years so am pretty familiar with them.

VY l67 to Ls1 conversion was very, very involved by comparison.

 

[losh1971]

Kframe is easy enough to remove and refit. If you have access to a hoist you can remove the engine while still attached to the kframe. Can do it without a hoist too. I pulled an engine by lowering the kframe and raising the body.

 

[EYY]

Kframe is easy enough to remove and refit. If you have access to a hoist you can remove the engine while still attached to the kframe. Can do it without a hoist too. I pulled an engine by lowering the kframe and raising the body.

Yep I did it by removing the engine through the top, then putting a sling around k frame and lowering it with the engine crane. Reverse to install. Don’t need to have the car far off the ground either. Been a while since I’ve had to do things that way though.

 

[losh1971]

If you could find a complete 304 for a reasonable price it wouldn’t be too difficult to piece a conversion kit together.

And there lies the problem good cond 304s are becoming hard to find and are commanding big money. Not sure how skilled the OP is but considering he didn't know a VT Kframe was different I'm not sure how easy it will be for him to pull it off. Personally I wouldn't bother and instead I'd look around for a good running factory V8.

 

[EYY]

They’re still out there. Just a matter of how hard people are willing to look.