Implanting a 253 v8 into a CFL 76 Beford

[joshua]

Hey everyone,

I have been working on a 186s to install into my bedford for the past couple of weeks and one of the guys on bedford Australia Facebook suggested putting a 253 v8 in if I want to get the most economical Beddy possible. If I was to take this route how difficult would the process be? What things would I have to replace or modify...

Kind regards

Joshua

[Marishka]

Its a bit of mucking around to do Joshua.

You need disk brakes.
Cut floor hole bigger
Fab or buy a V8 engine cover
V8 exhurst system
V8 radiator
Thermo fans as standard V8 one might not fit.

And might be a few more things ive forgot.
But well worth the hassle for the extra power i recon.
Cheers marty

[BusyKiwi]

What are your plans for it ?

Economical could mean a diesel

The main thing you have to remember is the aero dynamics (or lack of) on a Bedford.
If you want the van to tow stuff (or want full on camper, with water and waste water tanks etc), go diesel
If you want to just cruise around town, go V8
If you want to travel long distances, go something fuel injected, like the commodore V6

No matter what you put in it, how you drive will also effect your fuel consumption and again depends what you want it for as to how much it can cost as you really need to spend some on your final drive ratios, that's wheels, diff ratio, gearbox/trans   

[joshua]

Thanks Guys that is really helpful. I have already swapped the Dif and gear box over gear box is a Supra 5 speed. its sits on 110 no problems.

I only get about 330km on the highway which I think is pretty average...

Its mostly for long road trips.

Which Commordore V6 would be any easy swap in... Also if I was to go Diesel what would you recommend..

Kind regards

Joshua

[Bas / NZ]

Diesel, would say Nissan LD28 and auto tried and proven transplant
Would say VN-VP 3.8 v6 seems to have less hook up/ elec etc, both motor and auto and are a lot cheaper to buy, (eg: whole car, as then you have all the parts required), than that above a VP model.

My thoughts any way... I ran a VN Motor VP box  and the power is good with a 3.7 to 3.5 rear end and mine is a Jumbo as below, but now has dics front and single wheel diff and yes the windows are rebated, but not in this photo.. But others may disagree with this.

[Sammy]

I agree, I would put a Commodore V6 in there before a 253, nothing against 253, but you will get similar power from a V6 and much better economy and with the T700 you have a nice overdrive auto as well.

then if you wanted the v8 option you could go for an injected VN/VP V8 or LS1, but they are a bit tighter than a V6 and I think for road trips the V6 is the pick!

gearing I guess is personal choice, like bas says with a 3.5 diff and overdrive auto it would cruise ok, or could even go to 3.08 for a bit more economy but you might loose some take off if you do.

I am in the process of VN V8 and auto with commodore brakes and diff, and it is a lot of work, and a lot more $$$ if you cant do it all yourself, but it will be worth it whichever way you go.

[johng]

why not bite the bullet either a rb30 turbo from a vl or a 308 carbie or injected 5l 253 to me is a waste of time t700 my choice of box behind a v8  It is a big job and expensive especially if you cant do the work yourself
good luck mate with what ever you choose

[Stangas]

just my 2 bob with regards to v8.

I have one and there is not enough room on the floor left after cutting the hole to even fit a clutch pedal.
Either that or the person that did mine was a bit over zealous with the hole cut.

[Rocket]

I have enough room to fit my size 13 shoes between my engine cover & steering column because I fitted a 350 chev. Chev has a different shape head and thus is about 3cm narrower each side. Besides Chev parts are cheaper to buy.

[greasey monkey]

why not bite the bullet either a rb30 turbo from a vl or a 308 carbie or injected 5l 253 to me is a waste of time t700 my choice of box behind a v8  It is a big job and expensive especially if you cant do the work yourself
good luck mate with what ever you choose

I Put an Rb30e into two cf's now that have come out of VL - was a great donor but as for floor space issues it like a V8 eats well into the drivers foot well leaving only a few inches between the intake manifold and steering column plus i've had to cut and modify the passenger foot-well as well to make room for the distributor by cutting a large  chunk out of the firewall were it curves up. looking back i should have gone with a Rb20e,Rb20de/Rb25de or Rb20det turbo out of a later model skyline as the motor sits lower so no mods to the firewall, the Rb20de/Rb25de/RB20det doesn't have the dizzy issue due to a cam angle sensor set up but then you have to make room for the turbo which isn't that hard as it just relocating it and redoing the exhaust and intake to suit. 
long term plan for my latest cf is a RB30e converted to a twin cam with a head off a Rb25de, decent sized turbo and that should make around 400hp at the flywheel. Will be interesting in a cf and i just want to do something different as my whole van is already outrageous.

AS for the 253 conversion - you might as well go up to a 202/3.3 as the 253 is around 130-150hp which aint that much bigger than a 3.3/202(110hp) - yes you gain more torque and a better sound but newer model commie V8's like the 304 out of a VR/VS have better fuel economy with the injection setup and the auto trans gearing set-up (compared to the horrid old traumatics). plus you get that beautiful V8 sound and more power - 220hp roughly. n these days its getting cheaper and easier to pick up a complete wrecked V8/V6 commodores that will give up its drivetrain and wiring for the conversion, and parts are easier to get as there are plenty of them around being wrecked
   - but thats just my thoughts anyway

Scott