500V8 in a 280 SWB auto - advice appreciated !
One of my new G wagens is a 1984 280GE SWB Auto which i bought to tow with. I tow just over two tonnes, and the 2.8 was struggling, and finally the head gasket failed. I plan to fit a V8 from a 500SEC of 1986 vintage. Looks like ie will plop straight in, with new mountings and maybe a bigger radiator. Anyone tried this, or heard of any pitfalls I am likely to need to hear about? Thanks in advance!!
Hmmm! No experience of this conversion myself. Seems like an awful lot of torque to put through an ageing back axle, specially when towing, but would be interested to know how you get on. Good luck! :(
Q
One of the GWOA committee members had the engine from a 560 SE fitted to a 280 GE not long ago:
Though the fuel consumption is such that it travels most of the time on a trailer....
Problem is that the gentleman is really allergic to internet forums so you're not going to see him around here.
Best would be to join the GWOA to get his advice!
Regards,
Best would be to join the GWOA to get his advice
Absolutely agree!!! And advice there is in abundance...! Had a chat on last year's AGM about said subject and there is a lot more involved than what meets the eye, notably especially issues around gearbox options... The man's been there, done it(even a G560), got the T-shirt...
Compared to a membership fee, it's well...how does the ad on the telly say... PRICELESS!!!
fitting the v8s not a problem but the ratios in the diff are that the engine will be screaming at 60 MPH and the fuel consumption will; be about 9 MPG.
Engine mounts you can buy of the self from a 91/92 500GE. You will have to use the saloon gearbox and weld the plates together otherwise it will give up the ghost after a while. Overheating may be a problem some have had problems others havent. Just make sure the rad is a gooden before you start. The diff will be able to take the extra torque. It might be an idea to call the g centre in holland to see if they have a diff option for the 460. If you do a V8 conversion for the 463 you can use v8 diffs or 350GTD diffs at aroung 500 a piece. I toe a 3.5t trailer with my 280 auto, I jsut hold it in the gears for longer, its ok.
missed a pic - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/wobyflamieson/DSCN3978.jpg we had Radio 2 on at this point, nice and relaxing
I remember last year at a 4x4 show in bedfordshire. There was me in my 280 howard in his 290 gtd and roly in his 463 300GD, We were walking over all of them, then a marshal said to Roly, dont you find it boring having diff locks. :roll: now let me think :lol:
I left the rear diff locked the whole time we were in slippery mud, and used the front difflock too when climing something steep and slippery. It was a good way to test different combinations. Used low range only for the very steepest climbs, and found the autobox held high gears, usually third, when i was expecting it to shift down and rev like crazy - what an amazing machine!
Ya registration plate is falling off. :D Nice day
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Thanks everybody for your advice so far - food for thought definitely. Just spent the day pulling modified V8 range rovers and land rovers out of the mud, and thought I'd post links to photos of mudlarking in one of my 280GE s. We didnt get stuck all day despite being completely unprepared for the mire! It's very hard to keep a straight face when you have just pulled a spaceframed land rover out of a clay pond with no drama on cheap road tyres http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/wobyflamieson/DSCN3977.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/wobyflamieson/DSCN3975.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/wobyflamieson/DSCN3973.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/wobyflamieson/DSCN3996.jpg :oops: