The Pavlova

[NJV6]

I wanted to do something different and since I had a pretty good knowledge of Pajero's and plenty of spare parts lying around It seemed like a fitting start.

So here goes

Got this for a steal



Because of this


Didn't see me coming with the grinder



Then came to a halt - needed a bigger grinder



Then a Donor vehicle appeared on the scene


Which gave me a


And air operated 4.88 diff lock


So back to body once wreck was gone



I left it angled as I thought it would look a bit better and I'm pleased I did. Was as far forward at the top as comfortable for me with seat right back, yet leaving some pretty good room behind the seats.

[NJV6]

Got the back welded in and sealed all the joins.




Need to do a bit of bog work, followed by a paint up.

[mercutio]

looking good so far

[NJV6]

Then set to work thinking about chassis. I had a LWB left over from another wreck , and decided to put it to good use. 107 in wheelbase.

Cut the huge rear overhang off.



Took all the IFS crap off the front and picked up the grinder again.


Got this

[NJV6]

Just as I was beginning my retired neighbour came for an inspection and suggested welding in the prado front end to the Pajero chassis. Bit of questioning later - seemed a goer
So... got a bigger workshop!



Needed a little persuasion to get them together... Had to pull 14mm together so not to bad. Had to cut rear radius arm mounts off as the chassis width differences were too great down there. Personally I don't like the Prado arm but thi setup is a good starting point that will have caster angles not to far out and saves an awful lot of grinding and welding.


And here is the chassis Mitsi should have made from the start

[NJV6]

Plates for joining chassis



Started assembling the front end.
New swivel hub bearings and axle seals.


Then set it up. Nice and shiny.

[NJV6]

Put both axles under. Just need to mount the rear of the radius arms.






So it is under its own weight and nearly rolling

[rokhound]

[Lynx]

Looking very very good, keep up the work, and the pics

[NJV6]

Got me some tah's.

35 inch Centipedes which are a bit worn but not to bad.



Pulled motor out again



Got some radius arm mounts bent up and tacked on



Body swap was done by 4 of us and an engine hoist and moved it sideways off one and onto the other. Couldn't help myself to throw a 37 on it.







Either chassis mounts are different or I botched up the cutting - as the front wheels were too far forward, but it is sitting better now. Needed to come forward with the body to clear the steering box which I had failed to check as it was right on the front body mount. Will need to make new cab mount as shown here.



Steering box clearance after cab adjustment



And some inner guard relief.





Checking scrub radius with the 37. Should be ok, with the radius arm design it will pull forward a bit as the wheel lifts.



Certifier checked it out

[flyingbrick]

Sweet mother of this guys awesome.

[NJV6]

I got a Rover (2 motors actually!) which was already mated to a Toyota Gearbox and the transfer case I was after.



It uses the nice heavy RR flywheel and clutch.

The body is on with new body mounts and no body lift.



Dropped the motor in but boy are they a big motor compared to the V6. A Paj engine bay is tiny and to keep the radiator support the radiator is going to have to go on the deck.

Just putting thrust bearing in and putting gearbox together to tack up some plates to mount the motor. With the sheer size of the V8 and the large clutch and bellhousing the V8 runs I may need to do a body lift.. And that'll make it even higher....

[NJV6]

Ok, I have done a body lift against what I wanted to do but....

The steering shaft from the body to the Prado box would not clear the engine mounts without it.

The steering shaft has been completed and is the Prado end knuckle mated to the Pajero shaft - just bored out the UJ on the toyo end and then put a new joint it - so simple.

The High pinion diff hits the sump of the V8 at full compression, and the motor is as high as I can get it with the engine mounts in place.

To combat this I will just pack the bump stops for now. The Prado's diff is more centered than a Hilux one which would be fine, as would a low pinion one but then all the steering would need changed.

The other option would have been to make completely new engine mounts for the chassis and engine to lift the motor and avoid the steering shaft issues by a different mount on the chassis. As it is the motor sits very low which is good.



The gearbox crossmember is made and in place, it is flat and is 10mm plate.

[NJV6]

Finally got body mounted properly with new mounts. Just need a bit of a tidy up some of the corners but it is good to have the body properly mounted finally. It is pretty square but is dam hard to be perfect with cut chassis being welded and new radius arm mounts and then new body mounts. So I'm happy with 5mm sqew.




Rear


Cut a hole in the floor for the gear levers.


As it sits currently... looking a bit sad.

[aroma]

looking good lots of work being done
now what are you going to use it for? gather its going to be road legal
just a play hack or selling the other paj? and using this one?
by why a rover engine???????????

[NJV6]

Time for a few updates...
Started on the rear Chassis and overhang.



And the petrol tank will sit in there quite nicely.

I got a new motor even though the old motor never got fired up....



And got the chassis rails started.



Petrol tank mounted



Gussets done like this



Finished with the tops and bottoms filled in as well.




Completed, just need to add some more instantaBling.



Only to discover when I went to swap exhaust manifolds over on the V8's (from disco to SD1) that the plugs were loose so I investigated further, and water came out then holes, only to investigate further that the motor was locked solid! So I went home in a huff and hunted down a replacement.

[NJV6]

Right o, a few pic's.

Got a new 3.9 and auto complete

Engine Bay painted.


Painted this colour to make it lighter under the bonnet and easier to see things. It won't be the colour of the vehicle.

Still haven't decided on final car colour.

Had to make a plate to fill the hole at the bottom of the bellhousing


Ignore the paint runs!!! Painting is not a strong point!!


New transfer case mount


Engine mounts to go onto motor.


Rover car manifolds which are a more suitable angle. And the wiring. Heavy flywheel on - motor was an auto.



Had to fix a few oil leaks.... sump never had a gasket on it from new! Just a very limitied amount of gasket poo to slow the oil flow!
Waiting on a spigot bush for clutch to be made then motor can go in for the final time

[Engineer]

i told you..its english, its meant to leak!

[rokhound]

Yeah dude. That is starting to come together nicely.

But WTF are you going to reg it as?

[NJV6]

Currently.... A Rover powered Pajota as I haven't worked out how to include Rover or Discovery into Mitsubishi, Toyota, Prado, Surf and Pajero So still stands as a Pajota!

[muddyhilux]

hey mate,hows this thing coming along?hope you havent hit too many more snags,just been talking with my dad over the last couple weeks about his truck,were just working through the ideas at this satge but hes got a 90 lwb with buggered 2.5 td but really likes the body etc along with a 350chev which hes trying to get me to put in it ,should be interesting but yeh,really good work youve done ae,looks like itll be one top truck when its done ,oh and more pics please this thread needs more pics

[nivaman]

Currently.... A Rover powered Pajota as I haven't worked out how to include Rover or Discovery into Mitsubishi, Toyota, Prado, Surf and Pajero So still stands as a Pajota!

Rajota perhaps?.

[kiwi4x4]

why didi u put the over hang back on?

[WACKO]

cmon nj... progress....

[NJV6]

cmon nj... progress....

Got your beam axle finished yet?????

[WACKO]

hmmm if i was closer i would have had another stab at it.. but as im in canada.. no... hahahaha but its drivable! have you made any progress? or to busy enjoying ya twin lockers?

[NJV6]

I just realised I have been neglecting this thread! So better update it.

This all happened a few months ago

Started building the deck.







Had a dry O ring on the fuel rail and the barstard was pissing petrol out when the pump was running so had to pull it off... sigh - but it meant I could do the other rocker gasket.



Got the transfercase up nice and high! Changed the original bracket and whipped up a modified lifted one which looks great!






And the best news is...... it runs! This was the 1st time it ran. Had done what I thought was all the wiring, put some fuel in the tank and this was the result.

[rokhound]

Good stuff fella. Always good to get a fire up and keep the waning motivation happening isn't it?

[motorhead]

Great progress Lookin at doing the same with my extra 90 LWB Paj

[NJV6]

As this is my first attempt at anything like this is it the small things that is taking the time (and money!) but next time will be easier no doubt!

The deck is coming along and a few little things tidied up.

Throttle cable is hooked up but the travel is not right, it'll do for now. The Land Rover have a nice long pedal action compared to the Pajero so a new pedal will need made but for now a little adapting was all that was req'd.


Collected a radiator, a mate has one on his Lexus powered Hilux so it should be up to the task. It is from a Mitsi RVR turbo Evolution.


And started bending up a roll frame.




Tyres and rims with tubes mounted.


And the driveshaft is in.