Offroad-Express

Back into it - or at least will be trying.

Just picked up a smashed up VS Acclaim for $750. Drives mint, but she's a writeoff. It's a series 2, so it comes with a trans oil cooler, and I think the better coil packs. Looking it over, I think I'll be able to make most of my money back selling things like the 4 mags with near new tyres etc.

Now I can start ordering the adapter etc and get moving with this. I'm thinking of seeing what a mechanic down the road would charge to swap the engine in and weld the mount. If it works out I'll only have it there for the swap (I'll have the commy engine and trans out and ready to go), then trailer it back to mine to spend some quality time with wires, hoses, radiators, power steering and all the rest. A friend knows a mechanic who sounds like he'd be happy with this arrangement, but yet to confirm.

Thinking seriously about something like the transgo shifter kit. Anyone got any experience here. I mean the gearbox drives velvety smooth, but that seems like it's going to overheat it like crazy offroad. I think the idea is to swap out the servo for the one they use in corvettes and a few stiffer valves or something, but it's said to make the gearbox last a lot longer.

I'm pretty impressed with the power/torque of the engine. Can't wait to get it in. I've been looking at the exhaust manifolds (I think someone mentioned the ecotec manifolds being tricky to fit). Looks to me like it would probably just fit, but I'd need to do some heat shielding for sure over the handbrake etc. I'm thinking i might as well go some headers though. From everything I've heard, it's a worthwhile power upgrade.

Any suggestions here - anyone tried pacemakers or something else off the shelf for fit? Not sure what I'll do with the exhaust. Maybe twin 2" or 2 1/4" and something to quieten it down. Got plenty of other stuff to work out first though. There's a dodgy bearing on the front of the block somewhere. Haven't checked which yet, but definately an idler pulley or something on the outside, so nothing major. Think the aircon has packed up, but can probably mod it for an aircompressor. It's also got cruise control which is probably going to be another bit of pain in the ass wiring to sort through, but all in all, I'm stoked.

extractors pop up on trade me regularly. my extractors made fitting too hilux easier but will depend on the extractors you get and where you place the engine. 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 single. dont think they like twin pipes from what I have heard.

Cheers, will find someone who has done a few commodore exhausts and get them to do whatever works for mine then. I guess maybe a single keeps the exhaust velocity higher. Do you know what extractors you've got?

Picked up an engine hoist off trademe today in prep for removing the "Toyota Lexcen" engine (see I'm still keeping it in the Toyota family - look it up). Turned out I picked it up off Alan Sutton. If you don't know of him, he's a crazy geordie who does crazy things with cars and bikes. He's made a couple of reverse trikes based on a mini front end, he's got a couple of widened chopped minis - one's a retro roadster and the other's a pickup powered by a hyubusa which makes it quite a handful to drive apparently - and his latest piece is a full on (roughly 2/3 size) articulated truck again based off a mini. Apparently that's going to be capable of transporting 2 of his toys to events or whatever!

Anyway interesting fella, you should look him up, but in chatting with him, it turns out he powered his roadster mini with a VS 3.8. That lead to a long chin wag, and now I know a way around the BCM problems (having to fool the security stuff to make it start). Apparently you can bypass it with a chip tune. Since I'll probably be fitting extractors and modding the intake a bit, I was going to get a retune anyway, so looks like it might work out to be a fairly cheap alternative to the BCM simulator from marks4wd

hi guys,
iam currently puting a VS V6 3.8L into my hilux 85', i
quickly realised that it was going to be a lot more work than first
thourght. A lot more has to be changed on the hilux eg, shortening of
the center drive shaft, fitting a radiator and even the front drive
shaft diameter has to be changed if using the auto trans from the
commodore. I found that i needed heaps of parts form the commodore. I
ended up buying VS commodore that had major damage in the back, it was
easier and a hell of a lot cheaper. I brought all my conversions parts..
v8

Am almost ready to start my conversion 4y to ecotec 3.8L got most of my kit from marks 4wd adaptors all look really nice...

Anyone else done this conversion I'd be keen to have a chat about what you did and possibly a look if your around Auckland

Cheers, Ash

My ones sitting in Silverdale almost finished which I could probably sort out a mate to show you if ya wanted. Didn't do the original conversion but I'm now on my 3rd engine, 3rd body and complete rewire so know my way around it.