Offroad-Express

Ok, long term project, but planning on trying a Buick V6 3.8 (VN commodore) into the new scud. Hope to use the commy 4spd T700 trans and bolt on a Toy transfer case with a mark's adapter or similar.

How do you get on with the electrics, specifically the speed sensor as the scud has a cable speedo, and the T700 relies on electronic speed information.

Who's been down this track before, and what did you find. Anyone been particularly successful with it?

I am not knowledgeable about the engine or how would it work. But for the speedo, you could just change it and put a new electronic speedo in. Do a bit of search for Dakota Digital replacement speedometers.

Thanks TJ, had a look at their site. Awesome stuff, but OUCH!! I looked at the prices!! Perhaps if I win Lotto it will be an option.

Well worth keeping on the list for if funds permit, as its such an elegant solution. I've emailed with the specifics and it will be interesting to see if they provide a package to suit.

Check out the marlincrawler website, he sells a VSS unit that goes in a yota transfer case

Not in to a escudo but a commodore 3.8 v6 with auto in to a suzuki 413 with toyota axles, not finished yet but will be a awesum zuk.

TONKAR on here has a 3.8l v6 escudo (the one I told you about on the phone) To make it work and still have a front diff (tonys one doesnt, it's set up for blowing away ferrari's lol ) you are going to have to absoloutly cut the shit out of the transtunnel and make it alot larger. (tonys one hasnt been done like that so the front diff has been removed and the motor is mounted really really low in the engine bay) this is ok obvisouly if you want it as a kick ass street car. To do it would you need to have hilux diffs front and rear to handle the power and because you would be running coils up front on the solid axle just becuase of how the motor will have to be mounted its going to sit really high.....but thats ok plenty of room for the 40" tyres!

I'll try and get some pics of tonkars one and email them you

You can get Electronic Speedo correctors from Jaycar for about $60
http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=KC5435&CATID=25&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=347

They are in Kit form and have to be soldered together. I have one in the surf and it works really well

Jafa wrote:Check out the marlincrawler website, he sells a VSS unit that goes in a yota transfer case

together with one of these and your Speedo is sorted.

Yeah, but if you are running Toy transfer case, then you will use the toyota speedo drive out the back of the transfer case, and that is cable.
If your engine is out of a Holden, the factory brain will run it as good as gold. The holden computers are as basic as hell. (one juice feed and by pass the anti theft, and it is all go )

Thanks guys, all input VERY gratefully received.

I've never done anything like this before so want to avoid as many mistakes as possible.

As I said up first. it's a long term project, but if bits start coming up at the right price I'll be starting to collect the necessaries.

theres a guy in Auckland who did one with hilux running gear.
I don't know him, but you could get in touch with blackcruiser on here and he will know him

or spanky I think is doing the same thing

UBZ wrote:You can get Electronic Speedo correctors from Jaycar for about $60
http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=KC5435&CATID=25&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=347

They are in Kit form and have to be soldered together. I have one in the surf and it works really well

Jafa wrote:Check out the marlincrawler website, he sells a VSS unit that goes in a yota transfer case

together with one of these and your Speedo is sorted.

Is that for a eletrontic speedo? as he has just plugged in the vitara speedo cable into the holden speedo cable input lol and it works but read hugely untrue! (at 100k it reads 150k lol) Im guessing you solder it into the dash board end....how do you do it....sorry don't know jack about this sorta thing.

mroffroader wrote:

UBZ wrote:You can get Electronic Speedo correctors from Jaycar for about $60
http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=KC5435&CATID=25&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=347

They are in Kit form and have to be soldered together. I have one in the surf and it works really well

Jafa wrote:Check out the marlincrawler website, he sells a VSS unit that goes in a yota transfer case

together with one of these and your Speedo is sorted.

Is that for a eletrontic speedo? as he has just plugged in the vitara speedo cable into the holden speedo cable input lol and it works but read hugely untrue! (at 100k it reads 150k lol) Im guessing you solder it into the dash board end....how do you do it....sorry don't know jack about this sorta thing.

Considering its on tyres that are 20% undersize thats not suprising

turoa wrote:Considering its on tyres that are 20% undersize thats not suprising

Smaller tyres make the situation better......bigger tyres will make it even worse again.....

rokhound wrote:Yeah, but if you are running Toy transfer case, then you will use the toyota speedo drive out the back of the transfer case, and that is cable.

Not all Toy transfer cases are cable driven speedo. Newer one have the mechanical gear, but then the signal is converted into an electrical pulse. This speedo correction units converts/adjusts that signal to match your gearing. I have a similar unit that I am using (Truspeed 3200) that is also compatible with Toy / Chevy / Ford electronic speedo signals.

mroffroader wrote:

turoa wrote:Considering its on tyres that are 20% undersize thats not suprising

Smaller tyres make the situation better......bigger tyres will make it even worse again.....

No its the other way round. small tyres make it over read and big tyres make it under read

mroffroader wrote:Is that for a eletrontic speedo? as he has just plugged in the vitara speedo cable into the holden speedo cable input lol and it works but read hugely untrue! (at 100k it reads 150k lol) Im guessing you solder it into the dash board end....how do you do it....sorry don't know jack about this sorta thing.

The ones I have seen require you to splice into the signal feed wire that goes from your speedo pickup from transfer case to the ECM. The unit is placed in between and it adjusts the signal pulse to make it correct for the ECM and dash speedo. Some electronic signal transmissions also need this corrected signal to upshift/downshift properly at correct speeds.

Anyone ever looked at the speedo of a vitara to see if its got the adjustment calibration lever like the samurai's do?
http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content?P=fa1d8ad776562e557a785fc19cc784cd&/topic,15339.0.html may be an option if you are running mechanical

If you are running the electronic speedo/sensor why not just transplant the toy speedo in? alternatively i believe the newer zooks (or definately the jimny anyway) has a electronic speedo.. another option maybe?

speedo is the least of your worries, the actual fitting of motor and box is alright the v6 is compact and the auto/transfer is not to bad, you will need to change to hilux or similar axles or at least the front, i started doing this until i realised what i really wanted was a trials type truck with no panels etc so changed plans,guy in our club is finishing his at the moment so will get some pics when up there next.
vaughan