Offroad-Express

Im deciding on getting a 1992 Surf and putting a 302 windsor into it but as this is my first 4x4 project im not sure if this is an easy task or not? or if it would be an expensive task or not?...

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

How much do you know, and how big is your budget, because whatever you budget, double it.

Cheers Daniel

what gearbox you gonna run? have you got a bellhousing to suit? induction - you gonna carb or efi? how ya gonna waterproof the distributor and which carb? thought of how far forward the engine will have to sit for firewall clearance etc?

a fair bit to investigate before undertaking such a project. lynx struck it right in sayin funds, funds, funds.

why not get a vehicle and drive it, learn the skills and attributes to get the most out of that vehicle and modify accordingly..?

personally i say modify the shiat out of it and yeah, dooo eeeet.

and how long do you think the axles etc will last ?

youd be better off putting a lexus into it .... windsor is extremely heavy

See here

http://toyotasurf.asn.au/forum/viewtopic.php?p=155920&highlight=#155920

And if you join the surf site then see here for some v8 engine build porn

http://www.toyotasurf.asn.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17782&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

tallsam66 wrote:youd be better off putting a lexus into it ....

And end up with a truck like everyone else
I say put the windsor in and have something different but do your reasearch before you start because theres going to problems along the way and also problems when its up and running like breaking stuff thats two week so make sure you think about those things.

just about finished setting up a 350 chev in my 1990 surf,as said double your budget plus more,ive ended up doing a full swp conversion from lwp and just got enough clearance,ive also got a 90mm body lift and its still tight,had to fab all new power steer bracket and high mount alternator to get it in there and also had to make up a custom exhaust header to get it to fit,and I'm still working on cooling the thing,should be on the road soon but yeah,tricky but worth it,something different like ya say,everyone does lexus now and I just simply don't like the wiring, I much prefer mechanical things

V8 repowers on toyotasurf site will be a big help.
I love all those who have no idea and waffle on about "stuff will be too weak in a surf". The diff heads are the only area that would give you trouble over using cruiser units. Axles are the same size and spline count on lux and cruiser, transfer cases are lux's are more than strong enough, R151 gear box is a good unit if you go manual), and toyota cvs are shit no matter what model you have (in fact my 60 series cruiser had weaker cvs than the surf).

If I was in your shoes, I would also stick the slush box in as IMO they are way more useful for torque application in offroad situations and it is very easy to learn how to drive over brakes to overcome the whole run way thing. Get a couple of "V6" surf diff heads, (which are readily available in NZ), and that should keep your drive line working as long as you don't drive it like you stole it. (once again IMO you are better trying to make lux diff heads last because the increase you get in ground clearance is worth 2 tyre sizes).

92 surf has spongey bouncey suspension at the best of times, 302 windsor weighs aprox 3x - 4x the original petrol motor ?
wont it nose-dive like a japanese zero if you dont toughen up the shocks/springs?
im just picturing it turning at low speed on soft sand or mud, the front outer wheel digging in like an alabama tick and tipping it over as all the weight transfers to that spongey shock....

also traction, having all that weight in the front, and little in the back might be an issue....

Would be interesting to see... to say the least

not being pessimistic at all, we kiwis love a challenge

well i've been around the surf guys long enough to know a fair few who had lexus conversion get rid of them due to all the driveline breakages they had.

I'd say lex it like everyone esle has BUT bang a hair dryer on it.. then she'll go like the clappers and eat the windsor.. lol wut i'm gonna do eventually..lol

you would be better off putting a straight 6 in it with a 12 port optimised head (yella tera) and a big fat turbo...

will drink just as much gas as a 302 and destroy all the drivetrain you can feed it........

's...

i love vomitron havin a windsor.. big lazy easy power.. no computers etc..

niblik wrote:'s...

i love vomitron havin a windsor.. big lazy easy power.. no computers etc..

no computers on a holden six either
in fact its gotta be one of the simplest motors to work on....
and at least you can get down the side of it without pulling the motor out

I've seen a turbod 202 waste a 302 windsor in a drag, kingy vs falcon.... had some hairy ones on it thats 4 sure.....

and i've seen a rotary eat a v8 and a 6...

put a 12a in it....

302 W is NOT 4 times as heavy as original donk. In fact it's lighter than a Triumph straight 6, so probably only slightly more than a Holden 6.

.............................Width...... Length.....Height....Weight
BOP/R......................26.........28............27 .........320
Ford........................24.........29............27.5........460
Chev.......................26.........28.............27..........575
Chevy/w alum heads...26.........28............27..........525
Ford/w alum heads.....24.........29.............27.........424
TR6.........................22.........29.5..........25.........460
Buick V6...................26.........28............29.........412?
hi, hope this is of use as you can see chev is the heavyest

Landynut wrote:you would be better off putting a straight 6 in it with a 12 port optimised head (yella tera) and a big fat turbo...

will drink just as much gas as a 302 and destroy all the drivetrain you can feed it........

Yeah if you want to remove the firewall to fit it in, and sit in the backseat Or totally re-model the front
Fitting a straight six into a hilux engine bay is not a project for a beginner.... Did you read this guys question at the start???