V8 -> Ke55

[Soarer_D00D]

Gday Guys.

Now that i've since gotten rid of the Soarer, i have been offered a KE55 Coupe for a low price. The only way i will buy this car, is if i can fit a V8 into it, and keep it street registered.

Has anyone attempted anything like this on here before? I've seen a few Youtube videos, and have messaged the owners, but alas they can shed no light on the subject.

Im aware almost everything is going to have to be updated, which isnt a huge problem, but was just wondering if anyone has any experience in doing a conversion like this. My first thoughts are something along the lines of a small block 351, or 350 chev, and for a couple of reasons.

1) Space issues
2) Would like to keep it carby
3) I want about as much technology as a meat pie in this car.
4) Its easy to install a PD Blower onto an older 350 engine.
Opting for a 1UZ would be a logical choice, but for space reasons, and not wanting to convert to EFI, i've kind of ruled it out.

As per RTA regulations, apparently you are only allowed an engine size proportional to the original weight of the car.

Being the car weighs in at around 920kgs in standard trim, they have basically said that you are allowed 4 times the weight in CC's which would give me a maximum legal engine size of 3690ccs (Supercharged V6 Commy Engine). But i really want a V8 in it!

Now dont give me any of this "Put a 4AGE in it" or "Put a 13B in it" because they simply wont have enough grunt for me. I want a V8, in a small car, which idles as lumpy as a well cooked porridge, sounds tough and i can cruise in.

Any suggestions in regards to the conversion would be good, i am planning on doing body bracing myself with my welder, and strengthening the chassis and whatnot.

Also looking at some sort of tricked up auto, so any gearbox/drivetrain suggestions would be welcomed.

It isnt an everyday car, as i have my VZ commodore for that, and will purely be a weekend fun cruising car.

Any help/feedback would be greatly appreciated as im fairly keen on making it happen, but dont want to five int the deep end without any knowledge on hand.

Cheers,
Shazza

[oldcorollas]

no........

[Soarer_D00D]

no........

Haha.

It has been done before! And road registered too...

As stated above, the RTA specifies that i adhere to 4 x the original weight of the car (920kgs) in CCs, giving me a maximum legal capacity of 3680ccs (About the size of a Supercharged V6 commodore engine)

Although that wouldnt be a bad route to go down, ideally i would like a V8 rumble.
Is there any small capacity V8's worthwhile around that area though?

[oldcorollas]

no......... you are wrong

[Soarer_D00D]

no......... you are wrong

Well give me some 'correct" info to go off.
I'm going to call an engineer family friend tomorrow anyway, but i still would like some other peoples opinions.

[oldcorollas]

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...s_nov_2007.pdf
(or NCOP.. whichever)

isn't KE30 abotu 820-850kg?
950 is mor eliek AE86

lets say 820
if you had actualyl bothered to look up NCOP or current guidelines..

up to 1100kg,
turbo/SC = weight x 2.5
NA = weight x 3

850 = 2.55L NA and 2.1L turbo/SC

about 3 litres off....

[oldcorollas]

those cars that are "registered" were either engineered a loooong time ago. or are totally non legal and you would get bubba'd when you get pulled over.

[pAuL]

this in 3.5 ltr

[oldcorollas]

still 1L too big

5.7L needs a minimum of 1182kg for NA, and minimum of 1425kg for turbo/SC
under current rules.
that is original weight of vehicle.

with NCOP
5.7L needs a minimum of 1140kg for NA, and 1900kg for turbo..

basically, you don7t have a chance.. not even a remote one...
it will either be a trailer bitch, or you will be risking your assets every time you drive it

[Cuzzo]

no ..........................

sr20 max, 1g max, 13b na max

[Soarer_D00D]

It weighed in @ 920kgs (KE55 Coupe, not KE30) And i did look up the NCOP of whatever the hell its called... But it may be an older version... Even on the old table, it would seem a naturally aspirated commy engine would have worked, but not a s/c'd one.

[oldcorollas]

it is not what it weighed in at. it is what the FACTORY weight
read the bit under the table

920 is not factory weight...

no, that is the current NCOP proposal.

you don7t have a snowflakes chance in hell of gettin git legal..


unless, you make it comply with all current ADR's are register as an ICV

[Soarer_D00D]

So the TARE weight on the registration papers is not the original weight? The rego papers say 920kgs, but again, im completely unsure of what the factory claims the weight to be.

[oldcorollas]

rign the RTA tech lin eand ask them what weight hey have. THAT is the official weight

here has weight as 870, but it aint 920
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/P.../tm_index.html

you could get the TARE weight on your rego papers changed and save on rego cost

[mrshin]

If you want an old, and pretty average, engine, then go with the Rover idea. You could no doubt swap crank etc. in an old 3.5 unit to make it a 4.6 - although I'm only guessing here...

You could also consider the Toyota 4V - 3.4 litre V8 - at least that'd look cool! Plus you can get a bellhousing to fit a W 'box to them, they're small, and light.