Ok I know this got discussed before but never truly finalised. The OTHER big engine swap idea....the 3.2Did. Billy has sparked this off again on the Barbarian engine thread.

New shapers.. you guys are sorted you know it goes in already. But will it go into a classic? Much as the V6 is Basils dream, the 3.2Did is my ultimate dream. According to wikipedia the 3.2Did WAS fitted by Mitsi to the Shogun sport: SEE HERE. And there was a manual using a 5 speed auto box. Since the shogun sport is the L200 chassis, the only real question is... is that OUR gear box?

The build brief for me would be to do the water injection, s/s exhaust and FMIC to my truck as it is. Then drop in a 3.2 and a custom ECU like Megasquirt so I can map the engine myself. Costs are irrelevant because this is what I would do instead of a new truck at some point. Which it will still be cheaper than by comparison.

If this will work then make no mistakes I will do it.

ONE last hurdle on the design brief..... it needs to run on veg. Is the 3.2Did common rail? If so we need to get round that somehow either by seriously consulting with oilybits about veg on common rails or by engineering a way to lose the common rail off that engine.

I know I'm demanding etc etc but the way I see it is I am just pushing us forwards......... Lets brain storm people.............

not a cats chance in hell the 3.2 will run on veg in its standard form, ive had a long meaningfull chat to the techs at oily bits, yes they say a common rail should run on veg, would need a good warm up time and an extended flush, i think personally you would have to consider a flat plate exchanger and a heated filter unit, plus possibly trace wiring around the rail and lines from it, im sure mitzi wont even accept b100 bio as a fuel and will wave a warranty claim because of it if used

yes it should fit with some mounting mods, you will need to use the gearbox and mod your shafts, you wil also prob need to use the loom and ecu from the donor vehicle, that though could give you other issues like the speedo, rev counter etc etc

personally i think if i was after power i would be staying with the original engine, ideally the long milners one, its new, port and flow the intake and exhausts, get it on either hydro or water injection whichever gives the better results, then and only then i would be off and getting it chipped by a tuner that has a rolling road/dyno and getting it tuned to suit, from that i would be looking at bigger rolling diameter wheels and tyres, thing is what do you want the power for, legally you cant go over 70, trust me ive had one a lot over that and you know your moving, even at 90 though your heads wrecked after ten miles because unlike a car or other vehicle designed for high speed so your concentration and stress levels take thier toll, so you want power for off road, too much power is worse than not enough

Back in the 70s, when I was just a young 50-year-old, there was much talk of boring out the cylinders and adding a taller head (I may have got that last bit wrong) to increase CCs. Is this still done? Is it a viable option?

I seem to remember reading the L200 (savana) in South America had the option of the 3.2did. So i'm guessing it'd drop into a classic without too much trouble.

It's not about top speed Teeboa. It's about getting there quickly. I agree too much power off road is a bad thing. So there has to be balance. But it's also about the engineering challenge. Let's face it........ who would have ordered a 2.5 if the classic came with a 3.2 option!!???

What gear box are you suggesting to use Mike? This is my point... is it a different gearbox?? ECU wise I would probably go with a custom aftermarket job.

The great thing is this doesn't change my mods for the next 6 months so I can work it all out in that time frame.

I would also like to point out that for those serious classic shape enthusiasts, we have to come up with a long term plan for the classics to keep them going. Now sure you could replace like for like parts and easily keep one going for up to 15years from now. Only problem with that is you are being left further and further behind in automotive development. So if you're serious about keeping a classic long term then this may be the solution.

I know everyone here wants it. So lets work it out. I for one LOVE old shape trucks with up to date running gear.

im sure the gearbox on the 3.2 is a similar layout to the later L200`s, so you are looking at a gearbox ecu and wiring, not sure what other box would fit but if your into engineering then with the right tools you should be able to mount a standard L200 box onto near any engine, where the shit could start thou is insuring one, its not standard so becomes a `kit car`, brakes may not be up to the job either, bolting a big motor in is one thing, making it safe, legal and finding someone to insure it may not be easy, gone are the days of my teens /early 20`s were we would shove anything into a vehicle and easy to find insurance, now they start goose stepping and knee jerking at the mention of veg conversions never mind something totally changed

All very true. Still I used to insure a Corvette so I'm only concerned for now with the engineering side.

a lathe, milling machine a shaper and a decent mig welder should see you right

Which I have none of! What are we fabricating anyway? Billy seems to think it will go straight in.

No. I said it would fit.
Ie, it will sit on the mounts ok.
Go through autotrader and get me reg numbers for a 3.2 manual and yours and I will see if the gearbox plates are the same.

Ah ok my bad. 3.2 shogun do ya? Can't seem to find a shogun sport.

If you can find a 3.2 shogun with a manual gearbox.. rarer than 3.2 classics I expect
Even then I know the shogun gearbox is not the same as a L200 one..
If you can speak japanease try looking at dealer adverts over there for the 2.5 did shogun sport

Maybe not a DID but didn't some shoguns come with 3.2's in them? Like, from years ago? M reg for example..?

The shogun did as does, yes. But the shogun sport (essentially the same chassis as a classic L200) is a matter of debate. Wikipedia says it did have a 3.2 in other countries. Proving this is somewhat difficult. Billy is going to check the gear box's that were married up to a 3.2 anyway.

if the engines had a backplate bolted on and the gearbox bolted to that backplate then all you would need to do is make a conversion backplate, im sure the gearboxes on out trucks bolt directly to the engine casting though, it may be of a chew on to get the correct clutch though as you may need the pressure plate off the donor engine but the driven plate off your old clutch, or you may find bolt holes and splines may not marry up, also you may have to find a spigot bearing thats takes the first motion shaft, failing that you may have to get a flywheel made - expensive, initially your best move would be a manual box and matching engine, the main alterations them would be to mountings and prop-shafts, though theres another issue, upgraded suspension and brakes to cope with the extra wieght and power

Suspension is being done anyway. Brakes, I don't upgrade them for the 750kg I carry in the back. Is it a heavier engine? Does the extra weight really warrent new brakes. If so easiet option is probably disc conversion on the rear.

depends on the wieght of the engine, prob find back brakes are happy, end the day you can shove a fair weight over the back axle, the fronts do the brunt of the work, i still think insurance will be the issue, your talking about near doubling the pony power, you can imagine the convo

you have put a bigger engine in ?

yes

keching

we want qan engineers report kerching kerching

no problem oh by the way i have doubled the horse power

KERCHING KERCHING KERCHING KERCHING oh sir we can offer you insurance at £780

oh magic almost what i pay now


no sir thats monthly

Thinkin bout puttin my 3.2 auto into a single cab n then tubbin it.....

Tell you why I'm not too concerned Treeboa. I have an insurance policy that allows unlimited mods bar engine mods - which are assessed on merit. However... for a premium increase of £200 a year (reasonable to me) I can have unlimited engine mods too. No limit on horse power. Let's work out how difficult the job is first THEN I'll get a quote. Reckon Basils insurance issue will be bigger than mine.

Woody.....Do it! Join me in my madness!

The job is easy,I've put big blocks into ford pops...If you want mental we could shoehorn in 510ci chevy n the insurance be damned...

HahaHa would love too! But the dream is both realistic and demanding at the same time. Here it is..... I want horse power and mpg. There's more than enough bhp available in the 3.2Did to make it somewhat impressive when you take someone out. Some clever mapping options and it would be great on economy too. Gotta firgure out the veg thing though. Possibly lose the common rail somehow. Gotta be a way. Any knowledge you can offer towards the cause?

Chevy and Cummins make 6ltr smallblock diesels...

WIthout trying to sounding like a defeatist (something I hate) that's gonna be a fair bit less straight forward than a 3.2Did?

Probably not, guages would bewthe hardest bit,