ambulance conversion to 3.5

[kizz81]

hello,
well this project has finally moved along abit,  i have a 1972 3.5 v8 from a rane rover ambulance and a 1992 3.9 auto box so far, has anyone put a 3.5 in a series three ambulance before? is it a full axle swap aswell?

any help appriciated

cheers kieran

[Rich_P]

Why should it be a full axle swap?

It should be very much the same as fitting a 3.5 to a typical 2.25 109...

[kizz81]

the ambulance is on a 109 body as they normally are,
ivenever had one bofore so dont know if the axles will need swapping, it seems sensible to put disk brakes on it? and at least parabolic springs if not coils ?
bear in mind ill be driving the ptrnees and the alps in it in summer with a considerable amount of weight on board as well as aiming for africa at some point

needs to be reliable

cheers kieran

[Rich_P]

You don't need disc brakes, and you don't need coil springs to go on travels as you suggest.  These vehicles were doing it long ago with just 2.25 diesels and stock running gear!

Fitting the V8 will up the loads placed upon the transmission considerably.  That's not to say it won't take it as many many of them do, but you do reduce the lifetime of components as they'll wear out quicker.

You can get conversion kits to fit the 3.5 litre V8 more or less straight in too.

If you really really want coil springs, discs, V8 etc. you might as well go and buy a coil sprung 90 or 110 with a V8 and have all the hard work done already (not to mention the issue of SVA etc. if you made such drastic changes to a Series).  You might want to look up Nick's 109.  He doesn't accept anything but absolute perfection in his build of his ideal Land Rover.

Then you can get the complete opposite contrast with almost completely standard leaf-sprung Land Rovers going into Africa and back.


The group consisted of a 101 converted into a camper, two 88s and a 109.

I hope this helps clear your head a little about what to do.

[kizz81]

cheers!!

you need an sva for disk brakes? ( out of interest )
dont want a 90 or a 110, the ambulance is my price range  :lol:,
i will at the least fit parabolic springs,
what does a 3.5 conversion kit consist of?

cheers kieran

[Rich_P]

Disc brakes on their own won't require an SVA.  But when coupled with coil springs (chassis and suspension mods), among whatever else (e.g. engine change, maybe gearbox etc) it'll need an SVA.

I don't know if there are any parabolic springs on the market that are ideal for the weight of the ambulance body.  They aren't exactly the lightest of body types!  :shock:

As for what the 3.5 conversion kit consists of, that entirely depends on what kit you get your hands on.  You can buy them new, or you can get them second hand.  The only company that I know at the moment that produces them is Steve Parker, but other companies may still offer it too.  They also do exhausts for it.

[TBM]

hello,
well this project has finally moved along abit,  i have a 1972 3.5 v8 from a rane rover ambulance and a 1992 3.9 auto box so far, has anyone put a 3.5 in a series three ambulance before? is it a full axle swap aswell?

any help appriciated

cheers kieran

The V8 is a fairly straightforward swap but I'd advise against using the autobox. To use that you'll need fairly major mods and potentially an axle swap as it'll be permanent 4WD as opposed to the series 2/4WD selectable.

Steve Parker haven't done V8 conversions for several years now, but the following company offer a kit for around £400

http://www.mdengineering.co.uk/index.php?act=category&cat_id=2

Check ebay, you need new engine mounts, an adaptor ring to fit the V8 to the series gearbox and a remote oil filter.  To keep the series front you'll also need an electric fan.

You'll need to do modifications to the passenger footwell, flywheel and will need to make up a new exhaust system - Steve Parker still do exhausts or you can make up your own.

You shouldn't need to upgrade suspension or brakes, but just make sure they're all in tip top condition.

[kizz81]

cheers,
i will still use the auto box, whats life without a challenge :lol:

[Rich_P]

Complicating a vehicle with custom parts when you'll be putting demands on it in distant places, nice way to go.  :doh:

[Disco Matt]

You may find that a good set of original springs will be fine with the weight of the ambulance body. Generally leaf springs are only a problem if there isn't enough weight in the vehicle to make them work properly.

You might want to make a replica Stage 1 front end from Defender parts, as that'll give you a bit more space to play with under the bonnet. I reckon it'd look pretty close if you took a normal Defender bonnet and grille panel but replaced the grille with some suitable mesh. You'd also have a unique vehicle which will confuse the purists nicely!  :lol:

If you plan to fit the full time 4wd transfer box from the Range Rover then you might want to change from UJs to CV joints in the front axle. I've read that there can be problems if you don't do this.

[Lucy1978]

If I were you I'd ditch the idea of the Auto, Yeah I know it's 'reconditioned' but how do you know how well it was done and how long ago, it also gives you headaches with the series front axle ( they have UJ's instead of the CV joints needed for full time 4wd) unless of course you can track down a stage 1 front axle (think rocking horse poo with hens teeth in, having said that there's two on Eblag at the moment clicky )

To be honest you'd be better off fitting a diesel anyway, yeah I know the V8 sounds nice, but the 109 doesn't have the biggest fuel tank in the world and there's not a huge amount of space on/in a series 3 ambi for storing extra fuel, you need to think of the range you need to get from the vehicle. (we even looked at putting a 300tdi in teh 101 before we went away, we fitted a gas kit instead purely on cost grounds, having a brand new 300tdi fitted was going to cost circa £7k the gas kit cost £700 so we did that and left a year earlier, though if the V8 in her had been knackered we would have replaced it with a diesel lump), and a tdi will bolt to the series gearbox.

On the suspension front, you'll probably be ok on standard springs, the ambi body will have enough weight to get them to flex, where as paras may sag a bit under the weight especially when fully loaded for a long trip. (we broke two springs on the 101, and ended up having extra, helper, leaves added). Don't go down teh coil sprung route, unless you have a new chassis from a specialist kit car manufacturer the truckwill end up on a Q plate (or at least should if you do it legally) and it will require an SVA, very difficult for an old truck to pass.

Brakes... you can get disc brake conversion kits for the series axles, BUT, properly adjusted and maintained drum brakes can be very effective (in dry conditions on initial braking they are actually more effective than discs, think of the surface contact area of the friction material on the shoe to the drum, compared with pads on a disc, they're not good a dissapating heat though and not so great when wet).
To illustrate the effectiveness of drum brakes...



yes it's a real photo.

[TBM]

If you do insist on using the auto box, here are a couple of solutions that Ashcroft offer with regard to 5speed Defender manual boxes. They may be adaptable for your auto box.

http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/part_66.html

Failing that, you could fit axles from a Defender by welding up new spring hangers for the leaf spring. You get the advantage of a wider track (about 4" I believe) and disc brakes. Depends on the amount of time and money, and on your ability.

[kizz81]

 :lol: id love it to be an auto box but im swinging to the idea of a 200 or 300 tdi manual as i may need it as an everyday drie round at some point meaning insurance would have to be considered more closely plus i mostly know how to fix a diesel ( well the bits that have broken on mine anyway )
i have a deadline now aswell :lol: landy rally 2009 so a diesel would be quicker to fit

[Lucy1978]

don't you need to find a diesel for pinky first?

[kizz81]

i have one :lol: it just doesnt work

im going to have to leae land rovers alone for a couple of weeks untill i have finnished uni exams, earnt some money and got a plan i think :-k
in the bright side  that green rangie will be started within a week or so  [-o< and your engine will be on a trailer

cheers kieran

[Lucy1978]

Wooo, just about getting to the point of needing it too