Leaf Sprung Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Hi all Well where do I start:} I have a sIII here in little old NZ that I have put a Nissan LD28 in and it goes really well. I love the old girl to bits but when I put the new engine in I had to fit a Santana front to it so now people mistake it for a V8 The reason for the front end change was that the engine Has 6 pots not 4 so it is allot longer and the radiator would not fit between the engine and the cross member (even after taking some of it out). I would now like to make it look like a SIII again but with the engine still as it is now. Has anyone got any good ideas as to how to do this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellow Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Post up some pics of the current situation... What kind of cooling do you need? Otherwise maybe a split radiator, or two motorcycle rads might be the option... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 If it's a LWB, shuffle the whole lot backwards. If it's SWB, put the radiator in the back if you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landmannnn Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I would now like to make it look like a SIII again but with the engine still as it is now. Has anyone got any good ideas as to how to do this? I know it's personal preference, but why? It will be a lot of effort for not a lot gain, I am guessing there are plenty of other jobs you could do which will provide better rewards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_mouse_man Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I know it's personal preference, but why? It will be a lot of effort for not a lot gain, I am guessing there are plenty of other jobs you could do which will provide better rewards! The step back front IMHO looks great, guess that's why the OP wants to do this. As to how - as said above it's all about where to put the cooling. The space restrictions in front of the engine will ultimately govern this. Not sure how with such a big engine you could achieve this to be honest, at least without a mammoth amount of work moving everything backwards. Original series Land Rovers generally have a very small block (length wise) and oodles of room between the fan and the engine. Putting something non original in (especially a bigger lump) is inevitably going to mean everything in front of the block needs to move forward, and that means the grill, hence the flat front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellow Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Do you have space on the sides? Two motorcycle rads with fans mounted sideways , one either side might do the job. And what need is there for cooling? Constant or occasional? Do you have room on top of the engine, if so, you might get away with mounting a rad slanted on top, hummer style... (Mind you, it will fill up with mud faster than you can say 'Hey you, nutter' in a Liverpudlian accent) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 how much space have you got between the fan and the inner, most forward face of the grille? I made the rad fit hard up against the grille, and moved the grille forwards by 20mm, for it to clear the steeringbox (coiler spec pas box). I extended the bonnet at the back to make it look right. Noone has spotted the difference yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyb Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 The Series LR with the 2.6 6cyl engine in had a shorter gearbox (bellhousing and input shaft, IIRC). Now sure of avaliability in NZ, but might allow you to move engine back a few inches. Not sure on the size of the Nissian engine so you may find you don't have the room at the bulkhead end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremlin Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 The Series LR with the 2.6 6cyl engine in had a shorter gearbox (bellhousing and input shaft, IIRC). Now sure of avaliability in NZ, but might allow you to move engine back a few inches. Not sure on the size of the Nissian engine so you may find you don't have the room at the bulkhead end. 2.6 6 pot landies had the whole assembly 4 or 6 inches backwards, bell housings where the same distance except the bolt pattern. I know this as we replaced the bellhousing from a 6pot to fit a 4cyl and we used the same input shaft. The bulkhead is also different. Grem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Hancock Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyb Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 2.6 6 pot landies had the whole assembly 4 or 6 inches backwards, bell housings where the same distance except the bolt pattern. I know this as we replaced the bellhousing from a 6pot to fit a 4cyl and we used the same input shaft. The bulkhead is also different. Fair enough. I thought that I remembered (back in the 80s) people putting 6 cyl boxes on the back of V8s so that they could still fit the recessed grill because the 6cyl box was shorter. Perhaps it is just the mounting position then......hummmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Fair enough. I thought that I remembered (back in the 80s) people putting 6 cyl boxes on the back of V8s so that they could still fit the recessed grill because the 6cyl box was shorter. Perhaps it is just the mounting position then......hummmm Yes it is, as witnessed by the different prop lengths on the 6cyl. When mine went from 6cyl to V8 it was sat right down and back (changing the rear 4 plugs was a laugh). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woop Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I've run into this same problem as well during my S3 109 build---although for different reasons. My full size Ford Falcon Radiator and twin electric fans wouldn't fit between the D2 PAS box and the radiator support panel. I moved my grill panel forward by 55mm and had a sheetmetal shop extend the rear of the bonnet. This gives you more room, but still retains that unique series look. Changing to a 2.6 Bulkhead would also goive you more room as well. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leaf Sprung Posted November 24, 2008 Author Share Posted November 24, 2008 Thank all I would like to keep it looking like a III should at the moment I have about a foot of room between the engine and the Radiator but the cross member stops the radiator from fitting the grille is from a V8 model (I know it to be the stage one) I have the V8 radiator in it at the moment and I have the stage one bonnet on it as well this is the problem as I would like it to have the step in grill as I think they look good. I could always go the other way and change the front to look like a Ninety. Dose it all fit to the III bulk head?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave88sw Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 is the front panel your trying to fit standard? ive seen many conversions where they're sliced off everything level with the front sheet of steel so that it has no depth and then bolt the radiator straight to the back, so you're moving the radiator forward without moving the panel, would this help your situation? is there enough room? just a thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesy Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 I have managed to get a 6cyl falcon engine in behind the radiator, it does need a front mounted fan though. The grill pannel has been moved forward about 50mm but is still under the bonnet and the head light conectors still fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesy Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 This is where the bonnet will sit in relation to the grill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesy Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 In this picture the engine is in the same position as the previous pictures (standard gear box position) but it has a different radiator in it. You might just have to hunt around and find a radiator or get one made that isnt as tall so it can sit above the cross member Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 My set up: The Rad is standard TDI, as is the intercooler, with the bottom tank custom. This pic shows the solution for the intercooler and steeringbox fighting for space, but agreed in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.