Yella terra, red motors and a new head for grandfathers axe

[Leif wilson]

beware the green death!!!

My poor old beddie died the green death on the way home the other day spraying coolant out the radiator and the exaust .....
Soooo sad!

The options, after a lot of investment so far:
ditch it ! $0
Head gasket and grind  $1200
Complete new reco motor, 5sp gearbox, holleys $6000
Someone's hotted up old commodore setup $???
Something completely ridiculous modern and overpowered $???

I love the bloody thing but if I'm gonna spend money I want it to jump!
So my question is this:

Being that I'm no mechanic and live in a flat, what's the next smart move?
Id love to put in a modern v6 and the trimatic has got to go but is that even plausible?

Would a tricked up 202 with a Yella terra head fit in the cavity?

Am I taking too big a risk investing in a van that, tho it is damn sexy, and has had almost e everything else fixed, I'm going to lose serious money on.

Or should I just suck it up, get the head gasket done and settle for a top speed of 85?

I need your enthusiasm and your unwavering faith here!!!! I'll never forget the fist time someone said "that's a f$&kin SICK car" at the lights and the guy in the porshe between us realised the comment wasn't for his car.


Leif

[eddy]

jeepers who quoted you $6000 for an engine and gearbox transplant? is that for a holden 6?  hey Lief if ya got that much cash to splash go the v6 and t700  DON'T DITCH IT !!! you will regret it down the track, make a few more enqs regarding engine replacement, my opinion for what its worth, if you have to remove the motor to do head repairs then you may as well replace it with a reco motor and box, and if your top speed is 85 kays thats more likely your diff ratio, how much coin have you invested so far and what do you use the van for (work or play?) that may determine wether its worth keeping however .... if you are decided to ditch it I am sure there are more than just I who would gladly take it away for you 

[MaTTe]

hey mate, a head gasket isnt expensive and easy to replace yourself with little knowledge, unless something extreme went wrong, the motor and head are liekly fine and will not require machining (unless you're planning to gain compression)
I'm assuming you have a 202 or 186 in there?
Heads are cheap as chips, i would budget $50-100 for a running head and another $50 odd for the gasket.

Now if you want to upgrade the engine thats a completely different can of worms, but personally i'd be getting the van back on the road cheap until the time, effort, and parts are available to do the motor swap.

[Warren]

All good questions from Eddy & Matte.

Being that I'm no mechanic and live in a flat, what's the next smart move?

Pull the head - look at the damage and see where to go from there

Where do you live ? maybe someone on the forum is just around the corner and is willing to come and Drink your Beer Have a look 

Id love to put in a modern v6 and the trimatic has got to go but is that even plausible?

Yes several of our members are running V6's - check out Mezzmos van

Would a tricked up 202 with a Yella terra head fit in the cavity?

Yep same size as the 173/186 would bolt straight in - but depending on what manifold/ carby combo you may have to mod the engine cover.
 
Am I taking too big a risk investing in a van that, tho it is damn sexy, and has had almost e everything else fixed, I'm going to lose serious money on.

Yep you are, Look I feel sorry for you, I'll take it off your hands for $100

Or should I just suck it up, get the head gasket done and settle for a top speed of 85?

More than likely a diff ratio issue, my van with a little 173 can do 110kmh

Really you need to deliver it to my place as soon as possible so that the misserable thing is out of your life forever 

Warren

[ben]

you could always auction it off on the bedford site.. i bid $200.

[eddy]

now come on you two stop playing beddie games with Lief.  Lief don't pay any attention to those two, drop it off at my place I'll find room for it and you won't have to worry about the naughty and bad van any more

[Bas / NZ]

Rebuild and work the 202 a little, new motor and no need for any mods.................

[Worby876]

there is a yella terra head for a holden red 6 going for $400 on ebay
I was looking at it but I don't want to fiddle with roller rockers etc...
Im having enough worries trying to sort out the stock standard ones.

check it out here if you're interested.

cheers

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230627461348&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1156

[ben]

roller rockers are no different to standard when it comes to fitting they just perform better

[Worby876]

Ok..But thats an extra $550 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CHEV-BB-FORD-1-7x7-16-YELLA-TERRA-ROLLER-ROCKERS-ST2003-/160428874200?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item255a4e59d8#ht_1076wt_910

...would it all simply bolt right on to a stock 202 block?
And what about the manifolds and extractors are they the same size or different?

and they would need stronger valve guides for LPG use...

Naah...sounds cool..but I think I stick with the red head...maybe a 173 one later if I can find
a good clean High compression model with the special valves for LPG use...
It would be good to get some more poke under the hood to pull the Motorhome better on the highway and uphills etc