Vk45 dd

[New beddi guy]

Was lookin at the Lexus v8 but found something on here that it was jus too big....wondering if anyone has thought about transplanting the vk45...found one on tm, front half turn key package, physical Measurements are 680mm long crank pulley to left head neo pump, 650mm wide at heads, 750mm high
Other options are the ls1 or good ole 350chev..
Was hoping to do most of it myself but unsure about taking on such a task....never done much in way of mods....boilermaker by trade so reasonably confident I can fudge my way through....hahaha famous last words...any advice n thoughts r most welcome

[Gordon]

Welcome new beddi guy. There are a few of us locally running V8s. As you say the Chev 350 is a popular option and is what I am running in my van. Garry runs the same setup in his Jumbo Just needs a bit of floor cutting and new engine mounts welded onto your front suspension beam. Trickiest bit is getting a diff with a suitable ratio. Engine parts as you probably know are cheap and plentiful. Ray in Hamilton has just put an LT1 into his van and seems very happy with the conversion. Stuey up here in Auckland is running a Ford 302 in his van. The other popular conversion is the Holden 3.8 litre V6 that Bas in Auckland is running as well as Eric in Hamilton who has the same conversion in his van that was originally built by Busy. This option is probably the cheapest to do if you buy yourself a donor car. Bas and Eric are both running the Holden instrument cluster and wiring as well as other Holden bits and pieces.

Shout if any of us can help with further advice.

[BusyKiwi]

The biggest thing is the width of the engines, the Lexus for example would go hard against the steering column to half way across passenger floor. It can be done but there is a lot of messing around. I helped a guy set one up with the lexus and if memory served we ended up moving the steering because of the oil pipes and the back of the engine was very close to the seat (with engine as far forward as possible)

It can be done, there is an ambo running around with a lexus in it.

A commodore V6 is a good conversion, isn't to wide and a standard engine has power to spare, if you did want more you can chip the computer or add the factory blower. When I got my standard van cert'd the engineer commented on how well it went (and he hates bedfords lol). When i sold it the guy whom brought it was shocked at how well it went (think he's still on origainal tyres lol). I just put 2 cobies for the exhaust and everyone thought it was a V8

The chev is another common conversion, easy for parts, can be run with or without computer (fuel injection) but is heavier and costs a little more to run.

End of the day the bedford isn't aerodynamic so you'll never turn it into a race car but you can have enough power to get you into and sometimes out of trouble

I'm running a chev V8 in my custom van but only because the vans old school (ish), my next one or one after that would probably go commodore V6 again.

If you can weld you shouldn't have a problem

[taggraphx]

Another option that is easy fit is the 360 Chrysler, built proof motor and cheap parts, and enough power to keep you happy

[Sundownernz]

Hi New Beddi Guy,

Welcome to the forum. As Gordon mentioned I'm running a 350 Chev in my van as that's what we did back in the late 80's when I did mine. Plenty of other options around now though as previously mentioned. Just depends on what you want to do and the depth of your pockets.

As for a diff, I've used a 9" Ford which works really well. It's wide enough (if you get the right one) to replace the CF one, plenty strong, and so easy to get a whole range of ratio's to suit whatever you want. Changing the diff head is also a piece of cake. I'd run a 9" again regardless of whatever engine I put in.

As Gordon said, if we can be of any help just sing out.

Cheers,
Garry.

[Gordon]

I'm with Garry regarding the Ford 9 inch. I'm running one out of a mid '60s Galaxy in my van. Its a little narrower than the original Bedford which allows me to run 8 inch wide rear wheels inside a standard Bedford rear mudguard. As Garry says they are bullet proof and gear sets are cheap as chips.