V8 R380 & discs in S3 leafer

Hi

Some parts of this has been covered in other threads which I've seen but some were quite old.

I've taken on a project S3. It's currently a rolling chassis that has been refurbished & has most panels lying loose but no engine nor gearbox.

As this will be a toy with little use I want a V8 in there and as there's no gearbox now my choice would be the R380. However I've read on other threads here that the gearlever is too far back on the R380. However if it was used on the 90 surely it can be convinced to fit a S3? I know this would mean a one-off (short) propshaft.

Also should I be OK with the Series rear diff or is it worth changing?

Maybe irrelevant but in order to keep a classic status & almost free road tax I need to keep the leaf springs. Is there anyway to fit disc brakes?

Thanks for any thoughts
Steve

you can buy kits zeus supplied that last set i fitted ,or cut brackets off a disco axle and weld leaf spring seats etc on ,the engine in a 90 was pushed forward to make room for v8 gear box and 300 tdi

hi there,the disc conversion is a good upgrade,but bloody expensive to say the least! if the amount of labour is not a probolem for you,or you are able to cut,shape and weld,then you will be alrite with fitting a v8,but if you arnt realy able to weld,or do any fabricating,i would think abit longer about the v8 option,becuase its alot more work to fit a v8,as apose to a tdi from a disco,or a defender, if you can,good on ya mate,i wuould,i want to with mine,but it is quite alot of work,and money aswell,conversions arnt cheap,or with out teething probolems! ur quite lucky as you have a rolling chassis,so think about it abit longer,and see what your options are,and make a good disision before you start!

Thanks for the replies.

I know that pretty much every combination has been tried and made to work, but which engine & gearbox combos make most sense, i.e. easier to fit, long-lasting etc ?

The 200 tdi is an almost straight replacement on a S3, right? were these any different in defenders or discos?

The 300 tdi requires fiddling to mountings & gearbox I believe.

You're right Tom, I need to think a bit harder about this. On one hand I'd like to keep as much of the S3 as possible but the 2.25 engines are too underpowered & a fifth gear is nice.

decisions decisions!

the v8's are lovely mate,but the 2.25 petrols are lovely too if they are set up rite,put a decent 2.5 petrol camshaft in it,and pretty much rip it appart and renew and refurbish everything,rings and a decent hone of the bores,shells,crank bearings, cam followers and guids,pushrods,vales,a good carb tune up,and some good head work and machining,if u have the funds,and ull have a 2.25 petrol capable of alot of pulling power! you can then keep the standard running gear,and put a high ratio transfer kit behind the box,trust me you wont need a 5th gear,keeping low range the same, this will be alot easier for you,because its all on the floor! thats what id do with her,origonal with abit of a mod to the gearing,and trust me it will pull,my 2.25 diesel pulls a rangie diff,and 7.50's,but does die on hill,but the engine had a quick over haul,and that was it! have a think mate!

Hi Tom

actually that's a great idea. I prefer petrol to diesel but the V8 route seems tougher than I thought.

Could you please explain more on "put a high ratio transfer kit behind the box". Of all conversion threads I've searched I haven't come across this.

Thanks
Stve

A V8 isn't that hard to fit to a series,the engine mounts to the original mountings on the chassis by using different mounts bolted to the block,you can use a series gearbox you just need a conversion plate and the flywheel needs to be drilled to fit the series clutch and a modified spigot bush fitted,it will cope with the extra power as long as you don't go stupid with it and if you want an extra gear just fit an overdrive.The bulkhead needs trimming on each footwell by about 2" to allow the engine to fit between and then you will need to make an exhaust as a disco/rangerover/defender one wont fit straight on. You used to be able to buy a kit years ago but not sure if you can still get them but a lot of V8's have been removed now in favor of tdi's so there must be some 2nd hand kits up for sale somewhere. Also a tdi isn't just a straight swap either so which ever you choose you will need to do some modifications.

The disc brake conversions are good but very expensive,i looked into doing it on my 2a but for the price and the fact it was only the front i gave it a miss,instead i fitted disco axles(still keeping the leaf springs)
It was a lot more work but worth it as i now have disc brakes front and rear,stronger diffs and halfshafts and much more steering lock!

Hi Jon

Thanks for your comments. Indeed I need to think some more about it. For now i'll refurb the chassis and consider the various engine & drivetrain options.

Any chance of pics or details please on how you fitted the disco axles whenever you have time? What gearbox are you using with this set up? as I understand the Disco's permanent 4WD is incompatible with the selectable series gearbox.. or is that just another myth?

Thanks

I'm with V8 Jon on this, remote oil filter, bulkhead cutting, exhaust second hand or made by Steve Parker/longlife, defender gas pedal etc...

Glencoyne sells setups sometimes from series vehicles he is converting to diesel.

I bought a gearbox of a guy recently who ran a mild 3.5, series box, rangie diffs and an overdrive. He said it was great and cruised at 65mph no worries. Box never gave any trouble.

The whole point of a V8 is the noise. You can get the power from a diesel fair enough, but its just too practical to make it fun

You don't need discs, twin leading shoes properly set up and a few squats in the gym and she will stop just fine.

PS Jon, is that your orange series on Youtube booting it down a country road somewhere? Is that 'not going stupid with it' : ) If it is, I aspire to that! sod the 2.25 3MB in my S3

i do agree that the v8's are lovely,i have a rangerover with a 3.5 high comp,and that went well enough before i pulled it appart, and yea they arnt too hard to fit,but people seem to write off the standard set up,and thats only becuase people have abused them,and they are old now! iv seen it before,where someone has spent loads on a leafer,and put a v8 in,and uprated everything,but it dosent realy do that much better than a decent 2.25 petrol,with a decent set of tires! im not saying the v8's is a bad choice,im just saying that with abit less work,you can end up with basicly the same results! if i had the chance,and the funds, i would fit the v8,but because of funds i would just stick with the 2.25 petrol! depends on funds,how long you have,and your ability! ur in a good postion ,as ur motor is down to bare chassis,and u have no engine and box!

just have a good think mate!

so i was going to play sensible & think about it but found a 5-bearing 2.3 petrol & bought it

I love V8s but realistically I had stopped using the rangie as just looking at it I blew €20 on petrol. actually starting it was another €50. driving it bankrupted me. maybe some day when Malta grows up and gets LPG...

Check my build thread and you'll see how to fit an R380 into a series 3 with V8. Stumpy 380 is the best but a regular will fit