[GUdavo]

gu 5L engine conversion.

hey guys.. have been doing some searches but have come up kinda at the same result which hasnt answered my question.

i am considering a engine conversion for my GU but was going to put a holden 5L engine instead of the LS1/2. and before you ask yes i have looked into both and i have made my decision. the cost of the LS1/2 outweighs the benifits over the 5L as far as im concerned.

i have heard a few people say that you have to use an engine as old if not newer then the car your putting it into.. i havent heard this before and i have seen a GU with a 5L in it but mostly its GQs.

has anyone put a 5L into a GU and if so can you give me an idea of what the end results were and any info that will make my decision easier.

if it helps the GU has a 2.8L and i was going to replace the manual with an auto with the reduction gears in the transfer case.

i have a budget of around $7K and will be able to do pretty much everything myself. (might need a hand with the electrical side.... im a black hander).

also how roughly am i looking at for an engineers cert. i have never had to deal with one before...

cheers

dave

 

[patrol28]

Don't even bother with a 5 litre in a GU, too gutless to be lugging around a 2.5 ton car not to mention the fuel economy would be disgusting. I've had quite a few in Commodores and they are nothing special in them, let alone a Patrol.

 

[heyhey]

Can I know why you have made the desicion to go with a 5L?

 

[truckster]

Call an engineer before you start. Discuss with him your plans. Ask what he will and wont pass, his requirements for the job to allow it to pass, then ask him his price to pass it all. All thru the job, keep him in the loop. Will make your life easier.

Dont spend $.01 until you have spoken with the engineer you will get to approve the mods. (not just any engineer, they all talk different requirements)

$7k you may scrape in doing it yourself, motor, box, clutch, and wiring. There are threads on 5ltrs in patrols, but most did it due to $ not cause they thought it was the best option. Probably the reason the LS conversion is more popular, if your going to all that expense, do it once and do it right. Dont life to regret blowing close to 10k... having said that, putting a 138 grey motor in would be an improvement on a 2.8!

Engineers will be anything from $1000 - 2000.. depending on what actual things he has to do.

 

[heyhey]

You can get an LS1 long motor, gearbox, wiring for around $3000 and sell off what you don't need, how could a 5L be cheaper or the better option?

With the engine ages, I have heard about that and believed that until a bloke I met done a GT40 kit car with a carby engine, all that was required was a big arse Cat for pollution control. It had to meet the current requirements, he also said if you are doing a conversion, you cannot make the car worse than the worst engine it came out of the factory with. It all depends on if the Engineer actually checks it though :wink:

 

[GUdavo]

well the 5L isnt exactly a slug. yeah it may not be a supercar engine but show me a 4x4 thats running 10sec 1/4s and then going out bush to throw mud about. i dont need a 300hp engine. i just want something that is going to give me good solid power. i know the 5L is a strong engine.

i have a $7k budget. not $10k+ yes i understand the extra power and better fuel efficiency of the LS series engines. i have had a 5L and had 2 LS1s in the past before i got into 4x4s.
so i know the LS1 is a better engine. but i simply cant afford it.

i know that you can easily get double the power of a 5L compared to a rd28 at the wheels.

alot of people are putting them into GQs with very good results.. so why wouldnt i get them in the GU???

hell if i had the money i would love a LS1 they are a great motor, but i dont... i have to live to my budget and what is ok for me... at the end of the day a V8 of any kind is going to chew fuel.

if someone has a better option in my price range im all ears...

 

[patrol28]

There was a bloke on the 4wd action forum, user name 'cranky cruiser' or something like that who put an ls1 in an 80 series for around 8 grand doing all the work himself, can't be too hard too save up another grand before you get underway.

Oh and on the electricals there is a guy on the sunny coast (qld) who does a plug in harness for the ls1 into gu for around 500 bucks. His business is Killa Kustom Kables, he wired up my duramax and does an excellent job.

 

[bennoGU28]

5Ls suck, dont try and deny it.

 

[Stephen16]

The 5L isn't a great motor at all, cruddy ignition system, cast iron block so they weigh a **** load, alloy inlet manifold that is very restrictive and causes heat stroke

The ls series engines are much better

The ls engines are much better engines, if your interested in a l98 6 litre for cheap send me a pm

 

[GUdavo]

thanks guys. will look in to it but like i said. i doubt i will be able to find the money for a LS engine change.

 

[truckster]

People seem to buy 1/2 cuts for dirt cheap (regularly read it in threads, never seen it in person)..

Maybe another option to look at as you get most of the **** you need to get running. But again, if you cant get it approved, your wasting your time.

this may help too dunno if GQ/GU is same http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GQ-NISSAN-PA...=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a61beaabc

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/nissan-patro...=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20b648f44f
for sale holden vr ss injected 5l motor and wire harness to suit

nissan gu patrol bell houseing to fit 3ltr or 4.2 diesel gear box

like new clutch engine mounts new vl fuel pump vy ss radiator

twin thermo fans will draw map and show how to wire up to your car


YMMV

 

[tassie patrol]

Nissan Patrol 4.8 lt TB48 Motor GU or GQ with microteck (eBay item 280609286687 end time 08-Jan-11 11:08:22 AEDST) : Cars, Bikes, Boats

and still have a grand or two spare for the unseen cost that are allways hidden in doing anything custom , may not be a V8, but will move your GU alot better than a RD28 ever will
If I had the money spare this would be on it's way to my driveway by now

 

[truckster]

Nissan Patrol 4.8 lt TB48 Motor GU or GQ with microteck (eBay item 280609286687 end time 08-Jan-11 11:08:22 AEDST) : Cars, Bikes, Boats

Saw that, would be a good option.. but lots in the ad sounds dodge to me. Maybe legit.. who knows.
but

'It fits straight into a GU or GQ patrol 6 cylinder car of any year. The engine mounts and gearbox mounts etc are all the same.'
No they arent.

It should only cost around $600 - $800 to get a mechanic to do it all for you.
Yea? they arent on much of an hourly rate at that workshop! + throwing in a free gearbox if you have a 2.8, engine mounts, wiring, etc etc... I'd agree with $600 if you had a 4.8 to start with

 

[GU Bundy]

sorry to Hijack

There was a bloke on the 4wd action forum, user name 'cranky cruiser' or something like that who put an ls1 in an 80 series for around 8 grand doing all the work himself, can't be too hard too save up another grand before you get underway.

Oh and on the electricals there is a guy on the sunny coast (qld) who does a plug in harness for the ls1 into gu for around 500 bucks. His business is Killa Kustom Kables, he wired up my duramax and does an excellent job.

What the transplant cost you for the duramax?
Edit: Wet my pants when I read this "Now powered by 403 cubes of isuzu and chev's finest common rail turbo diesel power"

 

[Brunsy]

GU Davo,

just putting it out there but here is a tied and tru recipe for 200kw at the wheels.

check out my threads in DIY called Turbo your RB 30 GQ.

Whilst the RB25 is a good idea too they are a little small in capacity. But a naturally aspirated RB30 from ebay or wreckers will only set you back say $200 and anything under 200,000km is fine for a turbo platform. You can bolt the thing staight in bar sump from Castmaine rod shop, think they supply a plug and play loom too. Get hold of 6 green injectors from a turbo exa or pulsar, they are $5 each from pickapart or wreker. Reasonable from mount cooler from ebay, a nat aspirated VL ecu chipped from a mate of mine for $50, TB42 fuel tank and pump, vernier cam sprocket and mild cam, ebay exhaust manifold and a nice little GARRET GT35 turbo.
Retain your gearbox/ac/ps and ancilliaries.

I have played with these engines for so many years and built heaps of reliable streeters and a fairly impressive GQ that was mild but awsome and totally reliable.

I suggest this because I believe it is within your capabilty, engineer will have no probs with it ( I myself am a mech engineer), also can guarantee youl have a smile from ear to ear. Will cost you no more than 4K using quality nissan and aftermarket bits. Fuel economy will be around 13l/100 on premium (cruising) and finally its totally LPG compatable, never gone there myself but plenty on outerlimits have with pleasing results.

Pm me if you want some contacts and how too's.

Oh and another thing going this way is that you can fit and run the engine and leave it minus turbo and intercooler while you iron out the kinks and save up for some goodies. You should be able to have a RB30 in and running for way less than $1000 that includes the $500 change over sump.

at the end of the day its a big decision and a fair wad of coin, which ever way you go keep us guys on the forum in the loop heaps of good knowledge.

On a final note, I have built a few 304's in not overly impressed by design or money versus hp of the injected ones.

 

[rodder76]

i have to disagree with you all that the 5l is a crap motor. I put one in a fj45 ten years ago and that thing with a very small cam was a little faster than an vx ss with exhaust and tune. Ran 13's on the quarter sometimes and got me about 15.5 ltrs/100 It made just under 200 hp at the wheels but had torque everywhere. It is a heavier motor for sure but much easier to fix any problems and much cheaper. Ls1's are a great motor. I have one in a vy ss. They make no usuable power under 3-3500. Is that what you want in a 2500 kilo 4x4. With a cam of 220-220 or similar that changes everything. You can still get 300 hp out of a five litre very cheaply.
Just my two cents

 

[GUdavo]

thanks guys.... lots of good ideas.... too many in fact now im lost in ideas haha..

will keep scouring the net i guess. if i can find a good motor gearbox combo in the LS1 i will be looking at it...

thanks again.. will keep you posted on my final decision

dave

 

[Stephen16]

I have to disagree, the 5Ls leak oil like a seive and are terrible to work on ( ever removed a dizzy from one still in the car), they are heavy and ancient in design, aswell as they don't breathe well and are very expensive to extract power from

Ls1's have far less problems, and are much better designed, im an auto electrician by trade and it's very rare to look under a ls car and see oil from asshole to breakfast time like the 304s do, the ignition system with individual coils is very good, the ecu's are completely tuneable, alloy block and plastic manifold so they weigh about half of a 304, 6 bolt mains on all ls engines, engine internals will handle 550hp no worries

Plus the aftermarket support for the ls's is much better

I have a friend with a stock vt s2 ss with exhaust ran a 13.8

Another friend with a hz kingswood with a ls1 carby turbo setup and a powerglide ( internally standard donk) pushes 490hp and consistently runs low 10s

Not to say the 304's are a crap engine but the ls's are a much better engine

 

[heyhey]

I have to disagree, the 5Ls leak oil like a seive and are terrible to work on ( ever removed a dizzy from one still in the car), they are heavy and ancient in design, aswell as they don't breathe well and are very expensive to extract power from

?? Are you talking about Red/Blue 308s that where in the Kingswoods/Holdens or Injected 5L (304) that were in VN-VT?

 

[Stephen16]

Injected 304