What do you do with a 3y engine..

With the 3y not cutting it an engine swap is in order.  302, c4 auto, and a nine inch, that would be cool.  What about a turbo diesel, nah, after hitting google I feel the best option is the Buick 'echotec' engine.  I plan to use the Commodore V6's auto as well,  the diff will be changed or modified so i can get a airlocker or Lsd install and ratios to suite the V6 auto combination.  With the correct diff ratio I believe I should be able to get better economy than the Merc which only gets around 8km per litre and if it ends up the same as the Merc thats ok, I am driving a garden shed down the highway.

Will it fit? Thats the first job. There are a few shops offering V6 conversions for hiace vans so I dont delieve there will be any problems with it fitting in the engine bay as the design of the delta is basically the same as the hiace. I hope to install the new engine from underneath as it should be the easiest way. The way I see it is that l've basiclly got two parallel pieces of C section, if the v6 fits between them alls good, just add mounts and may be a crossrail or two and the jobs done.  Then its just the power steering, air con, disc brakes up front, new diff and tail shaft, easy peasy, wait a sec there's the radiator, air con condenser...

Natsnud said:
03-10-2005 05:52 PM
Went to a wrecker today and got the following approximate dimensions for a VR Commodore V6 engine:
Length: 560mm - flywheel outer to crank pulley nut outer.
Width: 530mm - Outer to outer of cam covers. Add about 70mm for exhaust header to header.
Height: 670mm - bottom of front sump to top of plenum box.
I dont think there would be any difference to the Ecotech engine.
Hope this helps others. Still havent got the weight yet.
I cant believe no one could tell me these dimensions!

(from justcommodores.com.au forum) 

Thanks Natsnud, gotta love google, so given that there is 630mm between the chassis rails and the v6 is 600mm with the headers still on, the engine will fit in 'Trekka'.