[troopy]

Hi guys I am a fair way through with the restore on my lj tryback and have been toying with the idea of swapping out the f8a fo either a f10a and retain the standard 4 speed and transfer or use a g16b with the 4 speed auto. I have both motors already and have spoken to an engineer who had no issues with approving the g16b provided I did a brake upgrade consisting of using later model sierra brakes.

I would appreciate peoples advice or opinions on the conversion or would I be better off just sticking with the standard motor to keep it all original but I do plan on driving the lj daily for work.

[Highway-Star]

troopy wrote:

Hi guys I am a fair way through with the restore on my lj tryback and have been toying with the idea of swapping out the f8a fo either a f10a and retain the standard 4 speed and transfer or use a g16b with the 4 speed auto. I have both motors already and have spoken to an engineer who had no issues with approving the g16b provided I did a brake upgrade consisting of using later model sierra brakes.

I would appreciate peoples advice or opinions on the conversion or would I be better off just sticking with the standard motor to keep it all original but I do plan on driving the lj daily for work.

Still haven't nutted out the G16 yet, though I will be doing one eventually (and hopefully an F6a turbo too). Will definitely need to cut up the tunnel though.

F10a is a dead easy conversion, and totally reversable (if thats a consideration for you). I daily drove my LJ80 with an F10 for 3 months over the new years period whilst the Sierra sat in bits in the shed. I didn't have a problem with it, apart from my extra low gearing making speeds above 80/90 essentially a no go zone. Yes its slow, but not much slower than a SJ413 (long hills are the only real killer, a 1.3 holds hills far better!). That all said, I'm not sure how much different an F10 is to an F8, as i have never driven an F8 powered one on the road...

[troopy]

I thinkt he f6a turbo would be awsome in a lj to keep the weight down but I don't have one of those lying around. If there is going to be too much of the tunnel that needs to be removed to fit in the auto then I might change it for a sierra 5 speed but either way it will have to be a custom conversion as I havn't been able to find a conversion kit for the lj.

I am mostly just concerned with how the f8 would handle hills and distances when there is 2 people on board and a bit of camping gear or work tools in the tray

[Highway-Star]

troopy wrote:

I am mostly just concerned with how the f8 would handle hills and distances when there is 2 people on board and a bit of camping gear or work tools in the tray

Well my F10 again (closest thing I can comment on), does pretty well with me, my camping gear and a shitload of spares* and tools piled in it, whilst on a set of horrible power sapping 31" Silverstone extremes.

Mine holds 4th gear all the time on the highway with that load on, but I do have LJ50 gearing. Adding an LJ50 transfer might give you that bit extra wheel torque to hold gears but without turning into an semi-undriveable highway car like mine is.




*When I say spares, I mean I carry allot for a small tintop Suzuki when I go away for a weekend. I carry a spare spring, sock absorber, 1 of each tailshaft, a starter motor, a steering box and all arms, 1 front shaft, 1 rear shaft, shackles, U-bolts, fuel pump, assorted electrical bits, complete front hub assembly, engine mounts, transfer mounts, and some other assorted odds and ends. And all the tools to change these bits. To counter this, I do carry very little camping gear

[hooki]

Is the problem with the g16 conversion the steering set up of the LJ? Could a sierra steering box be mounted up front so there are no sump issues?

[LittleJeep]

^^^^there is a centered diff as well (plays havoc with sumps i think..) .....

[Highway-Star]

hooki wrote:

Is the problem with the g16 conversion the steering set up of the LJ? Could a sierra steering box be mounted up front so there are no sump issues?

You have to do this (done a fair bit back in the 80's and 90's I understand), or similar with another steering box.
Also:
- 99% sure the gearbox crossmember has to go, and a new one fabricated in its place.
- The tunnel needs modding (probably will with a Sierra 5 speed too).
- Transfer may need moving back, or replacement with SJ transfer and hence custom mounting
- custom jackshaft.
- Something funky with a shifter if you want to keep inside looking stock, or just hack a hole in the tunnel whereever the shifter sticks out (obviously different with an auto).
-The sump will get smashed by the centred diff. A Baleno G16 sump will be a front drop like the F8 is, but you won't gain any weight distribution advantages.
- What model G16? The only one I think will fit without a total custom sump and sitting low, or without a bodylift is a Baleno coilpack motor (pretty sure this is what I'll use in my LJ81-1).
- You'll maybe want a bigger radiator which probably won't fit without more modding to the front panel (I'm wondering if an LJ80 radiator with tripple cores may cool a G16 enough?).
- Custom engine mounts, though I think this could be easy using Baleno FWD mounts on the existing chassis brackets.
- You also may want to change your 4.5 diff centres for some 4.11 diffs from an SJ410, as the G16 doesn't need to rev super high (of course dependent on tyre size and gearbox choice).

[troopy]

I would be changing the diffs for later model offset sierra diffs and would be also swapping the transfers aswell because I'm not sure how long the standard one would last. With the sterring box I was hoping to be able to swap in a vit powersteer setup and modify the chassis with crush tubes and new mounting holes.

[smiffkid]

sell me the auto and ill sell u a f8a with a big bore kit

[troopy]

But I already have 2 f8a's and a f10

[Ben_Sierra]

Whatever you do with an LJ, please don't take a grinder to it to squeeze a motor in, it makes me cry...

An f10a is stacks of power for an lj considering it weighs bugger all...

[Highway-Star]

troopy wrote:

I would be changing the diffs for later model offset sierra diffs and would be also swapping the transfers aswell because I'm not sure how long the standard one would last. With the sterring box I was hoping to be able to swap in a vit powersteer setup and modify the chassis with crush tubes and new mounting holes.

Offset diffs

If your dead set on power steer, Then maybe an F8/F10 is not really an option, as I don't think stuffing around putting a power steer pump on one of them would be worth it, and may even stall the motor (OK maybe not that bad).

Ben_Sierra wrote:

An f10a is stacks of power for an lj considering it weighs bugger all...

Thats optimism if I ever heard it!!!
Adequate yes. Stacks..... ummm
I wouldn't even call a G16 16 valve in a Sierra stacks....




I think someone over your way with a running and registered standardish 80 needs to take you for a drive, it will give you a better idea of if you will be happy with it or not...

[sideways]

hey troopy, if you've got an f8a in good mechanical condition il give you $100 for it. I'm coming through your way tomorrow and my LJ81 needs a good F8a so yeah. Thanks. Hayden.