GM/Chevy 250 Conversion in 90/110/130

RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
The engine is long enough that on LHD models the alternator gets in the way of the steering box, so the alternator needs to be mounted on the right side of the engine.
This wasn't difficult.
We've built the prototype LHD alternator mount, just waiting for the metal fab shop to produce them.
I'll likely run another batch of adapters in the spring as sales have been better than expected.
Thought it would be slow over the holidays, but 4 kits sold on December 24th.
 

RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
Just ordered the P/S Pump Pressure Valve Shim 899001 Kit from Borgeson to reduce the 1,200 LB Saignaw pressure down to 800 for the Land Rover steering box.
Looks like an easy install.
Can be purchased direct from Borgeson or from Summit other vendors.
 

RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
It's been 5 months since we bolted the Chevy inline 6 cylinder 250 cuin (4.1 liter) into the first 110 mock-up vehicle.
Now we have a prototype 250 integrated head engine in our British Red Cross, East Africa 110.
Don't let the dirty engine fool you, it came out of a wrecked pickup with just over 46,000 miles.
Found the engine on FB Marketplace for $125.
I probably purchased the first 2 barrel BBD Holley Sniper kit even before it was listed on the Holley website.
The engine starts on the turn of the key regardless of temperature and cruses down the highway between 70 and 80 MPH.
Even at those speeds you barely hear the engine with the stock exhaust.
Made a custom down pipe to connect the engine to the stock exhaust complete with a vibration damper section.
Chose to weld in a bung for the O2 sensor.
The stock Chevy air cleaner fits on top of the Sniper and clears the bonnet.
Since the Sniper handheld display provides a sensor screen: tach, temp, and voltage gauges are unnecessary.
This frees up positions for an oil pressure, vacuum, and fuel pressure gauges.
I think the fuel pressure gauge is a must as it lets you view the initial starting fuel pressure and the running pressure.
The sniper comes with a 60 PSI pressure regulator that can be removed and adjusted if needed.
Here are some pictures of the sniper setup.
I found some near identical vacuum gauges that have a black bezel that match the stock gauges a little better that will be used in the future.
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RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
Fuel to the fire:
 

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
It is the 5.3 or like. But now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure his is an inline as well. I can ask if interested. Came out of a.... Blazer, or maybe a Tahoe. He has some engineering background, and just did it as a one-off job, but he has been running it for at least 5 or 6 years. It really does go 90 mph without trouble. Of course, that's not an original transmission, though.

EDIT: Posted that first one just as an example of these GMChevy engines that can be had for cheap when you look around.
 
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RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
Installed the shims in the Saignaw PS pump mentioned in post 22.
Removed the 1 shim that was already in place and installed all 5 shims that came in the kit which sets the pressure at 700 PSI. During the test drive, didn't notice any change in the steering with the pressure reduction.
 
Robert,
The more I study this the better a solution it appears to be for those who don’t have unlimited funds. The availability and dependability of it is hard to argue with. I appreciate the fact that you can start with a carb and upgrade to to efi. For those who already have the 1.4 t-case, is adding the Roamer Drive a viable option? Leave it engaged for daily driving or disengage for towing or off-road driving? Not sure of the price for a rebuilt 1.2 from Ashcroft vs Roamer Drive - just wondering about options.
 

RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
You are correct in noticing that the inline 6 cylinder is a better solution for the DIY owner who has limited funds.
The result is a vehicle transformed with the type of performance that it should have had to begin with.
There are other factors like over the counter parts support and minimal maintenance that is very very easy to perform.

You will NOT want a 1.4 transfer-case with any type of weak overdrive add-on when someone who is still holding on to the TDI idea will purchase them. You can locate a Discovery 1.22 transfer-case for a small investment.
 

RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
The Chevy 230/250 and GM 3.0 Liter 4 cylinder engines we use for Land Rover engine conversions have either a pressed on crank pulley or a pressed on harmonic balancer.
The 292 has a smaller 7/16" crank pulley bolt.

Since we want the option to add additional pulleys for AC, and a higher output alternator, we built a drilling and tapping jig for a pilot hole, a larger hole suited for a 5/8 tap, and the 5/8 X 18 SAE tap.
The 3 hardened guides can rotate in the jig, so when oiled can spin with the drill or tap which will all but eliminate wear so the guides can be used in the jig many times before new guides are needed.
I was careful drilling the holes slowly and to the correct depth.
This eliminated wear on the sides of the jig and ensured the hole and tapped threads were on center.
The jig works like a champ.
Then the crank pulley bolt can be inserted to ensure the pulley will not loosen even when a 3 or 4 groove pulley is added.
I didn't see any point in taking pictures of drilling the pilot hole or the larger hole for the tap, but did take a few pictures of the hole being tapped and the final view before inserting and tightening the new crank bolt and washer.
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RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
Prepping a reman 4.1 liter Chevy 250 for a ROW D-90.
This engine has the removable manifolds and will have HEI with EFI.
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RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
Installing a Chevy 250 4.1 liter inline 6 in a Tithonus 110.
The owner bought a good used low mileage engine with the integrated manifolds for a few hundred dollars.
It's getting an R380 stumpy with the upgraded heavy duty bearing modification and a 1.22 transfer-case as well as HEI with EFI.
The 250 does not need the higher 5th gear, so this stumpy has the standard 5th gear.
It's also getting a new fuel tank, new starter, new alternator, dual electric cooling fans, Saignaw power steering pump (with reduced pressure kit), and a new Adwest power steering box.
Out with the old 12J and LT77 and in with the new.
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RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
Score of the year.
Drove up to Colonial Heights, VA today and picked up a Chevy 250 with the AC brackets and compressor, power steering brackets and pump, and the alternator and brackets. It also had the extra pulleys to fit all 3. The engine was removed from a low mileage pickup without issues to install a V8. We paid $50 for it. The interesting thing was I drove our 110 with the $125 Chevy 250 that I bought last spring with just over 46,000 miles that was located not 5 miles from the seller of this $50 engine.
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RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
just curious--90 or 110?

It was a 110 with 2 people and half the trip with a 500+ LB engine in the back.
We were on route 460 so there was a lot of speed drops to 35 and 45 and stop lights when driving through towns, so a mix of highway and around town.
Interesting to note that the 250 under the hood of the 110 we drove cost us $125 and when I picked it up last year it was less than 5 miles from Saturday's $50 engine.

It does seem to be a nice option for the DiY'ers!

About 75% of the kits went to DIY owners.
Some with very moderate mechanical skills have been successful without any real help except for a little over the phone coaching.
 

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
We just loaded the 110 down with four people and tools and bags and headed into a more isolated area for a few days. One of the rare times my wife gets to ride along, and one of the heaviest drives I’ve made in it.

Getting 20 mpg in the 300Tdi 110 is so great. But I really do have to slow to 45 and almost 3000 rpm on the hills. And even on the straights, especially at 4000 feet elevation, I really am topping out at 65. Cruise is at 60. Which means I’m the guy holding up traffic.

And then there’s the noise....

So when I mentioned that there is an option, and that it would be quieter, and faster, my wife didn’t say anything.

This means I need some good videos, some more mpg data, and some noise comparisons and I think she might allow me to do a swap. Keep posting!
 
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