Nissan V8 Chev conversion,,,,,,,,,

Good advice Beatit . Ask the guy what needs to be done . Treat him like an expert and he will puff up and give you his brilliant advice .

Maybe the 2.8 was limited in engine breaking . ( ? ) I am not a mechanic , it was just a thought .

Cheers ,

Willie .

Troopy,

As I said before, Brunswick have a very good reputation with several auto engineers. They do the certs for them. I reckon that if this problem is purely related to the gearbox, then it should be easy to get it recertifiied for 3500 kgs.

The gearbox that's going into "The Fire Engine" is out of a 97 Patrol. This is a pre - 2000 greabox which is the about the time that Nissan messed about with 5th gear had a reputation for stripping mainshaft - splines when under load such as towing. I used to tow around 5.5 to 6 tonnes all up in my old 1989 Ford Maverick ute in 5th gear at 100 kmh plus, without any prob whatsoever. Naughty I know, but I had to get that bobcat digging some gold! We've had the top off the proposed box for "The Fire Engine" it and it looks mint. The diffs are 3.9 ratio with the rear being an LSD. It looks better all the time.

Just on the point of diffs, it appears that although the 2.8 gearbox can be suspect, the diffs in 2.8 are just as strong as the GQ diffs. In fact they're identical in crown wheel, pinion and bearings etc. The reason that Brunswicks put in different diffs is the 2.8 Patrol diffs are such a low ratio - somewher around 4.7!! Which would have the Chevy doing about 3000 rpm at 100 kmh!

In case anyone's wondering, the cost of SECONDHAND (not recon) gearbox for a 2.8 Patrol??????????? I've had quotes from wreckers of $1700.00 !!!! God knows what a new one costs!

I've had to get on this project pretty quick 'cos we gotta get out bush again. I can't be hanging around whilst "Mr Plod" is busy booking "Grey
Nomads" for overloading caravan hitches and collecting revenue for drivers that go 5 kmh over the limit. Neither can I be hanging around waiting another 3 weeks for the insurance company. I need a truck. I'm 59 next birthday and there's only so much gold left out there!!

So -"Upwards and Onwards"

Bilbo

"but I had to get that bobcat digging some gold!"

A bit serious about your gold or what? How do the landowners take to your request about looking for gold with a bob cat in tow?

Kind regards

Beatit,

Hmmmmmmm,,,,,,,,,,,the ramifiactions of the W.A. Mining Act. Bit long and involved for discussion here.

But abbreviated, the W.A. Goldfields are 99% on pastoral LEASE land, not private land. Hence, as long as I own a mining lease that sits over the top of his pastoral lease, I can dig holes anywhere I want to (subject to the environmental permssion native heritage etc,) and the cocky can't stop me. He may try to make life difficult for me, but he can't do much about it.

I had my own mining leases, a bobcat and a half share in a bulldozer back in the days when I was prospecting full time fer a living. Those days are gone now and I just "bip around" as a retirement hobby.

Bilbo

Thanks Bilbo, I had a feeling that it had to be more than a hobbie (back then). Mentioned it to my wife and she said "no way" we need the camper trailer. Don't own a bob cat but she knows I've been shown more than just a passing interest in fossicking. A detector is on the drawing board (Like the Minelab 3500), anyway she was puting 2 and 2 together and figured I was also wanting/needing a bob cat.

Kind regards

Beatit,

Unless you're willing to wade through mountains of legalsitic paperwork and months of trial and tribulation, my advise is stick with buying a GP3500. Just have some fun.

Trust me, pushing dirt is hard work.

Bilbo

Linquip also have a good reputation when it comes to V8 Diesel Conversions and are over east. Brunswick and them are the two main specialists in Australia.

www.linquip.com.au

Regards
Rev

Damn it, Dave, don't rub it in!! That sounds like damn good prospecting weather that does. We were supposed to leave on Sunday 20/3/06 for Meeka for four weeks and then down to Kookynie for another 4 weeks!!

That's the gut wrenching bit right now, I'm ALMOST resigned to not seeing the 'Cruiser again, but sitting here and not being able to get out "bippin" is driving us mad! Worse than the flies in fact!

Bilbo

Bilbo,
Finally got ADSL working again. Long story there.
Just think how big those nuggets are gunna be when you do finally get to them. Especially with such favourable growing conditions.
Glad things are progressing well for you with croozer replacement .

Bruce