Hey Ben, thanks for picking up my engine, if you could just hold it until we move, that would be great! HA!

Oh, and if you want a BA dash to go with it I know where you might be able to get one cheap

Why did you buy a broken engine?

Anyone can see it was cast wrong, it is missing two cylinders.

You can fix that by adding a "snail" to it lol.

This will be interesting. Wonder what it's going into?

Cheers

ToranaGuy

That don't fix it, it just sounds s**t with a s**t of power

So your talking about fixing the "sound" by adding 2 cylinders eh? lol. A turbo 6 with a hot cam can sound pretty good backed up by the right exhaust system.

Cheers

ToranaGuy

Too bloody true
Brett

Damn, that trailer is spotless! Tyre shine and everything.

Motor looks ok too I guess.

The term "can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear" comes to mind, for that to be true, it would have to be a V8 less world or someone that has to own a stereo and has no idea why they have the stereo on so loud on a trip.
The only reason to except the poorer sound is for the performance vs $$$, which I know is hard to beat and sounds a lot better than a 4 banger or chicken cooker, especially from a high capacity 6.

I can jump into a V8 with a nice note and drive to Brissy without a stereo, I have never been able to do that in anything else, my better half thinks the same, the thump puts her to sleep. Other than money priorities she is all for V8s in both the wagon and the soccer mum van.

BA DOHC 2 - Plans and Ideas

You are a funny bunch of guys.

Point one. E Series V8 = 165kw BARRA = 185kw + better fuel economy

Point two. I happen to like the sound of a six as much as a V8

Point three. The trailer is not mine LOL

*************************************************************
BA DOHC ENGINE

Step one of the next evolution in the continuing development of my EB Ghia Wagon was of course acquiring the engine.

My intention is to be quite detailed in the conversion process, and once complete, to make a Tech Doco that will enable others to follow suit. This will be a slow project and will probably be early next year before it is in the Wagon.

The engine is a BA 2003 vintage with a reported 20,000km. It certainly looks clean enough to support that claim. It appears to have been removed and packaged by someone who knows what they are doing, and there are warning labels identifying that all fluids have been drained etc.

I noticed this engine on Ebay recently with a start price of $300 and a $450 Buy It Now. Unfortunately I did not have the spare $$$ and told a friend about it. He went and looked at it, making a deal to own it, along with a BA Wagon from the same seller. After some deliberating, and knowing that I was very interested in doing this sort of conversion, my friend offered the engine to me. I gladly accepted, and we agreed on a price within the bounds of the Ebay sale dollars.

I brought the engine home yesterday and mounted it on an engine stand before tucking it away in the garage.

As you would have noticed, there are a few key items missing from the front dress, which leads me on to the next stage.

Front Dress
Alternator
I am told that an AU 11 or 111 alternator will fit. The brackets certainly look very similar, and I will borrow one to establish if this is in fact correct.

Power Steering Pump
I would like to see how close an EF-EL pump will go to fitting. I have a couple here I can use as for testing purposes. Otherwise a BA pump will be sourced, and with some careful modification of the BA High Pressure Line it can be made to fit the EB steering rack.

Belt Tensioner
I will try to source a used one, and will look at prices on new parts.

Air Conditioning Pump
I will see how close an EF-EL pump will go to fitting. This is more important as if a bracket can be fabricated, I should be able to use the existing A/C pipes and lines. Worst case is sourcing a BA A/C pump and having the lines made up, or running without A/C like I have for a while anyway.

When the front is sorted, the engine will be installed into the EF Wagon to be used as a test bed. This will allow me to work towards getting the engine to a turn key operational state, as well as interfacing various components with the E series ECU. In addition I can sort out all the heater and radiator hoses, test cooling solutions, and fine tune the wiring along with a buch of other things that are bound to need sorting along the way.

I hope to learn a lot as the project progresses, and hopefully in turn all of you will too.

Cheers
BenJ

Last edited by BenJ on Sun Oct 30, 2011 11:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

One thing to point out is the torque, I worked on enough and drove enough BA's to know in standard form is not lazy torque of the shocking E7 headed 5.0L, if you are that worried about fuel economy it is called LPG or drive a buzz box


Hmm if only I knew some quotes from the bible, I would find a quote like this "Strike you down with BLAH BLAH BLAH" (I'm Atheist so I really have no idea)

On a real note will you swapping the EF K frame to the EB along with all the EF wiring etc once it is all working in the EF? Sounds like a good doco for you to write up and I hope it alls works for you, it is a logical conversion dollars wise.

You forget Macca, I already have LPG in the Wagon LOL.

Re the K Frame, the one in the EF is pretty well beat up underneath. I will notch it out enough with the grinder to allow the Barra to sit correctly, but don't intend to weld up the hole, as it won't get driven.

I agree that this conversion is the next logical step in Boxcar Evolution, and can see it becoming popular as more information becomes available.

Cheers
BenJ

Nope didn't forget, I should have said there is either a problem with the LPG system on a V8 costing to much or just buy a 4 banger if you are that tight fisted



The real logical step should have been double the amount of camshafts or the proper 24V engine that uses the same bottom end.

geeze im forum hopping here lol posted in each thread all about something different from other peoples replies.

im keen to see what you can work out ben. as id love to drop a barra turbo motor into the lane but keep my manifold as it caters from everything from X series 250 crossflow to the barra motor.

if you can slot it in reasonably easy then i will definitely look into this in the near future

My mont with 230,000k's blown head gasket still make's 530k's a tank!! i call that economy

Well done BenJ , I wont enter the V8/I6 debate as you know my preference, but the thought of a turbo Barra 6 / Typhoon engine in my NF aint the worst thought I've ever had, will be following keenly as usual!