3.0L engine swap

[Farrar]

Yup, you're right. I don't know why I didn't see that before.

In my case, sometimes I'll respond to something that I thought was on the last page of the thread, and then by the time my response is posted, there's another page with posts I hadn't seen.

Hey, it's the internet. Nothing's perfect.

[opethmike]

Shouldn't we all be helping Farrar install an LS into his car?

[Farrar]

Shouldn't we all be helping Farrar install an LS into his car?

Somehow I doubt that will ever happen.

[opethmike]

When in doubt, bacon.

[Farrar]

When in doubt, bacon.

Indeed. Bacon leaves no doubt.

[cineman]

That's what Bill thought, but when he took the valve covers off and looked, there was no gear for driving a distributor. Maybe this engine had been modified from stock, but regardless we're working with what we've got.

At one point Bill entertained the idea of taking the 3.0L camshaft to a shop and have a 2.8L distributor gear installed on it, but that would have been expensive.

Just trowing my opinion here ; I agree with DMCVegas that there are cleanest way to do the job, and I can show the real job here not just theory. I did some PRV modifications and In the end everything that is not "OEM" designed is always a trouble for maintenance. Even more if you need to move other parts like coolant bottle, need different hoses etc...

Take attention now, this is the best cleanest way to do a PRV 3.0 conversion keepin it carburated , step by step, with photos of actual job:

- The CAMS of the 3.0 HAS NOT the gear for the distribution but the 2.8 odd fire has.
Now, the 2.8 odd fire cams are not really special or "ODD-FIRE" ; if you see the 2 cams 3.0 and 2.8 side by side, you will see that both the 2.8 odd fire and 3.0 even fire has cams with 3 cylinder 120 degree spaced, so you CAN SWAP 2.8 odd fire cams in the 3.0 even fire, keepin it EVEN FIRING just by making the same correct distribution with the chains. The difference of the odd firing vs the even firing is the spacing between the two heads; 150 degree - 90 degree in the odd firing and 120 degree in the even firing ; but the two heads are like two 3 even firing cylinder engine. ( this is something explained time ago somewhere ).
So, in the end, just swap the 2.8 cams in the 3.0 keeping the 3.0 chain sprocket ( chain sprocket 3.0 VS 2.8 odd are DIFFERENT ! ) and position.

- You don't need to swap the main crank.

- The 3.0 heads has the hole for the distributor - THIS IS RIGHT, JUST OPEN IT so we can use the original 2.8 distributor now with the geared cams but... the original distributor and sensors is odd-firing spaced, so you need to modify it as following photos for makin it even firing :

The "sensor" plate need to be cut and welded to have 6 tooths at 120 degree each.
Foto 06-12-16, 19 41 27.jpg

Now you have an even firing toothed distributor.

You need to find an even firing Distributor cap that suits. You can use this ALFA ROMEO part: BOSCH 1235522053 wich is a slight smaller cap, so you need to make a simple adapter ring on the diameter.
Foto 06-12-16, 19 41 30.jpg
this are the even firing caps.
Foto 06-12-16, 19 41 36.jpg

This is the unit installed. Being the cap slight smaller you need to take his rotor too, so you use a different one too.
Foto 06-12-16, 19 41 44.jpg

BOSCH part number should be this 1234322
Foto 06-12-16, 19 42 26.jpg

And bingo, you can use both Carburator, K-JET or everything on a 3.0 PRV, keeping the stock spark circuit, cables, coils etc.

[Farrar]

One other thing that Bill corrected me on: the hole for the distributor on the 2.8L is in the head, not the valve cover. I should have known that, but it's been so long since I looked at my engine I guess I forgot.

[Farrar]

Cineman, thanks for that information! I will keep a copy of it for future reference.

[Dangermouse]

When in doubt, bacon.

an unusual choice for the gear lube, but it could just work

[Farrar]

an unusual choice for the gear lube, but it could just work

And think how delicious my engine would smell!