Turbo 253

[FB MAD]

Yep - as far as I understand it, the NSW "Guidelines" are just that - they can be interpreted many different ways, depending on engineer. Have seen some engineers that stick to them like glue, others that go "well and truly beyond", and others that have passed cars that are pretty shonky (even by my standard of engineering ).

Still, a turbo'd 253 would definitely be different...

Yep,

I know a bloke that has an EK sedan with a V6 Commondoor and T/700 and Volvo rear end.

The car was bought by him as is and was already registered and engineered with this combination.

I am no perfectionist but having cheacked this car inside and out and under I can see some very unprofessional work done with this conversion yet it has been passed as being compliant.

It's not in a condition whereby it's "an accident waiting to happen" but I'm sure it could have been more extensively scrutenised when presented to both the engineer and for it's "blue slip" for rego.

It would seem on this occasion, that a Commodore was parked next to an EK and the Commondore parts simply swapped over to the EK in a weekends worth of work.

Yet other cars can be modified "well and truly beyond" the minimum professional standand that should be required for such a conversion and would be an engineers dream to inspect.

[baker12]

So if I am unhappy with my setup then I can run a 253 with twin turbo or just one?
I considered the 308 and 350 option but because my car was engineered with a 253 and was full of rust and other associated shit that I only dicovered when I ripped it apart I though that the wise option was to stick with the virgin block bore it out and add as many HP options and tricks that I could.
So to answer my own question I will be sticking with the 253 as I get it and if only if I decide I need more than Why the F#$k not buy another car and build it to take 5.7litre LS1 motor with a blower!! HAHAHAH now that would be good.
Does anyone have a mate cousin girlfriend etc that works at the RTA???
I am happy to send them a scratchie every XMas!

[Mick]

terry was that EK red and had strange door handles
i've allways been gunna have a go at something, when i had the van and changed it from a red 6 to the 308 i got it re engineered went to RTA did the change over no dramas but when i got the renewal the engineers report No was not there, they had done the engine No swap without putting the engineers report down, so there is obviously no scruitiny as to size of engine being put in the car

[Harv]

Baker12,
My understanding is that you can run twin huffers on a 253, and still meet the NSW ligh vehicle mod limits. This document ain't a bad one to read through:
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/ ... v_2007.pdf

Terry - cool catch on the FC being under 1100kg... I can imagine being an FC guy and trying to find creative ways to make the original weight 10kg heavier (it had a radio originally installed... and a towbar... and spats... and a taxi bar... honestly Mr Engineer ).

[FB MAD]

terry was that EK red and had strange door handles
i've allways been gunna have a go at something, when i had the van and changed it from a red 6 to the 308 i got it re engineered went to RTA did the change over no dramas but when i got the renewal the engineers report No was not there, they had done the engine No swap without putting the engineers report down, so there is obviously no scruitiny as to size of engine being put in the car

Yep it's a red EK sedan but can't remember whether it's got strange door handles or not.

It's got a Commondore dash sitting inside an EK dash surround.The Commondoor dash is just sitting there unbolted it and doesn't make the dash assembly look very appealing being "fitted " in this manner.

Based on the other aspects of this so called "conversion" has been undertaken, I'd imagine the Commondore dash would most likley be "installed" with cable ties.

The current owner bought it this way, he's a very nice bloke and is slowly working at fixing up all the conversion imperfections.

[Cal]

So if I am unhappy with my setup then I can run a 253 with twin turbo or just one?
I considered the 308 and 350 option but because my car was engineered with a 253 and was full of rust and other associated shit that I only dicovered when I ripped it apart I though that the wise option was to stick with the virgin block bore it out and add as many HP options and tricks that I could.
So to answer my own question I will be sticking with the 253 as I get it and if only if I decide I need more than Why the F#$k not buy another car and build it to take 5.7litre LS1 motor with a blower!! HAHAHAH now that would be good.
Does anyone have a mate cousin girlfriend etc that works at the RTA???
I am happy to send them a scratchie every XMas!

I was going to suggest putting a stroker crank into the 253 block, along with the bigger pistons, then you end up with a 5.7lt.........which is still a 253

Though I remember reading somewhere here that one engineer actually asked someone to take the heads off a motor so he can measure bore and stroke

[FB MAD]

Baker12,
My understanding is that you can run twin huffers on a 253, and still meet the NSW ligh vehicle mod limits. This document ain't a bad one to read through:
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/ ... v_2007.pdf

Terry - cool catch on the FC being under 1100kg... I can imagine being an FC guy and trying to find creative ways to make the original weight 10kg heavier (it had a radio originally installed... and a towbar... and spats... and a taxi bar... honestly Mr Engineer ).

Yep, if the rules are followed they use the factory weight of the heaviest sedan version without any factory dealer fitted accesories such as towbar etc however I'm not sure whether they would be pedantic enough to bother checking into it that far.

That said, I'm pretty sure the engineers and/or the RTA have their own information sheets with the factory published kerb weights of each respective model in each brand of car that is presented for rego so maybe they would most probably go with their own information at hand.

So don't start filling up the doors with concrete, it may be all to no avail.

[FB MAD]

So if I am unhappy with my setup then I can run a 253 with twin turbo or just one?
I considered the 308 and 350 option but because my car was engineered with a 253 and was full of rust and other associated shit that I only dicovered when I ripped it apart I though that the wise option was to stick with the virgin block bore it out and add as many HP options and tricks that I could.
So to answer my own question I will be sticking with the 253 as I get it and if only if I decide I need more than Why the F#$k not buy another car and build it to take 5.7litre LS1 motor with a blower!! HAHAHAH now that would be good.
Does anyone have a mate cousin girlfriend etc that works at the RTA???
I am happy to send them a scratchie every XMas!

I was going to suggest putting a stroker crank into the 253 block, along with the bigger pistons, then you end up with a 5.7lt.........which is still a 253

Though I remember reading somewhere here that one engineer actually asked someone to take the heads off a motor so he can measure bore and stroke

Yep, I have heard that story of an engineer asking to check an engine bore and stroke before passing.

Masterstroke Engineering used to do a stroker crank for 253 and I'm pretty sure Prostroke still do.

Can't remember the various stroke combos available ( 270,290,310 ?? ) but I think from memory that the biggest that has been offered for a 253 is a stroke up to 310 cubes using a 350 crank ?( maybe a 400 ? crank if not too much block relief is needed for crank throw )

I wouldn't imagine a highly stroked 253 would be much of a revving engine but it would have a fairly significant torque increase.

I could sit down and work out what stroke crank would bring a 253 out to 310, might make it my job to do tonight at work on nightshift.

[Mick]

that'de be the one terry i remember seeing it for sale by the builder he was from central coast we saw it at gosford swap first year was REAL expensive second year was dirt cheap i thought it needed lowering but couldn't figure how i was gunna do that considering it was allready on the bumpstops i was very confused how could it be so high in the front yet be on the bumpstops then i noticed the K member from the commodore mounted between the subframe and the HR front end

yep RTA have a listing of curb weights that they base mods on and it's base on the base model unaccessorised sedan version, which kinda worked to my favour with the austin van as the sedan version is heavier than the van, yes they had a listing for the weight of an austin A40

[Cal]

Couldn't you just bore the 253 out to 308 spec bore, and with the 350 crank it then becomes a...................350?

Oddly enough, I think a 253 and 308 have the same stroke, and in stock form achieved maximum power at the same rpm.


Talking about weights, my rego papers say 1090kg (EK).

[baker12]

i will ask my mechanic every question posed here.
Results tommorrow night.
Stay tuned

[SC00BB]

I remember seeing a stroker kit for the 253 which took it out to 310 somewhere, just googled it and came up with this web site.

http://www.pro-stroke.com.au/stroker_kits.html

[FB MAD]

Couldn't you just bore the 253 out to 308 spec bore, and with the 350 crank it then becomes a...................350?

Oddly enough, I think a 253 and 308 have the same stroke, and in stock form achieved maximum power at the same rpm.


Talking about weights, my rego papers say 1090kg (EK).

Not quite that easy Cal, you'd be boring well into the water jackets to get a 253 out to 308. The most you would safely get a 253 out to would be a 60 thou overbore which would bring it up to approx 260 cubes.

253 and 308 do have the same stroke as you said.

[FB MAD]

I remember seeing a stroker kit for the 253 which took it out to 310 somewhere, just googled it and came up with this web site.

http://www.pro-stroke.com.au/stroker_kits.html

Yep, that was the mob I was thinking of.It would be interesting to know which crank they use for 310.I'm guessing a 350 crank with block relief for the crank throws.

It would make a nice stump pulling 253 tractor engine.

[Rusty EK]

Easiest way would be to offset grind the standard crank and bore it , will get you up to 286 with no relief grinding needed to the block , or 350 crank and a bucket load of machine work and machine work is bloody expensive or buy a kit , with still a lot of machine work.
But why, it will cost you a packet , nothing against 253,s ,I have just put one in my car , but if you are trying to build a race car there are cheaper ways to go .

It cost me $1400 for the machine work on mine , bored ,honed ,balanced, tanked, block and heads decked, crank polished etc , $600 for 10.1 pistons , cam and gaskets , timing chain blah blah , it owes me Close on $3000 , shit don't tell my missus ,and really it is a pretty mild conservative engine .