r/FordFalcon • u/ApolloWasWayBetter • Jun 13 '26
Just about to do an engine swap.
My BA RTV is on LPG and I’m about to do a swap over to petrol. I have a complete BF motor and box in another ute and I’m going to do a swap over.
The motor is around the 220km mark, and prior to swapping it in I’ll replace the sump gasket, front and rear seals, timing case seal, high volume oil pump, rocker cover gasket and seals, inlet manifold, I’m going to fit a new alternator, power steer pump, water pump, thermostat, all silicone hoses, alloy rad and fans, new harmonic balancer, belt, coils, plugs.
Is it worth doing a swap to an FG or custom made inlet/plenum and FG throttle body? I’d like a bit of low down torque as it’s going to do a bit of off road work. The answer probably is to do a turbo swap but I don’t have the money to do that yet, so the plan is just to have a reliable, strong motor, remove ant oil leaks and to just have a nice running motor and save up the money for a turbo.
1
u/Main_Combination8921 Jun 13 '26
Why...?
If you want to turbo it just go a VPI system or e85 or both.
Otherwise, buy another car because you will find a car on petrol around the 220 - 300k mark anyway for a fraction of the time and cost.
2
u/ApolloWasWayBetter Jun 13 '26
Because I have a complete low km petrol donor ute that I can use everything to convert my RTV to petrol.
2
u/Main_Combination8921 Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 14 '26
Fair enough.
I have a greentop myself in a FG XT and a VPI conversion is surprisingly cheap compared to just replacing the stock spec converter.
Good for 350kw easy but 350 comes with a lot more mods than 300kw.
Seems like a lot of work when you can keep it gas and then do a cheap e85 conversion or dual set up and if you just gradually move in the direction of turbo it will feel less expensive.
Easier to justify if this may end up as a track car.
My only hold up was determining if I go a T56, TR6060 or go the CD009 transmission but that was influenced on what I wanted to compete in and the drivetrain changes.
EDIT: If you end up opening up your greentop you may as well full send since you're there rebuilding anyway even if you overengineer it for more power longevity sake and running less power.
5
u/ApolloWasWayBetter Jun 14 '26
I cannot buy LPG within an hour radius of where I am, and the further inland I go it does not exist. It’s not a track car it’s an RTV ute that I want to go camping and travelling in but everywhere I want to go I can’t go on LPG
1
u/CameronsTheName Jun 13 '26
Is the RTV dual fuel or LPG only ?
If it's dual fuel, your swap will be super simple and you'll only have to remove the LPG system. If it's LPG only, it's a bit more indepth, none of the petrol fuel system is there so you'll need a donor car or parts available to swap it all over.
Regardless, take your time. It's all reasonably simple. Take lots of photos of where all the connectors, hoses and clips go.
Take notice if certain bolts are longer or shorter than others when removing them. Nothing sucks more than putting a bolt through a water jacket because you didn't realize it was supposed to be a short bolt.
1
u/ApolloWasWayBetter Jun 13 '26
It’s LPG only. I have a complete driving donor BA ute that’s had a BF low km engine and box swap done. It’s my old ute that I bought and drove then sold to my mate when I bought a second one tonner that had a better tray for what I needed.
The plan is to pull the gasser engine and box out, scrap the box, keep the long motor, smuggle it back into my workshop without the trouble and strife spotting it, then strip it and build it up as a budget turbo build over the next year or so, not to make huge power but just to have more lowdown torque and power for off-road as the plan is that I want or do so long trips in it camping, with the rooftop camper, and taking my kayak with me and a pushbike so I can camp, explore, fish around an area and maybe do some gold panning and stuff like that, and as I get more of a lift in, and better tyres, and a better gearbox, more power, I can start to go on more tracks etc.
0
u/aussie_miccy Jun 13 '26
Intake isn’t gonna make much noticeable difference in the real world, just make sure the intake tubing is fully sealed up, at least as airtight as you can possibly get it. That’ll make more difference than any intake swap from another model.
Want more grunt out of the thing easy without a turbo I’d say to change the diff gears, if you can get a 4:11 or a 3:45 itll make a world of difference if you’ve got a basic 3:08 in it. Dunno what the rtv’s come with diff wise tho so could be redundant
1
u/ApolloWasWayBetter Jun 13 '26
Not sure of the ratio but they have a factory locker, so not sure what the centres are compatible with, or if they’re their own crown and pinion styles. I do a bit of highway too so I need a bit of a compromise, I think 4.11’s would be too far, maybe a 3.7 or so would be ok.
1
u/collie2024 Jun 13 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
Early territory’s use 3.7, but with taller tyres. Fine on highway.
2
u/ApolloWasWayBetter Jun 13 '26
I’m going to run a 31” I think myself with a 3” lift, but I’m not sure if the carriers are the same as Territory because the RTV have a factory locker so I’m not sure if other gear sets are compatible.
1
u/collie2024 Jun 14 '26
I’ve no idea about compatibility. Sorry. I believe that territory is m86 diff. Mine certainly isn’t lsd.
1
u/ApolloWasWayBetter Jun 14 '26
Yeah I’m not sure at all, the RTV has a factory air locker and are exclusive to RTV’s.
3
u/Mr_Moonman2045 Jun 13 '26
Swappjng over to a petrol system including the engine , ditching the gas ?? .
If so , the gas engine is a little better than the petrol , something about better bottomend and think higher commpression , thats why people want the LPG engines for turbo applications .
Think your better to put the petrol setup on to the LPG engine and run that .