help with engine swap to 8BA engine

[Jason Linders]

Thanks for that Tony you can count me in for the fishplates.
I had a look at prices for the chassis rail and had a look at a rail it must be a ford short wheel base it was fitted with a flathead rails looked the same but it was only two wheel drive i think but the diff and front axle where not blitz it was used to move around a large welding unit so do not know if would be any good being only two wheel drive or if it was a 4x4 and they removed the front diff didnt get any pics but will be checking again when the rail goes away just way to muddy and wet in dalby

[Keith Webb]

No good to you if it is a F15 4x2 chassis which is completely different.

[Jason Linders]

Thats what i thought it might be too, they told me they had one but i dont think they would know if it hit them in the head, i told them they have a short chev and they recone they had a short ford still their but there mech reconds they dont when i was their the sales guys were at lunch.
might have to look else were

[Jason Linders]

bloody chassis this is going to be a headache
i might have to try Ross Prince and see what he has.

[Keith Webb]

If it has a transfer case cross member and the gearbox bolts into the member in front of that rather than onto it then it is a 4X4 chassis.

[Jason Linders]

I might have another look next time im in dalby and see it just didnt look like blitz diff or front axle, and the one i found down their turned out to be a blitz cab mounted to a ford truck chassis and had been rego'd like that too

[Jason Linders]

Tried Ross tonight and no luck their was told to try Ken smith so sent a PM see how i go

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

No good to you if it is a F15 4x2 chassis which is completely different.

I wouldn't rule it out in this case, because it involves chassis alterations anyway. You'd just have to do a few more with the F15 chassis, ie:

1. provide cutout in front crossmember for diff clearance
2. fit transfer case crossmember
3. fit 4x4 rear spring hangers
4. fit 4x4 gearbox crossmember

Off the top of my head that's all that's required, the only difficulty being absence of pre-stamped rivet holes. That's certainly not insurmountable, and if it's the only chassis available I see no reason to hold up the project. However I'd be checking with Keith who has intimate knowledge of the F15 chassis.

Ideally of course you'd start with an F15A chassis, firstly because you don't have to do the above work, and secondly because the pre-stamped holes for the winch crossmember and the relocated midsection crossmember are present, and thirdly because you get a set of high ratio diffs (assuming it's a rolling chassis). For these reasons it's worth paying a bit more if necessary.

[Jason Linders]

If i have to remove all my crossmembers thats fine i have a good mate of mine thats a engineer but does all the old school blacksmithing so has the tooling and gear to do the hot riveting, but if i can find a F15A it would be better, but no luck as of yet just dont seem to be able to find one up here in QLD

[Keith Webb]

The F15 has longer front springs (and different hangers) and although I don't have one handy to check I think the front part of the chassis is different too.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

if i can find a F15A it would be better, but no luck as of yet just dont seem to be able to find one up here in QLD

I was just saying to Keith the other day they're getting hard to find down here. Maybe you should grab the F15 as a back up in case nothing turns up. The chassis rails are the same so at least you know it can be done, it's just a question of work. Of course as soon as you do there'll be any number of F15A chassis available!

[Jason Linders]

Yes that seems to always happen to me , i settle then one turns up and for better money

[Jason Linders]

So the rails are the same will i have to drill anymore holes for anything else like the fuel tank brakets if i go down the path of the F15 chassis and are we sure its the same chassis rails all i need really are the rails so i will be removing all my gearbox members and stuff and just replacing the rails if it works.