LS1 V8 into a Vito

[438brad]

I'm just wondering if anyone on here has had or knows anyone who has had any experience attempting to put a Chevy 5.7 V8 LS1 into a Vito 639? I really like the idea of putting one into mine with an lpg conversion on which I reckon will give better economy than the standard lump when you consider that sat on a motorway with a Tremec T56 6 speed box attached the engine will only be turning at about 1,700 rpm at 70mph (ish). Obviously the performance would be slightly improved too! I have looked at the physical dimensions of the LS1 and it looks like it should fit under the bonnet of the Vito and so am going to be looking at it in more detail now.

 

[BTB 500]

Very unlikely anyone will have tried this before, IMHO.

Brabus supplied the 639 (Viano) with a 426 bhp 6 litre V8 so in principle it is possible although of course that was an M-B unit attached to an M-B auto box (which the 639 is designed for). IIRC one of the issues Brabus had was finding suitable tyres.

 

[WDB124066]

LS 1's suffer piston slap quite badly when cold, some people dislike it so much they sell up.

 

[438brad]

LS 1's suffer piston slap quite badly when cold, some people dislike it so much they sell up.

I've owned a Holden HSV GTS with the LS1 engine in for the last 4 years so I already know that I love the engine. It is actually the very noisy CDI engine already in the Vito that I really would love to lose! It is really noisy from cold but a specialist said that some are just noisier than others and its nothing to worry about, but when temps are in the minus it makes me cringe for the first few miles!

 

[438brad]

Very unlikely anyone will have tried this before, IMHO.

Brabus supplied the 639 (Viano) with a 426 bhp 6 litre V8 so in principle it is possible although of course that was an M-B unit attached to an M-B auto box (which the 639 is designed for). IIRC one of the issues Brabus had was finding suitable tyres.

I know that Mercedes Australia commissioned a company to do one over there, but it is really just a silouhette drag racer I think.

It would be great to just stick the Brabus lump in as it should just slot in easily, but how much for one of those lumps!!

 

[BTB 500]

It would be great to just stick the Brabus lump in as it should just slot in easily, but how much for one of those lumps!!

A lot!!

FWIW you could get the 639 Vito with a 3.5 petrol V6 as a special order (Vito 123). Brabus also did (still do, I think) bored-out versions of that for the 639, up to 4.4 litres.

TBH though the 3.0 V6 CDI is pretty good. It's *much* more refined than the 4-pots and coupled with the (standard) autobox and cruise control makes it a great setup. We go to the south of Germany and back in ours at least once a year.

It's also plenty quick enough to catch a lot of people out at the lights etc.

 

[sherco450]

l posted a while back some guy In South Africa had a vito w639 with a lexus 4.5 litre v8 installed .