Different engine for a London Taxi
Discussion
I have bought a decommissioned London taxi that is fitted with the standard crap VM engine and am thinking of fitting a far superior engine so that I can use it for serious long drives for example I am going to the north of Norway in it next year and I am also considering the Paris to Peking drive so does anyone have some good suggestions for an engine and an organisation that is capable of doing the modifications?
Taxidriver said:
I have bought a decommissioned London taxi that is fitted with the standard crap VM engine and am thinking of fitting a far superior engine so that I can use it for serious long drives for example I am going to the north of Norway in it next year and I am also considering the Paris to Peking drive so does anyone have some good suggestions for an engine and an organisation that is capable of doing the modifications?
I seriously hope it still has a taximeter.I'd love to see the Paris to Peking charges
Re the engine, there will be lots of possibilities, but there are a couple of questions :
Do you want petrol, diesel or electric power?
Do you want adequate , good, or outrageous performance?
Thanks for your note. As a part of the decommissioning process the taxi meter has to be removed and it is checked at the mot to make sure that it’s still not fitted but you can buy them but they are rather expensive though. Yes it would be fun to see the fares as they go up though on the various stages.
Regarding engines I want good performance so my thinking is starting at about 200 bhp and go from there. I suspect that whatever engine I use it will need the gearbox and rear axle to go with it. And lastly I need to find someone that can carry out the conversation for me and not charge the earth as well.
Regards
Regarding engines I want good performance so my thinking is starting at about 200 bhp and go from there. I suspect that whatever engine I use it will need the gearbox and rear axle to go with it. And lastly I need to find someone that can carry out the conversation for me and not charge the earth as well.
Regards
Really you'd need to elaborate on goals and budget.
As seemingly a 2007+ vehicle ( although you give sparse details), there may be legal and emissions issues with an engine change, although UK is reasonably flexible here.
How much electronics may there be on the vehicle that need integrated or dealt with when you change the engine ?
Do you want a modern engine, or something older and simpler ? ie a modern common rail TD, or a pretty old simple mechanical setup ? Which will clearly make any install easier.
Do you want something including a transmission, or try to retain the existing transmission ? Each of which have their own pros and cons.
Mechanically....most things can be fairly straightforward, and I'd guess the Taxi has a fair bit of room ?
For modern stuff, the electronics aspect can be the biggest hurdle.
And the above assumes you want to retain a diesel, and not do like Wormus suggested and say an LS swap or good petrol engine.
Options are endless if budget permits. As to who would be best for a diesel swap or conversion...haven't a clue. People do swaps....but it's not really a huge market like the various petrol engine swaps people might do.
As seemingly a 2007+ vehicle ( although you give sparse details), there may be legal and emissions issues with an engine change, although UK is reasonably flexible here.
How much electronics may there be on the vehicle that need integrated or dealt with when you change the engine ?
Do you want a modern engine, or something older and simpler ? ie a modern common rail TD, or a pretty old simple mechanical setup ? Which will clearly make any install easier.
Do you want something including a transmission, or try to retain the existing transmission ? Each of which have their own pros and cons.
Mechanically....most things can be fairly straightforward, and I'd guess the Taxi has a fair bit of room ?
For modern stuff, the electronics aspect can be the biggest hurdle.
And the above assumes you want to retain a diesel, and not do like Wormus suggested and say an LS swap or good petrol engine.
Options are endless if budget permits. As to who would be best for a diesel swap or conversion...haven't a clue. People do swaps....but it's not really a huge market like the various petrol engine swaps people might do.
Also I want a Diesel engine.
The VM that is fitted to my taxi only has 102 bhp but is very similar to the Jeep version . It really is a rubbish engine though and needs something more reliable and economical too also spare parts are not cheap to come by either mind you that applies to most cars these days
The VM that is fitted to my taxi only has 102 bhp but is very similar to the Jeep version . It really is a rubbish engine though and needs something more reliable and economical too also spare parts are not cheap to come by either mind you that applies to most cars these days
And I see there are some taxi type forums, who might have other suggestions ?
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php
Or here is a petrol/lpg conversion
https://www.vehiclerepoweringsolutions.com/
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php
Or here is a petrol/lpg conversion
https://www.vehiclerepoweringsolutions.com/
Taxidriver said:
Thanks for your note. As a part of the decommissioning process the taxi meter has to be removed and it is checked at the mot to make sure that it’s still not fitted but you can buy them but they are rather expensive though. Yes it would be fun to see the fares as they go up though on the various stages.
Regarding engines I want good performance so my thinking is starting at about 200 bhp and go from there. I suspect that whatever engine I use it will need the gearbox and rear axle to go with it. And lastly I need to find someone that can carry out the conversation for me and not charge the earth as well.
Regards
There are people who have swapped earlyish BMW engines and boxes into different vehicles. And they should be fairly plentiful from complete cars.Regarding engines I want good performance so my thinking is starting at about 200 bhp and go from there. I suspect that whatever engine I use it will need the gearbox and rear axle to go with it. And lastly I need to find someone that can carry out the conversation for me and not charge the earth as well.
Regards
Like mid or late 90's sort of stuff. Old enough to be less complicated, but still modern enough to offer some power
Unless rear diff ratio is way off, cant see much reason to add further complication with an axle swap.
An example of a BMW swap into another vehicle.
https://www.classicfordmag.co.uk/features/restomad...
https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/172928/bens-m...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ17SMPVFRg
https://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/e30-diesel-conversi...
https://fastmotion.eu/category/uncategorized/patro...
https://rangerovers.pub/topic/1490-bmw-m57-swap-in...
https://forums.lr4x4.com/topic/106180-engine-conve...
Darkside are diesel tuners and might be able to convert ?
https://www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk/Blog/tuning...
Wisemans ?
https://www.facebook.com/WisemansEngineering/
But it certainly seems like a readily available and popular choice...which will make it much easier all round
Edited by stevieturbo on Sunday 27th September 11:45
Taxidriver said:
Also I want a Diesel engine.
The VM that is fitted to my taxi only has 102 bhp but is very similar to the Jeep version . It really is a rubbish engine though and needs something more reliable and economical too also spare parts are not cheap to come by either mind you that applies to most cars these days
Given the use you want to put the car to, I'd be looking for a low-ish tech diesel, subject to emissions rules as noted above.The VM that is fitted to my taxi only has 102 bhp but is very similar to the Jeep version . It really is a rubbish engine though and needs something more reliable and economical too also spare parts are not cheap to come by either mind you that applies to most cars these days
If you stick to 200 bhp or so, you can probably retain the rear axles and diff, although you may want to raise the diff ratio. That will make the conversion simpler.
I don't know what the taxi gearbox is like, but if it's an industrial unit, it may also cope with your planned power level, so you only need an adaptor to mate up to your new engine (bell housing & input shaft).
Whatever you do, you'll obviously need new engine mounts, wiring, exhaust, etc. etc.
If you were in Australia, I could find someone to do the work;)
AW111 said:
Taxidriver said:
Also I want a Diesel engine.
The VM that is fitted to my taxi only has 102 bhp but is very similar to the Jeep version . It really is a rubbish engine though and needs something more reliable and economical too also spare parts are not cheap to come by either mind you that applies to most cars these days
Given the use you want to put the car to, I'd be looking for a low-ish tech diesel, subject to emissions rules as noted above.The VM that is fitted to my taxi only has 102 bhp but is very similar to the Jeep version . It really is a rubbish engine though and needs something more reliable and economical too also spare parts are not cheap to come by either mind you that applies to most cars these days
If you stick to 200 bhp or so, you can probably retain the rear axles and diff, although you may want to raise the diff ratio. That will make the conversion simpler.
I don't know what the taxi gearbox is like, but if it's an industrial unit, it may also cope with your planned power level, so you only need an adaptor to mate up to your new engine (bell housing & input shaft).
Whatever you do, you'll obviously need new engine mounts, wiring, exhaust, etc. etc.
If you were in Australia, I could find someone to do the work;)
Taxidriver said:
Regarding engines I want good performance so my thinking is starting at about 200 bhp and go from there. I suspect that whatever engine I use it will need the gearbox and rear axle to go with it. And lastly I need to find someone that can carry out the conversation for me and not charge the earth as well.
Regards
Drivetrain swaps are generally for people who have some fabrication skills and want a project. It’s a lot of work.Regards
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