253 or 308

[siegs57]

Hi All
The HZ Sandman panelvan hat I am rebuilding has tags that read 253 4 speed, I have that motor and gear box, but also have a 308 T400 auto. As I am getting older should I be going auto or manual, any advise would be great to help me make up my mind.
Thanks
Siegs

[HZSM50]

Hi, Siege.
It's a personal choice you have to make, I would try and keep it as original as I could. That's my personal choice. Sorry not much help there, having said that it's your car do as you see fit to it. no one can judge you, and should judge you. if the 253 is the original engine make sure you keep it so at a later date it could be dropped back in. Have fun!

[mauser]

You wont be late in a 308!!!

Mauser

[HK1837]

All personal choice. A few things to consider:

Is the 253 the original engine?
Is the 253 ready to use? Will cost the same to rebuild either.
Being a HZ 253 it will have a 3.55 diff. That is not good with a 308 TH400, so tyre dependant you will want at least a 3.08.
There are 2 x holes needed in the body for a TH400 speedo cable to do it right.

My advice, not knowing answers to the above would be to use the 308 auto, much better for all-round use. But it depends upon what sort of resto and what you wan't/like.

[GNW1974]

Rebuild original, keep the 253 if you prefer the 308 so that if you ever sell it it can be turned back to original spec for any prospective buyer.

[ambientgoat]

I would go all original if it was the original motor. If the original is long gone, I'd just go the 308, you're going to be disapointed with 253 performance compared to a newer car.

Hk, why do you say a 3.55 with a 308 t400 is no good?

[HK1837]

Try one with 14" tyres at 100km/h. My Overlander was 308 TH400 with 3.54:1 (Dana60) rear axle, and it was still doing not much under 3000rpm at 110km/h (manual would be doing about 2600rpm, but there is a few hundred RPM in converter slip). Its tyres were 275/70/16 which are about 30% bigger diameter than 235/60/14, so the equivalent of those 14" tyres with a 2.78:1 rear axle.
A manual with 3.55 diff and 235/60/14 tyres will do 3250rpm at 110, TH400 will be close to 3500rpm. You can fit a converter like a Powertow from Dominator that only has about 2% slip but a 308 doesn't develop enough torque to control such a low stall converter, you end up with the converter pushing the engine around.

I remember how awful my WB tonner was. It was a 202 M20 with 3.55 and 215/65/14 tyres. I quickly got rid of the aussie 4spd and put a trimatic in, and it revved it's ring out at highway speeds. Changed to a 3.08 ute diff and it was much better, still could have done with a taller diff again or 15" taller tyres.

[wbute]

Autos generally run a much taller diff ratio than a manual. 3:08 is as low as you would go.

[HK1837]

Depends on tyres. TH400 with 2.78 are great, just has to be the right engine ie tow cam in a 308 or a 350ci Holden or Chev engine. My old HJ ute was a 350, TH400 and 2.78 LSD. It was great, good highway cruiser, towed well and was still quicker than a stock 308 4spd HZ ute over the quarter. I changed it to a 3.08 diff later as I was worried about busting the LSD and it made bugger all difference, just 10% higher revs.

[Alien DNA]

I'm going to be a pain in the arse and say sell the 308 and put in a small block chev