SUV / VX110 Conversion

[boudin]

I've neglected posting a thread of my 2nd SUV / VX110 conversion, but am having several people contact me for details. My first conversion turned out pretty well, but the decision on the 2nd conversion to use the complete VX driveline provided the key difference. Whereas in the first conversion, I used the stock SUV driveline and had to deal with a lot of tweaking to the prop pitch (and still don't feel I have it right), using the stock VX driveline it was perfect right out of the gate.

This is my first conversion:

http://www.greenhulk.net/forums/showthread.php?t=248269

The 2nd conversion is pretty much the same with these key differences, which also shifts the motor back about 2":

• Driveline from a 2010+ VX (comes with the 24 3/4 driveshaft and bearing housing)
• 2" spacers between the mid-wall and bearing housing (longer driveshaft tube/hose/bolts).
• Stock SUV nozzle and reverse.
• FXHO fuel tank

A few photos of the super-clean 1999 SUV, and the low hour 2005 VX110 donor. VX had fallen off a trailer--needed more than just buffing.

Once I got the VX, I swapped out the start/stop switch and it fired right up. I then put the motor in my VX 'Lab Ski' and put a few hours on it.

[boudin]

A 2010 VX110 24 3/4" driveshaft fits perfectly in the SUV with 2" spacers. Still plenty of room for the filler cap. You'll need a new 8" tube and (3) M8x90 stainless bolts:

• M8x90 stainless bolts: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016ZMQ64U
• 1.625" x 8" silicon hose from Flex Technologies (or wherever you like to get this type of hose). Exhaust hose like OEM would work fine too.

VX Pump, wear ring, and SUV nozzle/reverse bolts right up.

[boudin]

Dry fitting using a spare motor I had. I had to shim-up about 1/4".

[boudin]

Rear motor mounts caught the 1/4" aluminum backing plate! Front mounts I don't have a pic of, but used the same technique as my other conversion (note old pic, in this conversion the mount is further to the rear.)

These are the stock SUV motor mounts.

[boudin]

FXHO fuel tank is a bit shorter than the SUV, and the filler nozzle is in the front. I used a combination of the SUV filler hose, and a scrap VX filler hose go to the new tank. Unfortunately I don't have a pic of that.

Once in place, stuff some scrap foam in front of the FXHO tank to shim it into place.

It's a good idea to use an FXHO tank as other than the filler location, and being a bit shorter, the bottom is the same shape as the SUV, so it drops perfectly into place. But the real advantage is that the FXHO tank is already setup for the fuel pump assembly, and has the 'bumps' in the bottom of the tank to keep the fuel pump assembly from moving back/forth.

[boudin]

A few other tweaks:

• A 2nd battery in the front storage compartment
• Rule bilge pump
• Dual USB charger in the glove compartment (nice on long rides)

A few shots of the finished build. Super clean SUV and low hour motor.

[boudin]

Also added a CanDooPro GPS module. They are nice!

Right out of the gate, hit 49. With a few tweaks, 50+ should be possible.

[boudin]

After a few hours on the water, I lent her to my friend Chris for our 143 mile Trinity River run on April 21, 2017. She performed flawlessly. (Yes, that is a grill on top of the FXHO.)

Sorry for the poor quality of the video:

[Smokes]

Running good with great gas mileage just needs Jim's plate and you'll bust 50 easy.

[boudin]

Ended up selling this one a few months ago. Picked up another mint 99' SUV and starting a conversion this weekend with the same formula.