Hi all!
As mentioned in Welcome mogas to There is more to life with TurboRenault.co.uk! I own a 1984 Renault T35 van. Since it has received a new engine in the past, it's now the proud owner of a J7T 2.2 liter injection engine, the most powerful (yes really) this van has ever been built with.
However, it's 96HP is still a bit disappointing. With it's current gearbox (UN5 with the shortest ratio of all UN5's) it'll do 4500 rpm in 5th gear at 120 km/h / 75 mph. And it's LOUD.
That's why I bought a different UN5 box with the longest available ratio (from a turbodiesel van). But the J7T doesn't really have enough power to actually do something with this thing aside from cruising in 4th gear on the highway with even more noise. The UN5 gearbox is awesome: it'll handle loads and loads of power, it has a 4 spider diff in it (and a 1:5.85 final drive ratio but let's not talk about that...)
So... we need more power! More torque really, that's what's the most fun with this thing anyway. That's why this will turn into the following project: T35 Turbo.
Along with the turbo, I want this thing to run on LPG. Life is expensive enough with silly projects like these. That's why in all likelyhood I'll build a completely new engine with everything I want on it. And that's what this topic is for, mostly. I'm gonna need some tips from more experienced people like you to make this thing work (and last).
Aside from this i'll probably also post some extra things in this topic, because it's not the only thing I'm working on. Because of some crazy rule, this thing is only allowed to run on LPG about 8 years from now, or I'll face some insane taxes. After 8 years it's tax free and I can do whatever I want.
Here's a list of things I want to do with the engine:

Other things on the list for the van itself:
As mentioned in Welcome mogas to There is more to life with TurboRenault.co.uk! I own a 1984 Renault T35 van. Since it has received a new engine in the past, it's now the proud owner of a J7T 2.2 liter injection engine, the most powerful (yes really) this van has ever been built with.
However, it's 96HP is still a bit disappointing. With it's current gearbox (UN5 with the shortest ratio of all UN5's) it'll do 4500 rpm in 5th gear at 120 km/h / 75 mph. And it's LOUD.
That's why I bought a different UN5 box with the longest available ratio (from a turbodiesel van). But the J7T doesn't really have enough power to actually do something with this thing aside from cruising in 4th gear on the highway with even more noise. The UN5 gearbox is awesome: it'll handle loads and loads of power, it has a 4 spider diff in it (and a 1:5.85 final drive ratio but let's not talk about that...)
So... we need more power! More torque really, that's what's the most fun with this thing anyway. That's why this will turn into the following project: T35 Turbo.
Along with the turbo, I want this thing to run on LPG. Life is expensive enough with silly projects like these. That's why in all likelyhood I'll build a completely new engine with everything I want on it. And that's what this topic is for, mostly. I'm gonna need some tips from more experienced people like you to make this thing work (and last).
Aside from this i'll probably also post some extra things in this topic, because it's not the only thing I'm working on. Because of some crazy rule, this thing is only allowed to run on LPG about 8 years from now, or I'll face some insane taxes. After 8 years it's tax free and I can do whatever I want.
Here's a list of things I want to do with the engine:
- Turbo (twin scroll perhaps?)
- Custom exhaust manifold (for said turbo, and it's REALLY tight in there, so perhaps a twin scroll manifold lets me still get huge torque with unequal length runners)
- Probably custom inlet manifold, or depending on power loss of current log style manifold, just modify this one for LPG injectors
- Pistons? Rotating assembly? Head/camshaft/valves? No idea!
- Reinforcement plate?
- Custom ECU for LPG and turbo and everything together, no piggyback stuff
- Intercooler (probably air to water, to reduce length: this thing is mid engined!)
- Custom exhaust

Other things on the list for the van itself:
- Electric power steering pump
- Put 24V alternator in place of old steering pump
- Finish 24V compressor
- Add 24V heater
- Finish generator exhaust and housing for 230V and 24V compressors
- Finish interior
- Add sunscreen and uhh... a spoiler or something, with 3rd brake light? Don't know
- Finish Espace dashboard to swap in, so I have revcounter, water temp, oil temp, boost and oil pressure gauges, a complete project on itself
- Add rear view camera and fix parking sensors
- Bigger wheels and lift? Just for even lower revs!
Last edited: