Victor

This thread is merely a lot of speculation. I noticed that at 4x4wire someone mentioned that the Isuzu 3.2 and 3.5 will bolt up to an R150F with the Isuzu bellhousing from a 3.5.

http://mjw.com/amigo/marlin/index.shtml

The 3.2 is rated at 205 HP @ 5400 RPM and 214 Lb/Ft @ 3000 RPM. Not too shabby. There is a supercharger available for it but it is quite pricey - approaching 3k. The 3.5 from the Axiom is rated at 230 HP@ 5400 RPM and 230 Lb/Ft @ 3000 RPM and the same supercharger can be put on it. The 3.5 bellhousing is from an older model Trooper and Marlin was the first to get it hooked up to an R150F.

Anyone have any experience with these engines? I am curious about reliability and common problems as I know nothing about Isuzu engines.

justinh

i realize it isn't yota related but there is a guy swapping the 3.2 tranny and transfer case (tera 4.1 gears) into a nissan hardbody truck and doing the SAS at the same time with a landcruiser fj60 front axle (yota tech content!) it should be pretty nice when done knowing this guy. his previous motor was a custom set up turbo charged 4cyl.

Victor

Anyone owned a Isuzu with either one of these engines?

OneTrickToy

I don't know about that specific engine... but Isuzu makes great engines. They are known for their big truck engines. Chevrolet is now using an Isuzu diesel engine in some of their trucks.

L33T35T 4Runner

i dont know about the quality, but i know that those engines are quite peppy. i drove a honda passport, which is the same thing as the isuzu, and it had a lot of get up and go. i barely touched the gas and it moved really well.

Andrey

Wouldn't this defeat the purpose of owning the Toyota? I mean I'd rather have a reliable engine which will get me past 300k mark without any repairs than just a few extra hp. Dead engine won't do me any good, no matter how peppy it is.

-- Andrey

Victor

Hey Andrey are you saying you've had bad experiences with these engines?

My 1000th post - wow!

Vato Loco

Before purchasing my 2nd gen, I was about to purchase a '92 Rodeo, the salesman and I were ready to do all the paper work, when one of the salesman told me that, that the engine is made by GM or Chrysler, I'm not really too sure. As soon as he told me that, I backed out and left the dealership. So I'm not really sure if the salesman was right or not, but I didn't feel like taking any chances.

Victor

If I'm not mistaken that is the 3.1 GM engine that was on those older Isuzu's. The engine in the Chevy and GM Duramax diesels is actually an Isuzu but I have no experience with their small v6's. GM owns a big portion of Isuzu so there has been a lot of back and forth business between those two for years.

Tacoma Dude

One of my students has an Isuzu Trooper or Rodeo? I don't remember.

I think it's needing a new transmission (auto) or serious work at least. He's somewhere around 60-80K

I'm staying away from Isuzu.

PoRunner

not worth the effort at all to swap, i've had close experience with the whole isuzu line of gas motors, from the lowly 2.3 to the 3.5. isuzu makes good motors, minus the gm junk that they used (2.8 and 3.1). the power and reliability issues are negligable between toyota and isuzu. the main interest in mating a toyota trans/t-case to an isuzu motor is striclty from the isuzu side to gain more gearing options, strength, etc...

kyle_22r

i know some older isuzu engines are very reliable, but not so sure about how they are now. there's a lot of old chevy luv pickups that ran 400k+(rebadged isuzu) but the problem with those engines were their small displacement and lack of aftermarket

Victor

Just throwing out an idea for discussion since it seems to be a goldmine that the 3.5 Isuzu bellhousing will bolt right up to an R150F like most of us with the junky 3.0 have. Some quick searching didn't lead to any deals out there but who knows.

PoRunner

thinking outside the box, that's what it's about... i just think they're are much better toyota swap options for the same price or less. i haven't checked recently, but last i did Zu 3.2's/3.5's were pretty damn exspensive even at junkyards. only way i could see it being worth it is if you scored a motor real cheap. unfortunately it seems to just be a gold mine for the isuzu folks now...

dbikeman

The guy doing the 3.2 swap in the hardbody is a guy named JP. The people doing the swap have done some pretty cool stuff to a hilux double cab truck too. Its got a solid front turbo diesel and a think 35" boggers, custom bumpers too. Too bad JP lives in Chile.

Vato Loco

I think I know who you're talking about, he has a white nissan pick up with the lower half of the truck painted silver or his fenderflares are silver not too sure, but I'm pretty sure I know who you're talking about.


***Found his webpage:

http://www.geocities.com/jpvmlichttotobal/jpvm4x4.html

justinh

yeah, he posts at most of the nissan sites. if anyone is interested i can supply links to his current build. the shop that is doing his swap also swapped a nissan turbo diesel into a MB g-wagon recently.

livelarg

Isuzu makes a very good engine. As far as dependability, it is not far off of toyota.
The GM motor was only in the early 90's Isuzu's. I bought a rodeo with a GM motor (I didn't know when I bought it) and it was a piece o' sh#t. No power and bad A/C and was always making noises. After taking it back to the dealership to get numerous things fixed, they told me it was a GM motor.

Anyway If you were looking at a engine swap, the Isuzu would be a good swap. I would choose that over a Vortec swap anyday. But if I was going to do it, I would look at a diesel swap. Don't know how available they are, but Isuzu has a good diesel, and have been making them for a while.

Firefyter-Emt

Well you can say what you want.. But the 3.0 is well known for popping it's cork (headgasket) and heck, my motor needed a head rebuild at just over 100k... (burnt valves) and I personaly maintained my truck. So say what you want.. But even my Jeep made it to 175k before puking a motor.. My old T-bird is still on the road (new owner) with 170k and runs like a top.. So I think the 300k is more myth than reaility.. The 22r is a great motor, and where Toyota got that reputation.. But they have made their share of crappy motors too.. Don't forget the "Sludge Monster" 3.0 in the newer vans ect.. Don't get me wrong, I like my Toyota.. and the bottom end had 150k still stock. But it has been far from 300k with no problems. And I am not talking normal maintiance here.. :wtf:

Victor

What caught my eye was the great power the 3.2 makes and the fact that it is all aluminum. There is almost zero aftermarket for Isuzu but if the engine were to hold up then I have plenty of aftermarket for the rest of the truck. Its discouraging to see what the prices on those engines are though.