Isuzu 4JB1T in Disco

[Mark2]

I just got off the phone with Andy at
http://www.engineconversions.co.uk/ who was very helpful.
The kit includes engine mount brackets and rubber mounts which bolt to original chassis mounts, bellhousing adaptor, all bolts, and clutch fork extension. It uses the isuzu flywheel and pressure plate with a landrover 9.5" driven plate. He also said not to worry about wiring the glow system and use the Isuzu power steer pump with hose adaptors. Viscous fan will sit back and outside radiator shroud - not an issue in UK but may need electric fan here in Aus, possibly OK with V8 radiator. Slight bonnet clearance issue but only if using a top mount intercooler, otherwise all is good.

Price is 300 pounds, freight to Australia is 135 pounds, so could be landed here about AUD$1000. Thats about what you'd pay for a basic conversion kit here with engine mounts.

Did you ask him why the kit for a ZF Auto is 95GBP more?

Sorry - was only thinking about manuals. Probably due to extra components needed to adapt isuzu crank to torque convertor.

[callum]

i can scan the instructions i got with mine if you like. i bought the exhaust downpipe at the same time for £65 as i was getting help installing it at someone else's house and didn't want to be foolign around fabbing exhausts. you could make your own if you wanted though.
.

A scan of the instructions with the kit would be great ! So the kit included engine mounts? What flywheel and clutch does it use? Any issues with sump clearance to the diff? What was the biggest hassle apart from the glow system?

i'll try and dig the instructions out of the garage tonight.

as sid, isuzu flywheel, landie clutch. in the 110 with the shortbox lt77 the engine sits way back, behind front axle



it will sit further forwards in yours. sump clearance is fine, the engine actually sits quite high. you'll notice in that pic i had to do a bit of bonnet reshaping with a 2lb hammer. it was a roadside repair when first fitted, and my spare was on the bonnet, i'm sure you could do better. one clearance issue i had was the outlet for the bottom rad hose. after some 'enthusiastic' driving, the axle clouted it, splitting the hose and denting the outlet. it kind of bent the outlet a it out of the way and i gave it some help, i'll see if its ok. failing that i can cut i back, bend it some more or put in some 10mm bumpstop spacers.

big fitting problems...i wasn't present for all of the installation, it began as exams started so i wasn't there every weekend when it was getting done. there was an issue with the ring and it had to be bored a bit as it didn't quite fit the bellhousing. unfortunately i dont know the details of that. it was due to be sent back, but the guy helping me thought bugger it and made it fit.

engine was a bugger to get out the trooper, i had to cut through the tranny tunnel to get the last bellhousing bolt out.

as the fan was an issue i changed to electric fans, so again wiring was annoying. some 'testing' led to a small dashboard fire and i had to pull it off and run two new cables that burnt out. i dont think you SHOULD have any problems with the fans, just i did.



there's another shot, which reminds me hoses were an issue, i needed long ones and long off the shelf ones are not available here.

reliability wise i've cooked the engine twice, once dodgy thermostat, other somethign went through the radiator and its still fine. had it die on me once, but tht was due to cables catching on the steering column and twisting until the one to the alternator got pulled out and the engine died. i'm quite fastidious about tying cables back now.
hope that's reasonably useful for you.

http://www.bmhor.org/

have a look there for the 4jb1 engine manual, might help you.

[Mark2]

i can scan the instructions i got with mine if you like. i bought the exhaust downpipe at the same time for £65 as i was getting help installing it at someone else's house and didn't want to be foolign around fabbing exhausts. you could make your own if you wanted though.
.

A scan of the instructions with the kit would be great ! So the kit included engine mounts? What flywheel and clutch does it use? Any issues with sump clearance to the diff? What was the biggest hassle apart from the glow system?

i'll try and dig the instructions out of the garage tonight.

as sid, isuzu flywheel, landie clutch. in the 110 with the shortbox lt77 the engine sits way back, behind front axle



it will sit further forwards in yours. sump clearance is fine, the engine actually sits quite high. you'll notice in that pic i had to do a bit of bonnet reshaping with a 2lb hammer. it was a roadside repair when first fitted, and my spare was on the bonnet, i'm sure you could do better. one clearance issue i had was the outlet for the bottom rad hose. after some 'enthusiastic' driving, the axle clouted it, splitting the hose and denting the outlet. it kind of bent the outlet a it out of the way and i gave it some help, i'll see if its ok. failing that i can cut i back, bend it some more or put in some 10mm bumpstop spacers.

big fitting problems...i wasn't present for all of the installation, it began as exams started so i wasn't there every weekend when it was getting done. there was an issue with the ring and it had to be bored a bit as it didn't quite fit the bellhousing. unfortunately i dont know the details of that. it was due to be sent back, but the guy helping me thought bugger it and made it fit.

engine was a bugger to get out the trooper, i had to cut through the tranny tunnel to get the last bellhousing bolt out.

as the fan was an issue i changed to electric fans, so again wiring was annoying. some 'testing' led to a small dashboard fire and i had to pull it off and run two new cables that burnt out. i dont think you SHOULD have any problems with the fans, just i did.



there's another shot, which reminds me hoses were an issue, i needed long ones and long off the shelf ones are not available here.

reliability wise i've cooked the engine twice, once dodgy thermostat, other somethign went through the radiator and its still fine. had it die on me once, but tht was due to cables catching on the steering column and twisting until the one to the alternator got pulled out and the engine died. i'm quite fastidious about tying cables back now.
hope that's reasonably useful for you.

http://www.bmhor.org/

have a look there for the 4jb1 engine manual, might help you.

Thanks for the info and pics Callum, unfortunately I cant see them for some reason! I wouldnt be real keen on modifying the bonnet (I like the stock look) but I cant see your pics and so cant really gauge the extent. Perhaps with the engine sitting further forward with the LT95 it might not be an issue - Andy didnt seem to think so........sitting further forward should reduce radiator hose issues as well.......Anyone have an idea how much further forward it might sit with an LT95 versusLT77?

Is it likely the clutch throwout extension he makes would suit both LT95's and five speeds? He doesnt distuingish between them as the kit is simply for 'manual V8 Range Rovers'. Would there be a difference in the clutch mechanism between the LT95 and later boxes?

Its hard to return parts when they've been sent from the other side of the world........

[ISUZUROVER]

Mark - to see the pics,right mouse click and then "view image"

[callum]

sorry a bout the pics, i was being lazy and just linked them from another forum. was working for me yesterday, but not today it seems.

i was sure you used to be able to attach piccies here, i have done in the isuzu bit of the forum before, but i dont see any option to do so as i type in this window. i suppose i'll have to sort out a photobucket account or something.

regardig the height issue, i think on your average defender it would be close, but on mine it hits sometimes because a steel wheel and michelin xcl used to live on the bonnet. that, coupled with me walking on it means it isn't in the best of shape. i've never owned a rangie (i presume that's what you talking about, you got me a bit confused when you talk of lt95's began and the thread began with talk of discos) but i think there is a bit more clearance there. i have apic of a 4jb1 in a rangie in a magazine somewhere. it sits much more central in the bay and looks less odd.

[Mark2]

Thanks - can see the pics now!

It sure does sit a long way back - thats almost 'mid mounted'!

Looks like the bonnet mod is only to the frame, this wouldnt worry me.

[callum]

see if this works

[Mark2]

Got the pictures now - thanks.
I actually have a V8 110 with an LT95 but the only applicable kit Andy makes is for manual rangies which is why I'm not sure if the clutch throwout extension will for for an LT95...........

[the_grubb]

Callum wrote;

the engine actually sits quite high. you'll notice in that pic i had to do a bit of bonnet reshaping with a 2lb hammer

The only thing that got me on my conversion too! The ZF auto's are 120mm longer than a LT77 so my engine sits further forwards than what Callums does (enough room to mount a 300tdi air cleaner between the engine and firewall aka 4BD1 style). This combined with the extra height of the engine and the slightly sloping bonnet meant my bonnet wouldn't shut..... my solution was angle grinder and cut a hole in the bonnet, then stuck a Holden Jackero (Isuzu Trooper) bonnet scoop over it. It did just clear with the ribbing cut away on underside of bonnet but decided to make sure of it.

Mark2 wrote;

Anyone have an idea how much further forward it might sit with an LT95 versusLT77?

I would do a quick search on one of the pommie landrover sites if no one can help you out here.

[Andy_B]

OK my parents are going to be selling there Prado for $18800. I thought it would be cheaper. But my parents told me that they could sell the 4wd for 20% lower then the redbook value, and the company my dad works for will re-imburse them the difference. So I think that's a little rich for me because I will be buying other things off of them, like leather couches etc. So I might re-start my research into this conversion.

Andy