Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi to all!
I was wondering if any of you have ever transplanted an Isuzu 4JB1TC engine and gearbox into a rover. I was thinking about doing this modification to my rover, as I'm going to modify it from a LWB series 3 into a coil sprung 100" for offroading.
I would appreciate any comments and advice.

Thanks
Keith from Malta

Not a common conversion in oz but sure that in the uk its quite popular.
Is this the 2.8ltr turbo from the trooper/ rodeo/ jackeroo ? I have thought about this myself as they are cheaper and easier to pickup 2nd hand than a 200/300 tdi, adapter would have to come from the UK though unless fabbed yourself.

In fact it costs less than 1/2 the price of a 300tdi, and it is more powerful.
I'm buying the engine complete with the gearbox, so I will not need aconversion plate.
That's why I'm asking if anyone has done this complete conversion.
A problem I'm thinking of, is that the propshaft is exiting the transfer box in the middle, while the rover diff is offset.
Would the twisted prop. create problems during articulation, considering the short distance between the two?

I have heard that as long as the offset is not huge then the U joints should be able to cope with the offset. there are guys here who fit dana jeep diffs to rangies and they have centered pinions. I take it you will using the isuzu transfer as well ?

Yeah, this is a nice, compact, torquey engine. I know quite a few people who've done it but I'd stick with LR gear and transfer boxes and get a conversion plate. It'll just make life much simpler

Yes Loanrangie, I will be using the isuzu tcase.
The reason that I will not be using a landrover gbox is price.
A gbox alone here in Malta costs as much as the whole Isuzu unit I will be buying, and I cant afford it . Let alone the conversion plate!

Fair enough, if hilux diffs are cheap and easy to source then that would overcome your offset problems, or even the diffs fron the donor isuzu if its not ifs?

The Isuzu difs wont be available, although I may acquire a Hilux diff. Could it be easily converted to coils? as I think that they all have leafs at the back.
Or do you think that I shouldn't worry about the prop Universal joints when articulating with about 2 inch lift?

10x for the help

I didnt read the part about converting to coils, as the coil mounts are bolt on in a rover, it wouldnt be hard to convert them to coils - just a couple of pieces of c channel welded to the housing and a mount for the balljoint.

Yes, you are right regarding the coil fitting, but another problem would be combining the diff. ratios! and I am on a tight budjet.

Anyway, I have found a set of discovery axles wich have done 75,000 km at a good price. They are disks all round, and I'm going for them.

Just for curiosity, is the hilux axle as wide as a rover's?

Not sure, slunnie on here has hilux diifs under his series and i think they are a bit wider than stock.

what size is that motor as i am looking to turn my petrol drinking rr to a oil burner (1985 classic 3.5l ) it has good g/box and transfer (later model defender) looking for motor at good price and easy fit

trr35l wrote:what size is that motor as i am looking to turn my petrol drinking rr to a oil burner (1985 classic 3.5l ) it has good g/box and transfer (later model defender) looking for motor at good price and easy fit

The 4JB1T is 2.8L - fitted to the rodeo/jackaroo. I have seen a range rover with the conversion before and it went really well.

ISUZUROVER wrote:

trr35l wrote:what size is that motor as i am looking to turn my petrol drinking rr to a oil burner (1985 classic 3.5l ) it has good g/box and transfer (later model defender) looking for motor at good price and easy fit

The 4JB1T is 2.8L - fitted to the rodeo/jackaroo. I have seen a range rover with the conversion before and it went really well.

Is this the isuzu that suffers weak cranks ? That is the only thing I have heard people say, I am not sure this first hand though

Tom

RaginRover wrote:
The 4JB1T is 2.8L - fitted to the rodeo/jackaroo. I have seen a range rover with the conversion before and it went really well.

Is this the isuzu that suffers weak cranks ? That is the only thing I have heard people say, I am not sure this first hand though

Tom[/quote]

From what others have said (see link), it seems to be pretty reliable. I will probably drop either one of these or a 4BD1 into my IIA when I get back (whichever I can pick up cheaper). The 4BD1 has better low-down torque (even NA) and is a bit stronger, but the 2.8 goes really well, and is lighter and easier to fit.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... highlight=

The 3.1 Isuzu is the one known for cracking cylinder heads, ecc.
In fact in england there is a company that swaps the recent Trooper 3.1 and replaces it with a new 2.8 for about 5000 uk.

From what I know , not much , the 3.1 is a stretch of the 2.8 . 2.8 is reliable as death and also the 3.1 . In the middle of the 3.1 jackaro ( bighorn or what ever its called ) the dropped in a 3.0 diesel . This was a new engine I believe but did not go well so they swapped back to the 3.1 . I think for 2000 ish vehicles they were back to the 3.0 but not sure .
No idea on the engine numbers for the 3.0 but that may be the engine they are awaping out for the old 2.8 . mate brought a holden rodeo ute a couple of years ago new , stilll had the good old 2.8 turbo in it , that motor has had a huge production run for a jap engine over ten years .

Chris

You were right Rotazuk. Ity's the 3.0 that gives trouble.
Visit http://www.mbs4x4.co.uk/Pages/4x4_engines.html to see the engine conversion I mentioned in the previous post.