Isuzu C240 S3 SWB

[eeyore]

Hi everyone,
I've found a C240 S3 swb for sale and have a couple of questions I hope people here may be able to help me with. According to the seller, the previous owner has used it as his regular Qld commuter for the last 20 years. It's not registered now but he says he has old rego papers with the Isuzu engine number on them. However, the car doesn't seem to have a conversion plate anywhere on it. I'm assuming it should, and that if I try to get a NSW RWC without one, it will need to be engineered?

The second issue is apparently it starts and runs ok - something I'm going to see this am - but overheats quickly. Has new radiator, water pump, thermostat so seller thinks maybe it needs new headgasket?


Aside from the above, vehicle seems pretty sound and close to RWC: it's virtually rust free, has receipt for $3k for gearbox rebuild in last two years, brakes and steering seem good. Seller has $4900 on it, which seems a bit high for a car with a mystery overhearing problem and no rego. What do people think is a fair price?

[gromit]

Is it actually the temperature sender that's faulty and the engine temperature is OK ? My C240 conversion had a std. Land Rover sender which was reading low, changed for a new one and all OK now.
The voltage stabiliser (behind the instrument panel) could also cause problems with the temperature reading if it's playing up.

It could be the head gasket, are there any other symptoms such as oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil. Check for availability of head gaskets, should be OK as the motor was used in forklifts for a number of years and I've seen gaskets on Ebay.


Colin

[eeyore]

Thanks for the reply Colin. I did wonder if I could be lucky and it was an electrical issue with the gauge; I did check the condition of the oil and coolant and both seemed visually uncontaminated.

BTW, did your vehicle have a engineering compliance plate?

Cheers
Simon

[gromit]

BTW, did your vehicle have a engineering compliance plate?


No but they aren't issued in VIC.
Fortunately the previous owner had registered it with the C240 fitted so no problems (once I'd found the engine number.....).

Is the one you're looking at a trayback ? I remember one coming up on Ebay a year or so ago and it didn't sell.


Colin

[eeyore]

No, it's a Camino Gold 88" wagon. Went and saw it run this morning. Starts and idles from cold easily and smoothly. Warm idle reads 80PSI on gauge, just under 100PSI when revved. No smoke at idle or when revved. Let it idle until radiator was warm to touch, no bubbles in coolant. Temperature gauge barely moved. Seemed to be running fine until shut down when it ran on quite a bit, initially blowing a bit of white smoke then clouds of black smoke as it chugged to a stop. Am I right to assume the white smoke is coolant in the combustion chambers?

[chazza]

...initially blowing a bit of white smoke then clouds of black smoke as it chugged to a stop. Am I right to assume the white smoke is coolant in the combustion chambers?

Not sure, but white smoke can be unburnt fuel and black smoke is semi-burnt. If it is unburnt fuel, the exhaust will smell awful.

It should stop when turned off, so I wonder if the fuel-stop solenoid, or valve are faulty.

Use the faults as some bargaining power to drop the price,

Cheers Charlie

[gromit]

No, it's a Camino Gold 88" wagon. Went and saw it run this morning. Starts and idles from cold easily and smoothly. Warm idle reads 80PSI on gauge, just under 100PSI when revved. No smoke at idle or when revved. Let it idle until radiator was warm to touch, no bubbles in coolant. Temperature gauge barely moved. Seemed to be running fine until shut down when it ran on quite a bit, initially blowing a bit of white smoke then clouds of black smoke as it chugged to a stop. Am I right to assume the white smoke is coolant in the combustion chambers?

How is the motor shut down ?
Mine has a manual shut down, ignition off & keeps running then pull to stop. On starting same 'button' (more like a choke push/pull cable) is pushed in as the starter is engaged to get it to start.


As Charlie mentioned, white smoke can be unburnt diesel, black is overfuelled.


Colin

[eeyore]

Thanks guys. I'm thinking the white smoke is unburnt fuel: I remember is smelling bad, as Charlie suggests, and it sort of fits with the black smoke too. Shut off was simple cable stop, so maybe a faulty shut off valve in the pump. Rest of vehicle is in good, original condition so might be worth taking the risk that engine / pump are economically viable to repair, or that a 2nd hand engine good be sourced for a reasonable price.

I've read through your thread Colin, and from what you say, it seems the C240 swap is a quite good one. Or at least, drive ability isn't any worse on the highway than the original 2.25D, and likely the Isuzu is quite a bit stronger. Don't think it has a high speed TC like yours, although it does have an overdrive.

Cheers
Simon

[russellrovers]

hi buyer beware i have heard through the grape vine stage one deisol engine parts are not available which is the izu can you scheck on that

[gromit]

Thanks guys. I'm thinking the white smoke is unburnt fuel: I remember is smelling bad, as Charlie suggests, and it sort of fits with the black smoke too. Shut off was simple cable stop, so maybe a faulty shut off valve in the pump. Rest of vehicle is in good, original condition so might be worth taking the risk that engine / pump are economically viable to repair, or that a 2nd hand engine good be sourced for a reasonable price.

I've read through your thread Colin, and from what you say, it seems the C240 swap is a quite good one. Or at least, drive ability isn't any worse on the highway than the original 2.25D, and likely the Isuzu is quite a bit stronger. Don't think it has a high speed TC like yours, although it does have an overdrive.

Cheers
Simon

Simon,

I think parts are available but I fortunately managed to pick up a complete spare motor.
I had a look at a forklift C240 motor and of course it was automatic so I guess the crank is different. I think they also used the motor on mobile refrigeration plant.
I have a parts manual for an industrial C240 and the local Isuzu agents have managed to get crank bolts and a front pulley bolt once they had tracked down a very old parts catalogue. With a part number they can get the part from Japan if it still exists.

So far there have been maybe 10 or so conversions I've heard of or seen advertised. Jeff Dellow didn't remember how many conversions they had actually done. Previous owner of mine claimed he had the injectors & pump overhauled and there were no issues with parts.

As for the drive-ability it flies but ......IT'S QUITE NOISY !

Maybe speak to a diesel injection specialist and find out if they will overhaul the pump for you and if so, how much.

Also it's about time you posted some photos.......


Colin

[eeyore]

My daily driver is an Isuzu 120 so "noisy" is where I live :D.

I haven't bought it yet, but I do have a couple of photo's that I imagine the seller won't mind me posting. Body is pretty straight and no rust to speak of. I'm guessing the decals and 15" sunraysias are an unfortunate 'modernising' attempt by LRA, proto Game...
Save

[gromit]

Thanks Simon,

It looks very tidy.
Someone has 'loved' it and added the decals, radio & speakers etc. etc. Maybe having a radio fitted means it isn't as noisy as mine !?

As previously mentioned by Chazza I'd be negotiating the price down because of the shutting down issue, alternatively they get it fixed and you buy...

Did you get to the bottom of the overheating ? You didn't mention overheating when you saw it running so maybe the new radiator etc. cured the problem ??


Colin

[eeyore]

Yes, it's certainly in very nice condition. I'm not going to read too much into the presence of the radio though; my 120 came with one and couldn't be heard at anything other than idle. :o

When I went to see it run, the seller was at work and his wife had to show me, so I didn't get any more details about the overheating problem. He had previously told me the new radiator, thermostat (and maybe water pump) were fitted in a failed attempt to cure it. FWIW, it probably idled for about 10mins while I was there, and didn't show any signs of overheating in that time though.

[robinseries3]

Crazy thing is I bought this car 3 years ago. Has sat in my shed since then. I am now wanting to get it on the road. Google found this forum and a discussion on my car!!!