4db1t

[Fausto79]

Hi All,
Was tinkering with the idea of putting an isuzu in my d1. There is one getting around near me. The guy bought it from qld to put in his camper but decided to get a new truck instead. Has it sitting there. He hasn’t even seen it running. He’s heard it run on the phone which could’ve been anything.

He was wanting 4.5k for it but now he’s leaving apparently and said will sell it for 3k.

What sort of price do you pay for these? Is 3k a good price even if it may be cactus and need rebuilding? Or is that just taking the wee?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[workingonit]

Was tinkering with the idea of putting an isuzu in my d1.

Can the seller give you the name of the previous owner?

If out of an Isuzu truck, then does he or previous owner have the MSA gearbox?

Given quotes of a million kilometers out of these engines then if you can get an idea that it is much less would mean rebuild less likely to be required - some time ago, basic piston/sleeve rebuild kits were around $1,500.

Is it in any original crating? If it's ex-military then maybe more risky, pulled out of a drowned truck?

I guess hand crank it and if no odd noises consider buying it. Put pressure gauge on cylinders? Pull sump off for a peek?

Given it supposedly ran over the phone then it has starter attached? Can you weld up a frame and kick it over?

Any professional workshop nearby that can bench test it for you for a reasonable price?

A well known workshop in Brisbane said they could sell them all day long for $4k, but we were talking about a naturally aspirated one I'd just picked up cheap (still in LRover vehicle). $3k for a proved good running turbo would probably be worth it; and if not proved at $3k gives a little head room for repairs - cheaper the better when unknown.

Other consideration is the cost of conversion.

[Vern]

Probably worth it if its a known runner. Tricky bit will be adapting a gearbox to suit

[Blknight.aus]

pull the glow plugs turn it by hand to TDC and check the piston heights with a depth gauge.

if its within about .5mm buy it.

[Fausto79]

Yes I still have it. Brought it from Brisbane. It was out of a 1993 truck, don't know the milage. I heard it running on a text message. Sounded good was no smoke. I wouldn't have brought it if it wasn't a good engine. I was going to repower my motorhome, brought the motor and then decided to put a new truck under it. Comes with all bits like exhaust brake, air filter and ducts. Nuts and bolts etc.


That was his text to me. It was 4500 originally today he texted me this:


If you are interested, I'll drop the price to $3000. I leave Perth next weekend. Like it gone by then.

Been advertised for a while. Honestly I’m a bit too nervous to get something I don’t know much about. I just hate a good deal going by though (if it is). I could check it out by with so little known about it I probably won’t splash out. I’d rather pay a bit more and know what I’m getting. I’ll go look n think about it.

Thanks for all replies.

[Vern]

I have purchased 5 x 4bd1 motors in my time, all never heard running, all have ran perfect when I got them going, just took peoples word for it, have never been disappointed yet.

[Summiitt]

I paid $1350 for a grays online crate motor 4bdt.. turns out it’s stuffed, so I’ve just found another one that was running well out of a 6x6 for $1200..

[Fausto79]

I have purchased 5 x 4bd1 motors in my time, all never heard running, all have ran perfect when I got them going, just took peoples word for it, have never been disappointed yet.

How much did you pay for them though

[Vern]

How much did you pay for them thoughAhhh in order, $1800 (complete stage1), $1200 +freight, $1200, $2500 (+freight), $1100.

[Bigbjorn]

I 'phoned a few guys around the trade and their opinion was that good 4Bd1T's will sell for $4000-$4500 all day every day. I had a good running 4Bd1 ex a County as a spare for my vehicle. I sold it last year for $3000 from Gumtree to the first caller. If planning to fit a 4Bd1t to an LR it is best to have the LR attachments from a wreck or be fitting it to an LR that already has a 4Bd1.

[Fausto79]

Thanks all. The guy sold it. Probably someone on here after i made it public 😂. Good luck to them.

[Fausto79]

I 'phoned a few guys around the trade and their opinion was that good 4Bd1T's will sell for $4000-$4500 all day every day. I had a good running 4Bd1 ex a County as a spare for my vehicle. I sold it last year for $3000 from Gumtree to the first caller. If planning to fit a 4Bd1t to an LR it is best to have the LR attachments from a wreck or be fitting it to an LR that already has a 4Bd1.

What are the attachments? Auxiliaries? Or the mounts and adapters?

[Bigbjorn]

What are the attachments? Auxiliaries? Or the mounts and adapters?

Bell housing, flywheel housing, 12 v. starter, flywheel and clutch. The housings are LR specific and almost impossible to find. Probably some more small items I have forgotten.

[Vern]

Bell housing, flywheel housing, 12 v. starter, flywheel and clutch. The housings are LR specific and almost impossible to find. Probably some more small items I have forgotten.Easier to find now since they have been auctioned off.

Or you could use the truck parts as I do

[Fausto79]

Easier to find now since they have been auctioned off.

Or you could use the truck parts as I do

so the perentie bits is what you need? when you say truck parts do you mean isuzu trucks that the engines were in?

with the landrover specific housings etc. do these only fit onto lt95? i assume you need some more mods to get it to fit onto r380?

[Bigbjorn]

so the perentie bits is what you need? when you say truck parts do you mean isuzu trucks that the engines were in?

with the landrover specific housings etc. do these only fit onto lt95? i assume you need some more mods to get it to fit onto r380?

Isuzu engines were attached to LT85 & LT95 transmissions. The LR bell housing is specific to the gearbox model. Some have fitted Isuzu engines and transmissions in LR's. A lot of work. Someone on here used to make kits for this.

[Fausto79]

are there any other engines which go well in d1? the 2.8 international seems too hard especially with parts. the 2.8 stroker kit seems risky.

anyone put anything else in them? like a
4JH1-T or similar rodeo/colorado isuzu engines?

by looking at work and $ involved seems better to live with my tdi and do a few mods to it. but was wondering if there was a stronger engine that wouldn't be too hard to fit in.

[Vern]

Isuzu engines were attached to LT85 & LT95 transmissions. The LR bell housing is specific to the gearbox model. Some have fitted Isuzu engines and transmissions in LR's. A lot of work. Someone on here used to make kits for this.Not a lot of work if you have a lot, bolts straight in.

[Vern]

so the perentie bits is what you need? when you say truck parts do you mean isuzu trucks that the engines were in?

with the landrover specific housings etc. do these only fit onto lt95? i assume you need some more mods to get it to fit onto r380?If fitting into a d1, then the lt95 won't fit. You will need an r380, Isuzu msa/mxa, or auto box. So depending which way you go, you may need truck bits, or Isuzu landy bits (to suit gearbox choice)
Anything else on the motor can come from a truck or landy (except truck alternator will be 24volt, I just use a patrol one)

[Vern]

are there any other engines which go well in d1? the 2.8 international seems too hard especially with parts. the 2.8 stroker kit seems risky.

anyone put anything else in them? like a
4JH1-T or similar rodeo/colorado isuzu engines?

by looking at work and $ involved seems better to live with my tdi and do a few mods to it. but was wondering if there was a stronger engine that wouldn't be too hard to fit in. M&D Engineering do a kit for a mazda/Ford t3500 truck motor (could use the t4100 aswell), could be an option.

[Fausto79]

or i could just go with something like this:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/Land-Rover-Discovery-2004/OAG-AD-16649016/?Cr=3


looks pretty. pretty dear though.

[workingonit]

or i could just go with something like this:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/Land-Rover-Discovery-2004/OAG-AD-16649016/?Cr=3


looks pretty. pretty dear though.

They are nice, but they have their share of problems, and not at that price as the D3 are coming down to that, dare i say some D4's?

[workingonit]

better to live with my tdi

You are probably better off improving your Tdi300 and play the waiting game for a project vehicle, 4BD1, gearbox and some luck to come along; or if you must, then a D2.

Brief story of my tortured path if you are still thinking 4bd1t - but i think you have now been distracted by that add.[biggrin]

I found my 4bd1t by ringing all the wreckers in Darwin. Only one wrecker had an engine, out of an Isuzu truck. I asked if they had the matching MSA box, answer 'no'.

Next day went to pick up the engine. He says 'your in luck, we found the gearbox'. On the engine rocker cover, written in tippex, were the words 'good 4bd1t'. Now, years later, given the length of my project, I still haven't heard the engine running, but I'm not worried.

I offered $1,500 for the lot, but he ummed and arred saying he could get $4k. We were standing in a huge, huge shed surrounded by engines in all directions. Eventually he agreed. I wish I had known more about engines for LRovers at the time, as there may have been a few other gems there. The story is longer, but I believe all the other engines went to scrap eventually.

At the time I still had no idea what vehicle I was going to use. I just bought the engine because of the legend it had on AULRO.[bigwhistle]

Eventually I bought a complete running 1984 Range Rover for $200. Well several at that price actually. Rust in the cabins has been a big issue on any of them. I can panel beat and argon mig weld very well now.[thumbsupbig]

I have four D1 Tdi300 vehicles. Even the most neglected of them (water through to the entire fuel system to the injectors, no straight panels, etc) has come up good with little effort, so no donor for the 4bd1t here. I nearly had a D1 v8 donor, but the owner decided to move the vehicle using a sling though the front doors when lifting high onto a truck - so bought it for $100 for other parts.

Ideally I would have liked to get a run down Defender donor, but rare as hens teeth. Did pick up a running series 3 stage 1 Isuzu power vehicle for $750, with a rusted chassis, but this is destined to be a fire tender so I can run around with the volunteer brigade and their Toyotas when they're back burning my block.

No vehicle is ideal - I like the head room and layout in the D1 when compared to the RRC (the 1984 RRC doesn't even have a glove box!); but the D1 is a bit short to sleep in compared to the RRC; but then the RRC is too low in the roof for my liking. I would prefer the Defender over the D1 and RRC, but it would require a lot of improvements to convince me it would be a better touring vehicle than my 1990 Toyota 'Troopie'. I think a D2 donor would be the way to go if there are no legal issues - well laid out, longer to sleep in than the D1, and more comfortable than the Defender OR Toyota.

Then you have to find all the adapting gear. In my case I have the MSA box which requires a short adaptor housing and spud shaft to mate the transfer case - seems simple, but this is probably a more problematic path to take compared to mating to a Land Rover box, but then I will have an MSA behind the engine. Trouble is finding a manufacturer and waiting huge amounts of time before something can be made. I have an Outcast adaptor case and 10 spline spud, and last I heard they were not making the case anymore. I also ended up buying one of Sheldon's 24 spline spuds and adapted input gear for extra strength, but I now hear he has shut shop. At least i have a back up to which ever one I eventually decide to install.

Then there is the need to change the transfer case ratio, but that is easy thanks to Ashcrofts.

And of course there are people like AncientMariner who keep coming up with good improvements to the transfer case, some of which I'm going to pursue.[thumbsupbig]

Sorry for the length, but a lot to consider - maybe just buy Vern's RRC if it is still together - it did look good! And maybe cheaper than the D2 and more fun to tinker with.

[Fausto79]

do the turbo version of the 4BD1 still have 4BD1 on the block or does it have 4BD1T? some guy is selling ex army ones and has all the turbo and intake plumbing but the block says 4BD1 only. I know some were retrofitted with turbos is that correct?

[Blknight.aus]

are there any other engines which go well in d1? the 2.8 international seems too hard especially with parts. the 2.8 stroker kit seems risky.

anyone put anything else in them? like a
4JH1-T or similar rodeo/colorado isuzu engines?

by looking at work and $ involved seems better to live with my tdi and do a few mods to it. but was wondering if there was a stronger engine that wouldn't be too hard to fit in.

urm its nearly a drop in fit...

if you start with a TDI(X)00 already in there its only really the mounts all the other parts are on the tdi.

[workingonit]

do the turbo version of the 4BD1 still have 4BD1 on the block or does it have 4BD1T? some guy is selling ex army ones and has all the turbo and intake plumbing but the block says 4BD1 only. I know some were retrofitted with turbos is that correct?

Just '4BD1' on the passenger side of the block, on my factory turbo Isuzu truck engine. On drivers side '86021 N', not sure this tells me build date, production line?

My engine has a steel pipe coming from the turbo, crossing behind the engine, to a simple manifold bolted to rear drivers side of head; and another pipe from this simple manifold drops down to the oil filter manifold. Not sure how turbo military engines differ in this regard. If the turbo itself is missing from you ex-army you should at least pick up on the piping cooling lines or points where they should screw in - hopefully you will be able to pick differences between original and aftermarket turbo installation.

Factory turbo has oil spray nozzles to cool under skirt of piston. Crank is nitrided. But these differences don't seem to cause longevity issues for owners who have retro turboed naturally aspirated engines - they will be understressed in private use compared to commercial and military expectations.

[workingonit]

Hi All,

What sort of price do you pay for these? Is 3k a good price even if it may be cactus and need rebuilding?

Seen this add on the forum? Slight price adjustment for freighting to WA. Hone or re-sleeve.

Isuzu- Range Rover Classic (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/vehicles-for-sale/270303-isuzu-range-rover-classic.html)

[Fausto79]

urm its nearly a drop in fit...

if you start with a TDI(X)00 already in there its only really the mounts all the other parts are on the tdi.

do you mean the 2.8 international is almost a direct fit? its pretty much same motor isn't it? by too hard i mean to find and to get parts for it as someone else on the forum suggested.

I think i will give the isuzu idea a rest for the time being and try and squeeze a bit more out of my tdi. see if it pleases the torque gods enough that i can live with it.

[Blknight.aus]

do you mean the 2.8 international is almost a direct fit? its pretty much same motor isn't it? by too hard i mean to find and to get parts for it as someone else on the forum suggested.

I think i will give the isuzu idea a rest for the time being and try and squeeze a bit more out of my tdi. see if it pleases the torque gods enough that i can live with it.

yep.

wait till xmas....

I know a guy...

:)

[Fausto79]

yep.

wait till xmas....

I know a guy...

:)

Interesting