Thread: Conversion Cummins ISF 3.8 (or 2.8)

So I am curious what is so good about the Cummins?


Plenty of Cummins made on China and cheap too. The Futon Chinese Ute comes with Cummins engine.

Cheers

Originally Posted by martnH

So I am curious what is so good about the Cummins?


Plenty of Cummins made on China and cheap too. The Futon Chinese Ute comes with Cummins engine.

Cheers

for me its a truck engine (in ISF3.8 guise) that should have a long service life while producing Toyota V8 torque in a 4 pot that fits into a defender engine bay. Cummins is in a joint venture with Foton for Foton to manufacture the engines in China. While i might be optimistic I expect that Cummins has implemented quality control measures into the production that results in an engine of equal build standard to Europe or elsewhere. Chinese manufacturing is iffy if they are left to their own quality control. Give them parameters and their manufacturing is world class.

As for the ISF2.8, someone wanting an engine and box for a conversion should be able to pick up a wreck for cheap (Foton engines won't have the same demand as say a Toyo engine). There is renewed interest in the 4bd1T post the Army auctions and an ISF engine is a modern equivalent.

Originally Posted by MLD

for me its a truck engine (in ISF3.8 guise) that should have a long service life while producing Toyota V8 torque in a 4 pot that fits into a defender engine bay. Cummins is in a joint venture with Foton for Foton to manufacture the engines in China. While i might be optimistic I expect that Cummins has implemented quality control measures into the production that results in an engine of equal build standard to Europe or elsewhere. Chinese manufacturing is iffy if they are left to their own quality control. Give them parameters and their manufacturing is world class.

As for the ISF2.8, someone wanting an engine and box for a conversion should be able to pick up a wreck for cheap (Foton engines won't have the same demand as say a Toyo engine). There is renewed interest in the 4bd1T post the Army auctions and an ISF engine is a modern equivalent.

After reading your comments..I went back and check with my buddy working at futon...

According to him, apparently the Chinese Beijing futon plant build and supply Cummins engine worldwide..... Particularly the isf 2.8.....

And what is interesting is that the isf 2.8 is originally designd for China market but bring back to US for a crate engine program.
CUMMINS apparently do not wish people to know this but whatever

The very same 2.8 engine is used in the Futon ute sold here......

I was also told you can buy the Cummins 2.8 crate engine years ago but only for China domestic market

And now they ship some of such engines to Memphis Tennessee and American workers there fit something to make it a crate engine that is American Cummins engine

Here is one such engine for sale in Victoria

if you are in the know you would pick up a wreck with engine and box for a fraction of that asking price.

jump on Alibaba website and you can source a create engine out of China in 2.8 or 3.8 for about USD7,000. The 3.8 crate engine on Alibaba comes with ancillaries, harness and ecu. The ECU uses universal coding so should work with a range of instrument clusters. They use a SAE3 (12 bolt) bell housing which is a light truck set up, plenty of options for boxes. What's not to like.

If i was to build a RRC the 2.8 and a 5 speed would have to be on the short list. Similar i like the Territory 2.7 TDCI and ZF combo as a conversion.

My impression is that with the cummins you have bulletproof things like gear drive. No timing belts to break and lunch the motor.

As tempting to some as the 5.0L V8 cummins may be, i have come across reports of high fuel consumption, and it has timing chains. The isf 3.8 being only four cylinders and having gear drive, makes it easier to fit in an engine bay, lighter, more economical on fuel, more grunty at low rpm, easier to work on, cheaper to buy and maintain. Sure its noisier and has worse NVH, and has less power, but add some more sound deadening and with the right exhaust and tune i reckon it would satisfy most people.