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As per other comments and from owning a Isuzu truck I'd certainly agree it's a better work vehicle option, cheaper, reliable as hell, better carrying & towing capacity and unless you really need the 4x4, get a 4x2.
But your conversion is interesting from the "doing a project" point of view.
So either way, buy the truck so you can reliably keep working to pay for the project Land Rover.
Earning the money is the easy bit.... keeping hold of it is the hard bit.
best regards
DarrenR
Where did you hear about the ex mils being auctioned off this year?Quote:
Originally Posted by MarknDeb
I will start saving if this is true.............
I agree with the above. you are looking at seriously a lot of money to replace the entire motor and drive line. And then you will be wondering if anything will break when you are bush and in a tight situation.
Stay with the factory set up unless there are extremely good reasons to re-invent the landrover.
Ok thanks for all the advice people, it wasnt for me but a mate and it has helped him and is thinking 2 different option now, moded Landcruiser troopy or the Isuzu.
I first heard about the army landies from Richard (a fello AULRO) and i was talking to a Major from HQ, his first comment was how did i hear about it then he sort of in a round about way said they are replacing the fleet of landies and cruisers with jeeps. Dont hold me to it but it did sound good and if it does happen ill be linning up for one i think.
Gotta few bucks to spend, don't shy away from putting together 'your' ultimate truck, that'll do just what you want it to. Get the best gear, it's all avaliable......a duramax sounds awesome........:D
The Duramax is a good engine, designed by Isuzu for GM. It is much better and far more powerful than the 6.5 L that it replaced in the GM line of vehicles.
The Duramax did not replace the 6.5 L in military vehicles like the humvee. GM do not manufacture humvee's or the 6.5 L engine. They took over manufacture of this engine from GM, some years before the Duramax was developed.
I don't know of any any military vehicles with the Duramax engine. I doubt any combat type vehicles as it would not fit in with their policy for common fuel usage, and their investment in other engines. There may be some chevy suburbans or silverados for more administrative type use.
Allison had to develop a new auto transmission to handle the torque and power from the Duramax. There is no way a rover transmission would last.
I rememer reading a comment from a boss of the GM motor sport group, that the Duramax could be easily and inexpensively tuned to be more powerful than any of the engines GM sell for motor race use.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarknDeb
Where have you heard this from?
look here for info on both the duramax and chev diesel engines, these yanks love em (they are like landrovers, addictive with all their little quirks (faults))
[quote=I first heard about the army landies from Richard (a fello AULRO) and i was talking to a Major from HQ, his first comment was how did i hear about it then he sort of in a round about way said they are replacing the fleet of landies and cruisers with jeeps. Dont hold me to it but it did sound good and if it does happen ill be linning up for one i think.[/quote]
Quote:
Originally Posted by dobbo
Thats where i heard it from and as i say i hope its true.
Sorry I missunderstood the 1st post. I inferred you were expecting to get a Duramax from a military auction. I didn't make the connection that you wanted to get a landy from the auction.
I think a landy would be far easier to come by than a Duramax.
An 4 cylinder Isuzu 4BD1-T (or later) or Toyota 13BT, 14Bt or 15BT would make a more practical option to a Duramax.
The newer 4.8 litre Isuzus may be too large for a defender, but they have huge torque from idle. You might buy a new engine for less than a Duramax, unless you are lucky. I priced a new Isuzu 4.8 L about 3 years ago and it was comparable to a chevy 6.5Lwith turbo (and had more power and torque).
But given the $$ the Duramax would have more wow value.