Thread: County Conversion... From V8 to Isuzu

Good one clarkie, I really thought you were going to cop it with this one

I just thought I would add that there is a forum on the 4BD1 that is based in the states where they bolt them into just about anything from Chev utes to vans and other 4b's.

Im pretty sure I read some stuff about Dougals Rangie on there as well so he may be part of it and might be able to shed a bit more light on the subject.

It's not the first time that a car company has done the engine supply thing.

New ish models,

New Defender - Ford Transit
Jeep CRD - Merc CRD
Hyundai (sp?) - Mitsubishi
Sangyong - Merc again

Older stuff,

Holden VL Comondore - Nissan RB30 and RB30T
Rover cars - some rebadged cars and others powered by Honda engines (In the UK aswell as here)
Lancia/Lada/Fiat - all ran the same engines in different configurations at different times.

Im not sure on models and all that but I have come accross all this stuff and Im sure there is a lot more aswell as they seem to do it when they need to provide an engine to suit a specific critierier for a specific country.

I like the 4BD1, but I dont think I would go out and rip the 300TDI out to fit one in a hurry and Im not out to get a county any time soon.

Originally Posted by sclarke

I know they have better low down torque and yep 500k from an engine is great.....

But the noise and vibrations are a shocker....

IMHO the V8 is better in the drivability and if set up correct will be as good if not better in the bush...

What is the point of people putting big cams in a V8..... you loose the torque... and i dont buy Landy's for Drag racing....

But the only real test is in the bush....

Challenge time.....

The 4.3 stroker V8 in my old County had cams done as well - that had torque AND power. Probably a LOT of money to do from scratch, but I'd seriously think about longer stroke if/when I rebuild any 3.5. I gather the 3.9's can be stroked too, but haven't heard so much about them.

Utility Land Rovers are very much horses for courses. The V8's are/were the first true highway/off road utility LRs, but the turbo-diesels now fill that niche nicely. The 80's diesels, including the 4BD1, are intended for utility use, not highway cruising, as far as I can see. The Isuzu's are up to the highway, but intended for slower work.

As for why only here, it's because they knew that bringing in the 2.5NA Rover diesel would mean precisely zero sales of diesels. They needed a motor that could compete with Toyota. And at the time people were dropping Isuzu motors into cars like Fairlanes (well, I knew one person who did). You couldn't beat the reputation of the Isuzu's and they have proved their capabilities over time. I wouldn't get one - I run around town too much I'd be coking the thing up in no time - but when I'm seriously contemplating dropping three fuel tanks in the Stage 1 just to get a little bit of range, a more efficient motor sounds good.

Originally Posted by scrambler

The 4.3 stroker V8 in my old County had cams done as well - that had torque AND power. Probably a LOT of money to do from scratch, but I'd seriously think about longer stroke if/when I rebuild any 3.5. I gather the 3.9's can be stroked too, but haven't heard so much about them.

Utility Land Rovers are very much horses for courses. The V8's are/were the first true highway/off road utility LRs, but the turbo-diesels now fill that niche nicely. The 80's diesels, including the 4BD1, are intended for utility use, not highway cruising, as far as I can see. The Isuzu's are up to the highway, but intended for slower work.

As for why only here, it's because they knew that bringing in the 2.5NA Rover diesel would mean precisely zero sales of diesels. They needed a motor that could compete with Toyota. And at the time people were dropping Isuzu motors into cars like Fairlanes (well, I knew one person who did). You couldn't beat the reputation of the Isuzu's and they have proved their capabilities over time. I wouldn't get one - I run around town too much I'd be coking the thing up in no time - but when I'm seriously contemplating dropping three fuel tanks in the Stage 1 just to get a little bit of range, a more efficient motor sounds good.

Not sure it was sold on Isuzu's reputation at the time.
I recall reading somewhere that it was the only engine that LRA considered ticked the boxes for them, and the supplier was willing to supply to them without compromising their own market share (think T*y*ta etc). It was a gamble that paid off.

i think the conection might have something to do with isuzu trucks being sold as Bedford's in 70's, no doubt there would be some lincensing with BMC or the like...

Originally Posted by mcrover

Good one clarkie, I really thought you were going to cop it with this one

I just thought I would add that there is a forum on the 4BD1 that is based in the states where they bolt them into just about anything from Chev utes to vans and other 4b's.

Im pretty sure I read some stuff about Dougals Rangie on there as well so he may be part of it and might be able to shed a bit more light on the subject.

That'd be www.4btswaps.com
It's a website targetted at the cummins 4BT (same layout as the Isuzu, 3.9L 4 cyl diesel that's close to bullet proof), but has an Isuzu 4BD1T/4BD2T section too.

People complaining of vibration have the wrong engine mounts, it's that simple. With the right engine mounts the whole vehicle isn't used as a sub-woofer and noise isn't a problem either.

Above 1500rpm the turbo whistle is all I can hear.

Originally Posted by Dougal

That'd be www.4btswaps.com
It's a website targetted at the cummins 4BT (same layout as the Isuzu, 3.9L 4 cyl diesel that's close to bullet proof), but has an Isuzu 4BD1T/4BD2T section too.

People complaining of vibration have the wrong engine mounts, it's that simple. With the right engine mounts the whole vehicle isn't used as a sub-woofer and noise isn't a problem either.

Above 1500rpm the turbo whistle is all I can hear.

Dougal

you certainly have got my curiosity raised a notch with with the 4BD1T conversion , I wouldn't mine taking a Rangie for test drive to see what they drive like before setting out to change anything ? how much for isuzu 4BD1T + gear box and do they mate easily to a LT230 Transfer case ?

Clarkie,

In my Sherwood RR it originally had a very grunty John Davis bored and stroked to 4.7 litre V8. It had raised inlet trumpets, 9.5:1 copmpression, big cam etc etc. I loved that motor. I could sand drag in it all day, blow away most other 4bees at the lights and didn't it sound fantastic with the big bore HM primaries and the 2.5" exhaust...

BUT...

Driven carefully it used 125litres to go 500km, It was difficult to drive as an auto down hill offroad due to next to no engine braking, and did I mention the criminal fuel economy?

SO...

One day I found myself driving a customers 110 county Isuzu turbo, LT95 , nice soft county springs etc. I new then what to replace the 4.7 with....

BUT....

The other half wanted to keep the rangie, and I wanted an Isuzu turbo county.

The answer was of course to fit a turbo intercooled 4BD1 tot he RR, fit some Defender diffs and beef up the body and suspension etc and I get the best of both worlds.

SO...

I now get 1000km to a 125 ltre tank around town, I can climb any hill with ease, and the other half even tolerates the 4BD1 knowing that it'll get us from Tassie to the cape, over to the Kimberleys and down the stock route without putting a spanner on the engine, and get fantastic fuel economy touring.

That is why I like my Isuzu. But I DO miss the V8

JC