Thread: ebay series 2

Not suitable, need a Series 3 Stage 1, or 110. The upgrades you would need to do to that are more expensive and time consuming than buying a 110 with Isuzu motor here in Australia and importing it to the US.

Thanks.What are the model years I should look for?

Originally Posted by coog

Thanks.What are the model years I should look for?

The Isuzu 4BD1 engine was fitted to Landrover 110 models in Australia from 1985 to 1990. These came in station wagon, windowed full length hardtop or cab/chassis or trayback form with 110" wheelbase and also extended to 120" and in 6x6 form as cab/chassis, usually with a trayback. The 6x6 had a turbocharged engine. Many 110 wagons and a few other 110 and 120 wheelbse were V8s, and some of these have been converted later to Isuzu engines. Many of the n/a Isuzus have been turbocharged.

Earlier than this the Series 3 Stage 1 Landrover, similar to the one in the advertisement in that it has leaf springs, but in fact with a drive train virtually identical to the 110 was fitted in Australia with the n/a Isuzu engine as an option in place of the V8. Most of these are cab/chassis with a trayback, although there are probably some station wagons as well.

Good examples of the Isuzu engined Landrovers rarely come on the market, and rarely stay there for very long. Most owners keep them indefinitely. For example, I have had mine as my main vehicle for seventeen years - it has just ticked over 500,000km (and is not forsale!)

Converting any of the V8 Landrovers to an Isuzu is probably feasible, but you need to bear in mind that there are a few necessary parts that are hard to find. These include the special flywheel housing and the special bell housing on the gearbox, and also the starter is special, as to fit between the chassi rails it was necessary to move it higher and use a different starter.

The Isuzu engine was fitted to Landrovers in Australia to meet the Australian Army requirement for a Series Landrover replacement, and carried over into civilian production during the period that the Army requirements were being produced. These vehicles are currently in service, although replacement by Mercedes vehicles has just started. They were made in 4x4 and 6x6 form with a variety of bodies. The 6x6 has a wider track and a wider body than the civilian version. The most common 4x4 is a soft top.

Very, very few of the army vehicles are in civilian hands, although this is likely to change when the army starts to dispose of them - probably in a few years, as it seems the Mercedes being taken into service at present are extra vehicles rather than replacements, and it will be several years before the Landrover vehicles start to be sold.

All army Isuzu engined Landrovers and civilian ones up to 1986 had the LT95 four speed gearbox, and this is generally considered to stand up to the Isuzu engine a lot better than its five speed replacement.

Hope this helps,

John