Thread: Isuzu 4bd1T in an Italian Defender 110

Hi,

I run a small company here in italy (C.M.S. Engineering 4x4) and I do everything from the project trough a 3d CAD software to the real thing.
I did the exhaust manifold in stainless steel Aisi 316 but it's available in 304 and Fe45 also.
EGT was under 715° C with the twincharger, while it went to 850°C with the single 300 Tdi turbocharger, the vnt kit is something different and exhaust gas temperature goes to 750°C.....
I'm working also around a twin turbocharger set up, but I'm aware that a big 4 cylinder turbochargerd diesel will be better.
I rang a guy here in italy He runs one of the biggest scrapyard for trucks, he confirmed me that the most common engines in the 3500-4500 c.c. size are made by Iveco, no 4bd1t cummin/gm/isuzu is available here, and Nissan's BD30T also are expensive and very rare...However I'm sure the bad side of the whole project is not finding the engine, but mating it to the R380..

Originally Posted by marcecooter

Hi,

I run a small company here in italy (C.M.S. Engineering 4x4) .However I'm sure the bad side of the whole project is not finding the engine, but mating it to the R380..

User "the Grub" has a kit to convert an Isuzu MSA gearbox to the LT230 transfer case.

Hi Nero,

Yes I know the kit Grubb has made, but I want to keep my R380 gearbox+LT230, as you know every R380 might be converted to close ratio and strenghtened by specialist such as Ashcroft to name one.
Moreover in my opinion a bolt on kit: 4bdt1+bellhousing is much interesting than an engine+gearbox swap, which will not meet requirements of late Defender's owners with 200/300Tdi/Td5 engines and R380gearbox.

Originally Posted by marcecooter

Hi Nero,

Yes I know the kit Grubb has made, but I want to keep my R380 gearbox+LT230, as you know every R380 might be converted to close ratio and strenghtened by specialist such as Ashcroft to name one.
Moreover in my opinion a bolt on kit: 4bdt1+bellhousing is much interesting than an engine+gearbox swap, which will not meet requirements of late Defender's owners with 200/300Tdi/Td5 engines and R380gearbox.

There are several people on here who have a 4BD1T+R380. I believe all of them have done the conversion by modifying an Isuzu LT85 bellhousing.

The 200Tdi will need a gearbox swap, as the LT77 is definitely not up to the task (that has been proven by a few conversions over here).

You could certainly make a conversion kit by manufacturing a replacement bellhousing.

Very nice manifold I have pieces to make one similar but out of steam tube as I thought stainless 316 with high temps (as found on a diesel) and high vibration (as found on a diesel) it would stress crack but im no boilermaker or metal engineer so could be wrong....what size turbo's are you going to run on the twin turbo setup ? Check out carcrafter22 videos on youtube his 4bd1t has alot of work done to it and worth having a watch

Hi,

I'll put an ad for a LT85 to 4bd1t bell housing, and I wrote to Fred Smith automotive for a 2nd hand 'housing also.
Could you please put a list of the parts needed for the conversion ?

- LT85 to 4bd1t bell housing
- clutch plate (code number ?)
- mainshaft ??
- clutch fork
- different starter ??

Regardin' to the twin turbocharger set up we tried fast spooling mitsubishi turbos, and a pair of KKK...

Originally Posted by marcecooter

Hi,

I'll put an ad for a LT85 to 4bd1t bell housing, and I wrote to Fred Smith automotive for a 2nd hand 'housing also.
Could you please put a list of the parts needed for the conversion ?

- LT85 to 4bd1t bell housing
- clutch plate (code number ?)
- mainshaft ??
- clutch fork
- different starter ??

It depends what you are starting with. The engines fitted to Land Rovers in Australia had a different flywheel and engine bell/flywheel housing.

However if you start with a truck engine the LT85 bellhousing won't bolt up (I forgot you will only have truck engines over there). If you want to use the LT85 bellhousing you will need the matching engine housing and flywheel.

Even for the truck/industrial engines there are several different options.

The landrover setup just uses a standard landrover clutch.

Most of the different options and part numbers are on here if you do a search - start with the part numbers reference in the sticky above.

This seems to be a difficult task:

We have NPR truck engines here only afaik, which 4bd1 and 4bd1t type Land Rover fitted in Australia ?
I don't understand where to start from as I believed that LR made a LT85 bellhousing for 4bd1 (4bd1t) truck engines, if I understand well they made an engine housing+flywheel+bellhousing to suit LT85 and LT95 gearboxes...what a confusion