Thread: Isuzu 3.9 in a D1

Yes - been done before several times. A few have been posted on here.

just tweak the pump... its a lot less involved.

THe old girl has 315000ks so I'm starting to look at options

Unfortunately the legality of such a conversion (unless you can obtain an engine the same age or YOUNGER than the D1) means it isn't a possibility in MOST states. Check with DOT in NSW first. No point doing any conversion that can't be engineered/ insured/ legal IMO.

JC

Originally Posted by justinc

Unfortunately the legality of such a conversion (unless you can obtain an engine the same age or YOUNGER than the D1) means it isn't a possibility in MOST states. Check with DOT in NSW first. No point doing any conversion that can't be engineered/ insured/ legal IMO.

JC

JC, there are conversions I am aware of which are approved/engineered/insured/legal in QLD and SA. The 4BD1(T) was made until the mid 90s, and probably legal up to 1999 when the TD5 came out. There was an update in 1988, which may have been the Euro 1/2 change. So you may need to fit a post '88 engine to get it approved.

The D1 I have is a 97 model and the Defender came out with the 3.9l in the late 80s early 90s I think

Originally Posted by isuzurover

JC, there are conversions I am aware of which are approved/engineered/insured/legal in QLD and SA. The 4BD1(T) was made until the mid 90s, and probably legal up to 1999 when the TD5 came out. There was an update in 1988, which may have been the Euro 1/2 change. So you may need to fit a post '88 engine to get it approved.

Correct Ben, but here in Tas for example that is now the rule. I wouldn't bother jumping through hoops and paying big $$ for engineering it outside the legislation, but that is just me, an old grumpy thing

I just went and found a 1985 110 to fit my 1988 engine to.

When I put the 1988 4BD1 into the 1992 Rangie, it was before the regs changed and only required an inspection by a transport station to verify numbers and welding was up to scratch. That was almost 8 years ago now.

JC

There is a more modern 4BE1 and it came in a T version.

Some versions of the 4B series were better than others, the 4BD1 was the most agricultural and reliable. But a believe the 4BE1 was almost as good. Just a 3.6 Think power was about the same too, just a little more refined.

This motor would match up age wize to the D1 mid 90s and should be fairly easy. Being smaller than the 3.9 they fitted to an earlier model with lesser brakes.


****Some of the statement I have made here are more about how I would present things to an engineer than my beliefs....no need bite 3.9 enthusiasts or those who believe the county had the best brakes *****