LUVTruck.com

i have owned 3 geo storms and one isuzu impulse, all the FWD 90-92 cars with the 4XE1 and 4XF1 blocks, im just wondering if the bellhousing bolts line up with the G180 in the LUV, i dont know much about the older RWD isuzu drivetrains

i know all the motor mounts will need to all change, turning a horizontal engine vertical will take work, and im aware of the wiring, carb engine to EFI, none of that will be a problem for me, aslong as the engine will bolt to the transmission

if the 4XE1 wont bolt up, what engines will? i would like to get alittle more torque for playing in the mud, i know first hand the 4EX1 and 4XF1 engines are strong, they are basically the same engine too, if the 1.6 4EX1 will fit bolt up, the 1.8 4XF1 will also

if thats to much trouble, is it possible to get 130-140hp, which is what those engines have stock, out of the G180 without spending an arm and a leg?

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79 Chevy LUV 4X4- soon to be modified

86 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE
98 Dodge Neon Sport
GM metric frame Modified Street Stock

well i guess no one knows if it will work or not lol

ill try a new direction, the 4ZE1 2.6L SOHC

how hard is it to get this engine into the LUV? and what would be best to get the engine from, i know the Trooper came with that engine but did anything else? and what years also

i need to keep it 4 wheel drive too, if that makes any difference

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79 Chevy LUV 4X4- soon to be modified

86 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE
98 Dodge Neon Sport
GM metric frame Modified Street Stock

Hey welcome to the site!!!

As far as I know the Isuzu FWD engines will NOT work without some major modifications

as far as the 4ZE1 goes, it "should" be a direct swap in
You mentioned that you wanted to keep it 4x4, in that case you would need to find a tranny out of a 88+ Trooper, 4x4 P'up, 4x4 Amigo, or 4x4 Rodeo that had the 2.6L 4ZE1 in it. a few things with the tranny are that the 5-speed that was found behind the 2.6 had a hydro clutch on it, as opposed to the cable opperated one found on 4x4 LUV's, what you would need to do is get a master cyclinder from one of the above Isuzu's or grab one out of a <77 Luv, as they had hydro clutchs. there are a few other things like have a new rear drive shaft made, and getting everything else in good order.

What i went through above is just the basics with a 2.6 swap, there a bunch of "other" little things that need to be addressed, If your really serious about this you can PM either 800XL, or myself. we'd be more than willing to give you all of the info on this kind of swap if in you want it

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'80 Luv 4x4, 3" BL, 1.5" SL, 32/36, 2.25" exhaust...and fuzzy dice.
'95 Toyota 4Runner Limited 5-Speed.

the LUV is outseide right now, im working on chassis stuff first, ill have it running once i get a new coil if i cant find the coil for it in the pile of junk in the bed i am serious about an engine swap, im going to get the truck ready and take it out and play with it before i decide what it needs, then ill know which way to go... just alittle more kick from another 4cyl, or just go all out and put a small block in it

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79 Chevy LUV 4X4- soon to be modified

86 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE
98 Dodge Neon Sport
GM metric frame Modified Street Stock

800xl is working on a EFI 4ZD1, and im thinking of going that rout as well. As far as i can tell it will be a realy stright forward swap. As far as the 4X seireis engines, they dont have the lower end grunt of the G and 4Z engines to realy do what a truck should do.

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

When it isn't pouring rain on me I'm working on it. Right now my Impulse parts car looks like a stilt house, up on blocks and water almost up to the tires. (They should have 6 inches of air under them) Once I have all the bugs worked out of the swap I can pull the used old 4ZD1 out and drop in a fresh cleaned up 4ZE1 in its place.


A 4X series might be interesting given the aftermarket support for them. It is possible that the back engine to trans plate from a G series or 4Z series motor would fit on to a 4X, combine that and a 4Z or G series flywheel and starter and you have the makings of an interesting combo. With the amount of stuff that interchanges between the 4Z and G series, and even with the early G180 (pre-76) it is quite possible that the bolt holes line up. I wouldn't pick one for a 4x4 truck, but a slammed 2WD it would fit in with well.

i never really thought about the powerband when i considered doing the swap that way, i spent 2 years playing with the FXE1 block, ran it SOHC and DOHC on a bank 1/4 mile asphalt oval track against bigger domestic 4 cylinders, chevy 2.2, ford 2300s etc. and laughed at them when i laped them with alittle 1.6 rice burner, i know the 4XE1 inside and out, even got to see what happens when you play with a lightend crank and flywheel on stock rods, also the head had about $1400 of work done to it, slung one piston clean through the front of the block and the rod from another one through the oil pan

i had 3 blocks laying arond and a transmission but i got rid of it all along with the car so i cant do any testing myself but i do plan to one day, im also thinking maybe i can convert a FWD storm/impulse to RWD with the LUV drivetrain, and alot of fab work too ofcourse

i have to many plans, i already have a yard full of toys, i need to learn some restraint.. some day

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/Re ... et3004.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/Re ... CT0005.jpg
block and piston

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79 Chevy LUV 4X4- soon to be modified

86 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE
98 Dodge Neon Sport
GM metric frame Modified Street Stock

I have a 79 4x4 luv and have recently aquired a 1990 Isuzu pickup thats kind of beat up with no title. I want to use the 2.6 from the Isuzu and the 5 speed tranny to put in the luv but im not exactly sure what i need to do. I know I need to get a intake manifold off of a 2.3 but cant find one. Any help would be nice!

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79' 4x4 soon to be camoed
"Now the circle is complete"

Hey Jonah,

On your 1990 Isuzu Pickup, check under the hood, it its a 2wd I bet it already has the 2.3 in it, and more then likely it's carb'd, as Isuzu didn't make the 2.3 fuel injected until around '95. If you have any other questions go ahead and ask

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'80 Luv 4x4, 3" BL, 1.5" SL, 32/36, 2.25" exhaust...and fuzzy dice.
'95 Toyota 4Runner Limited 5-Speed.

The truck is 4wd, and inside the door it says may 1990. Its fuel injected and I'm pretty sure its a 2.6. If I am not able to use the engine, will the 5 speed tranny bolt to the 1.8 in my Luv?

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79' 4x4 soon to be camoed
"Now the circle is complete"

More than likely it is a 2.6, but you can tell from the vin code. Compare the vin to http://www.itog.com/vin.html and see what you fine.

You can also feel down on the back of the head, if it says 4ZE1 its a 2.6, 4ZD1 means its a 2.3L. The same code is on the side of the block behind the exhaust manifold, toward the rear of the motor. 1990 it could have been just about anything, 2.6L FI, 2.3L FI, or a 2.3L carb. I forget what pickups had in particular that year, but Isuzu sent out all three options.

The trans should not be too far off, but you may have to get creative on the clutch parts. If it is a cable clutch, not to much of a problem, but if it has a hydraulic clutch you will need a master cylinder will need to mix/match parts to get it to work with a LUV motor.

But since you already have a compleat truck with a fuel injected motor, what I would do is swap the engine and tranny over to your Luv, and then take out the engine wiring for the fuel injection system and then adapt it to the Luv. Sure it may take you a while to get all of the wiring figured out, but think of it this way, in the end you'll have 120hp and better gas milage. And if the truck has a Isuzu 12 bolt rear, you could swap that in too! have the added advantage of 4-wheel disc brakes,

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'80 Luv 4x4, 3" BL, 1.5" SL, 32/36, 2.25" exhaust...and fuzzy dice.
'95 Toyota 4Runner Limited 5-Speed.

The clutch parts swap I was talking about would still be needed whether the motor comes with the trans or not. If the Isuzu is a cable clutch that is also a good sign it is a 2.3L motor. Don't forget a fuel pump to add to the parts list too, the Isuzu one is in-tank and you need high pressure for the FI system.

From all the numbers I've seen mileage is about the same if not a little worse between carb and FI on the same Isuzu motor. The FI would be so much nicer for year round easy starting, stable running, and so forth though. The carb on the other hand, is one cable and a couple of hoses to hook up, maybe a wire or two. Trade ease of use for ease of install.