LUVTruck.com

I have a stock 75 with a series 4 motor. My truck tops out at 70 mph and is using a lot of gas to do it. Is there any Isuzu 5 speed that will bolt up to my 75?

What motor is in a 75????

Is it a SOHC G180Z (or G161Z) or is it the old push rod motor????


Bob.

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Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.

It is a SOHC G180 (says G180 on the block), but nothing like the G180/G200 family found from 76 and up. Starter is on the other side of the block for one, which cause issues in getting any of the Isuzu 5 Spds bolted to it. I don't know if there is a solution to getting a 5 speed trans into one of those 72-74s. It might take cutting out a hole in the bell housing for the starter and some customization on the rear plate that the trans bolts to. Other than that, piece of cake, no problem.

Bob: I also don't know if anything down under came with that same motor. I'd guess any Isuzu prior to 1976 would have it or a similar motor. The dead giveaway feature is the intake and exhaust are on the same side of the block (Left, or USA driver's side) and the cam cover is solid aluminum instead of stamped steel. I bet somewhere in the photo gallery here there is a pick of one.

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95 Isuzu Trooper Daily Driver
86 Isuzu Trooper reliable backup
77 LUV 2wd stock beltway blaster (resting)
79 4x4 LUV project: 2.6L, 5spd, 31s (eventually)

MEPR: Man, my 4x4 makes all other LUVs look good

800xl, thanks. It is the g180 with the intake and exhaust on the driver's side. What I think I'll do is bolt in an s-10 rear end. A mechanic friend tells me the gears will give me that speed and cut the gas consumption. I'll need the rear end when this 200K+ 4 bangers craps out and I put in the 4.3 vortec in my Astro van.

As I re-read my post I noticed that the sarcasm wasn't quite as clear as it should have been. When I said "no problem" I meant to imply it is pretty much a total custom fabrication job needing a fair amount of precision. I have been on the lookout for a 5spd solution to the old style motor, but nothing bolt on has really presented itself. Those older motors could really use the help too. They lack a bit of the HP, and tolerance for long term high revs. The only one I have actually has a hole in the side of the block.

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95 Isuzu Trooper Daily Driver
86 Isuzu Trooper reliable backup
77 LUV 2wd stock beltway blaster (resting)
79 4x4 LUV project: 2.6L, 5spd, 31s (eventually)

MEPR: Man, my 4x4 makes all other LUVs look good

No problem. The answer I'm mostly getting is that it can't be done. Best bet might be a series 5 or later with the '81+ 5 speed.

well if the bellhousing is the same as the later model engines, and if the starter is the driver side of the motor you can use the bellhousing off a diesle isuzu tranny. then bolt the diesel bellhousing to the gas gearbox.

they do this in australia when using the twincam G180/200s. they have the starter on the wrong side too.

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"but its that gut feeling of you're drawn to what feels right for yourself and what you're passionate about..."

It does get a bit confusing, but its not if you know this and people follow it.
Theres three different motors that G180 could mean hence my post up the top asking.

G180
G180W
G180Z
Which one. Now i know.



The early motors were a "G" motor. OHV push rod 8V engine LH Starter. Cast iron head. So in this case a G180 i think the also came in G150 and G160. We had these in Luv's and the Isuzu Florian sedan that the Luv took its body design from. They also came in the the earlier Isuzu Wasp ute which took its body design from the Isuzu Bellett.

The variation on the OHV motor was the "W" Twin Cam 8V G161W G180W and G200W LH Starter. Essenetially the OHV bottom end with a Twin cam head dropped on top and the drive train to spin them. Found in the Bellett GT, 117 Coupe, JDM Gemini and Impulse/Piazza.

The last motor is the "Z" motor G161Z G180Z G200Z . SOHC 8V motor RH Starter. Alloy head, chain driven camshaft, the block is different to the "G" and "W" motors as theres no provision for the cam and the distributor/oil pump drive arrangement was altered.

(Then the "4Z" motors. SOHC 8V engine RH Starter. Alloy head, the only design aspect carried thru was the spacings of the ports in the head. But the exhaust ports were round instead of square like the "Z" motor.
Then the "4F" series diesel as used in the I-mark T-body with the starter on the RHside. RH Starter.

The C190 C223 diesel motors have the starter on the left. LH Starter)




Thats what i was going to say.

You need any diesel box from behind a C190 or C223. Swap the housing onto a 5 speed from behind a G180Z/G200Z.

All the motors i mentioned above use a box called the MSG. I doesnt matter if the starter is on the left or right the boxes are the same only the ratios may vary.

But having said that there is an earlier box called the MSE box. I dont know much about them but they could have been used behind the OHV motors. An MSG box will take its place but you could run into transmision tunnel size dramas.


Cheers, Bob.

_________________
Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.

I'm not trying to be difficult, honest! Just so we are straight here, the early model G180 LUV motor in the US is a Single OverHead Camshaft arrangement. It is very different from the sohc G180/200 design used up until 1987 or so, but the cam is most definitely on top and the head is not cast iron. There are two timing chains, one from the crank to a layshaft, then from the layshaft on up to the cam that sits atop the head and above the rocker arms. There are no pushrods. The layshaft also happens to run the fuel pump and oil pump.

I just keep thinking we are confused somewhere, because this motor had to appear in some Isuzus somewhere outside of the US. Unless we are talking a different language, "pushrod" to me means camshaft below the head, rods leading up to rocker arms that actually push the valves down. The motor I'm talking about is nothing like that, when I say overhead cam, I mean it is literally over the head.


I like the idea of using a diesel gearbox, or at least the front section of it. That has some real potential for being the solution to this problem. If the pattern is the same, then it is just a matter of drivelines and stuff. The MSE gearbox you are talking about may be the 4spd used in these early series LUVs. I know it is not the same as the 4spd found in 76 and up LUVs, which I always thought was an MSG. It is tough to get real documentation on LUVs that relates to Isuzu part designations here in the US, as there were no Isuzus in the states during much of the same time.

_________________
95 Isuzu Trooper Daily Driver
86 Isuzu Trooper reliable backup
77 LUV 2wd stock beltway blaster (resting)
79 4x4 LUV project: 2.6L, 5spd, 31s (eventually)

MEPR: Man, my 4x4 makes all other LUVs look good

My bad, ive neaver heard of the motor you mention. I will run it past a local Isuzu Guru i know and get back to you.

Id be dicing the old SOHC in favor of the newer motor.


I would be surprised to find that the bellhousing pattern is different, the push rod motor has the same bolt pattern as the later motors the only difference is the starter is on the wrong side.


The guru i mention above has one of my C223 5 speeds bolted up behind a push rod motor.



Cheers, Bob.

_________________
Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.

I'm going to crawl under the truck today. When I last put the motor and transmission in (together) I don't beleive that the transmission had a seperable bell housing. Then again, I may be wrong. As for the cam status of the motor I am going to go look in my 1975 specific manual (not here, Im at work.) I have the good one, the service manual used for repairs in the Chevrolet dealerships at the time. I know the motor is called a Series Four. '72 was series one, '73 was series two ... . the manual will give all the specs on the motor and I will post them here. I just installed the Weber carb that was on my bad motor in my other '75 and now I can get the truck up to 80 MPH which is much better than 70 but it still revs high and gets about 25 mpg. I'm shooting for at least 30 mpg. I'm restoring my other truck. I'm stripping it, removing the glass, seperating body and frame and generally doing it right. One idea I have had is to find a first generation Trooper, 2wd or 4wd, with a bad body but good frame and guts and put the LUV body on that frame, motor and transmission. I understand it's been done and isn't too complicated. The frames are identical. I'd get a 5 speed in the process, a better and larger motor and something I can find parts for much easier. When Luvtruck.com starts taking submissions again, I will post pictures. You guys have been great help and prove we still LUV these trucks.

Your right, technically its not a bellhousing. Its the front part of the gearbox forward of the bearing carrier plate. Its a messy job, something you put up with for want of better options.

If its a Msg box its a Msg box and they are the same.

I was unaware that the Trooper came in 2wd. In 4x4 the trooper didnt have a 5 speed till the 2.3L 4ZD1 motor was offered around 85. The G200 of the same era could be optioned with the 5 speed but std fit behind the G200 was the 4 speed. 4 speed and (4x4) 5 speed chassis' are different as the 5 speed gearbox is longer and mounts in differently.


In theory you should be able to fit a Luv cab on any pickup/trooper chassis pre 87. In practise it would be a lot of work to swap the cab onto any chassis even if its the same. I would just hunt for a PUP to donate its G200 or 4ZD1 engine and trans then swap the disc brakes and master cylinder onto your truck at the same time. Dont forget to swap out/replace the rear brakes as well. Wouldnt take too long if your not fussed about painting things etc as you go.

Would be good if you could take me a pic of the motor in your truck and post it up in this thread.

bob.

_________________
Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.

Bob,

The motor is a SOHC G180. The manual gives no more information than that. I'm glad you cleared that up about the bell housing. You're right, maybe the frame and all swap would be a bit much. Between Craigslist, Ebay and Luvtruck I can always find parts. It's just a matter of finding them when I need them. '75 number two is supposed to be the answer for that but it's the one I'm driving. I have a friend at an alternative fuels station who is my mechanic guru and fills and tunes my propane-powered Astro van. He's doing a brisk business in biodiesel right now and is encouraging me to get a diesel (and 5 speed) from a a later model Isuzu or Mercedes. I'll probably get what I find when I have the money. Isn't that always the case?

Khy

I dont have a high opinion of "biodiesel".

The diesel motor is built to run on a specific grade of Distilate fuel, the newer it is the more important that is.
Back in the olden days it was a bit different and old stationary diesel motors will run on almost anything. The tolerances and technology let them.


The stuff they filter out and mix up to make biodiesel is usually not clean enough by the end its also quite unstable as a mixture. After days or weeks of sloshing around in a tank it can turn into all sorts of things. A friend of mine ran his own diesel workshop under a Diesel injector and Pump service joint and he used to get a steady stream of Biodiesel vehicles to fix. They are easy to diagnose, un screw the fuel filter and the stink will knock you flat. One bloke was lucky with his old benz he got off with just injectors, some got off with fuel filters and a flush out, others were up for a pump rebuild as well as injectors and a flush.

There was a Biodiesel outlet near me. There is no tax on it so it was a good %40 cheaper than pump Diesel. Its closed down now basically for the reason above, it served the west side of Melbourne and was a stones throw from the major Nth to Sth Western Ring Rd (Freeway). A good few million potential customers going past each day. Im not sure about out the other side of town.

So from my experience i wouldnt use it. I possibly would in something older than 1940 but how much fuel would it use??? Might as well use the real gear.

Using pump Diesel even if its a bit dearer per gallon/litre will still get you further for your dollar than a gas/petrol motor.

Cheers, Bob.

_________________
Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.

My son just purchased a 91 Isuzu 2.6 engine and 5 speed tranny . We want to swap the tranny first for the extra gear. Problem is the throw out ont the Isuzu uses a slave cylinder on the passenger side and our original 4 speed has the cable on the driver. Are the bell housings enterchangeable so we can use the cable fork on the 5 speed. They are both out of wheel drives. We have the original tranny all loose but it won't drop out so I assume I have to move the engine forward to get the tranny out.
Should we go ahead and take the motor in at the same time. We are going to take the EFI off and keep it a carbureted since we have a big weber.
Also the 1.8 will be for sale and it is completrely rebuilt.
Thanks Rick

I want a 4bbl Offy to use on a 2.6L.


Cheers, Bob

_________________
Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.

I stuck my nose in his shed and clapped my eyballs on one of these motors you speak of. Apparently out of an Isuzu Florian.

Its a halfa. Half a good idea and half a old crap motor.


BTW i would look at runing the 4 speed behind the 2.6L and just gear it up with bigger tyres. Thats easier than trying to get the 5 speed fitted up.


Cheers, Bob.

Bob.

_________________
Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.

Thanks for the info.