[astr]

Another thought regarding manual transmission type swaps:

The bell housing on the Isuzu manual transmissions bolts to the transmission. So why not use a 4BD1/2 engine with the Isuzu flywheel, pressure plate, clutch release mechanism and and bellhousing. Fab an adapter plate between the bell housing and transmission of choice and then use a clutch disk that matches the splines on the tranny and is of appropriate diameter for Isuzu pressure plate.

This approach would only work if you have some extra length to the tranny input shaft to allow an adapter to be place between the tranny and bellhousing. Some adjustments might also have to be made to the pilot bearing and the sleeve that the thowout bearing rides on. I've used this approach to mate a Toyota R151F tranny to a Mazda rotary engine.