What to expect when swapping 3b for 2b in 1981 BJ-44 RHD?

TOBASH · 11-07-09, 11:14 AM

My LC is a 1981 RHD BJ-44

I just aquired a 3B. It is complete with starter and alternator for 24 Volt, and I am a 24 Volt application already.

Are the motor mounts the same as for a 2b? Do I need to weld or change anything or do anything new and different?

Will the tranny mate up, or do I need to change the bell casing or clutch or tranny spindle?

What about the slave cylinder? What about the master cylinder. Can I leave them alone?

I hear tell that maybe the accelerator cable wires up differently.

Is that true?

What about the relay that cuts fuel flow when you switch the engine off? Do I need to change that?

Enquiring minds want and need to know.

Thanks in Advance,

Tobash

P.S. The tranny that came with this engine is 4 speed. No idea as to if it is the same as the 4 speed I already have.

Also, the engine came with a power steering pump and power steering box. I am RHD, and this application was LHD. Can I use the box, or should I just sell it?

BreckenridgeCruiser · 11-07-09, 11:59 AM

what is your build date?

The 2b in the 44 was a mishmash of the B and 3B. 1981 was a changeup year and some of the parts were b and some were 3b. An example of this is that there are 2 different water pumps on 1981 BJ44s. One has the upper rad hose coming from the one side and the 3b one has it coming from the other. I got lucky as my rig seems to have almost all of the later 3b stuff and none of the B stuff on it, so parts are easier.

I'd be interested t see how your swap goes as my engine has a bunch of issue that i am working on and have always been keeping the option of getting a 3b to drop in after a rebuild to solve them ;-)

Dieseler · 11-07-09, 01:22 PM

Should be a simple swap I am more fortunate since my 44 is a 82 with all the same external parts as the 3Bs have,super glow,alt,starter,EDIC are all interchangable.
Steering box no good but the pump is OK you will have to get one from SOR or Aus.
Throttle cable OK since the venturi is the same.

lostmarbles · 11-07-09, 01:23 PM

Your thread title makes it look like your replacing a 3B with a 2B so it might pay to reword it Tobash. - Although I seem to remember that you may be denied access to make that change (so we'll probably have to just live with it).

Edit - That's better - I see you've managed to change it

What donor vehicle did your new 3B come from? .......I think this could make a huge difference.

I think the ideal donor vehicle would be a BJ42 because then I'd expect the enginemounts/clutch/bellhousing/g/boxinputshaft/startermotor/slavecylinder to be identical and for you to have a very similar in-line injector pump with EDIC..... And then the only difficulty I'd foresee would probably be a mismatch of the 2B radiator inlet/outlet spigot positions in relation to the corresponding ones on your 3B.

But if the 3B is late model with a rotary/distributor injector pump - I'd expect more work. (And I wouldn't know the real extent of it.)

TOBASH · 11-07-09, 02:18 PM

I will check the build date, but I remember that my water pump is the same as several 3B's Ive seen. It seems to be the exact same as the water pump on this 3B engine as a matter of fact.

The throttle also seems to be similar if not the same.

What build date am I specifically looking for?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreckenridgeCruiser

what is your build date?

The 2b in the 44 was a mishmash of the B and 3B. 1981 was a changeup year and some of the parts were b and some were 3b. An example of this is that there are 2 different water pumps on 1981 BJ44s. One has the upper rad hose coming from the one side and the 3b one has it coming from the other. I got lucky as my rig seems to have almost all of the later 3b stuff and none of the B stuff on it, so parts are easier.

I'd be interested t see how your swap goes as my engine has a bunch of issue that i am working on and have always been keeping the option of getting a 3b to drop in after a rebuild to solve them ;-)

BreckenridgeCruiser · 11-09-09, 02:07 AM

The build date will let me pinpoint the setup you have based on how far along the parts changes you rig is. You can also send me the vin as this is more accurate. mine ends in 2769 so if yours is greater than this, then you should have most of the post 81 updates inlcuding the superglow and such listed in the thread above. One quick thing si does your rig have the panel style dash with the silver dask cover plate? Another check is to see if your rad hose comes from the RHD passenger side of the rad to the water pump.

If so, you should be in good shape, if not you may need to find a few things to make sure the new engine will bolt up to the rad and othe things.

amaurer · 11-09-09, 11:15 AM

The water pumps are all the same, only the thermostat housing is different. My 9/81 built truck has the right-pointing Tstat. My friend's 11/81 built truck has it pointing left.