isuzu 4BD1T swap?! (6 Viewers)

[Dougal]

It sounds like maybe the 4BD2T might be the best choice? All help/advice is welcome.
Thanks - Rusty

The 4BD2T is indirect injection. Expect it to be quieter, but also less efficent than a 4BD1T.
There are also an alarming number of new 4BD2T heads on Ebay, if there's that much demand I'd be steering clear.

The 4BD2T exhaust manifold I have also came from a 4BD2T with a cracked head.

Need any more convincing.

 

[rtarh2o]

Transmission for FJ80 swap

Thanks, sounds like the 4BD1T is the way to go. Has anyone put this in an FJ80? Any idea what trans or adapter I am going to need? What about the engine mounts? Someone must have done this. Thanks
Rusty
97 FJ80
78 FJ40

 

[PurpleFJ62]

which one of the two isuzus was intercooled. I have been looking around the net for photos and it looks like the non-intercooled one has the turbo outlet pointing up so it goes over the valve cover. I assume the intercooled engine has the turbo hanging a different way? Sounds like the 4bd2t has some problems. Was it intercooled I believe, and the 4bd1t was not intercooled. Do the manifolds interchange, I would think you could take manifold and turbo and mount on the 4bd1t to make provisions for a fmic a little easier.

 

[astr]

which one of the two isuzus was intercooled. I have been looking around the net for photos and it looks like the non-intercooled one has the turbo outlet pointing up so it goes over the valve cover. I assume the intercooled engine has the turbo hanging a different way? Sounds like the 4bd2t has some problems. Was it intercooled I believe, and the 4bd1t was not intercooled. Do the manifolds interchange, I would think you could take manifold and turbo and mount on the 4bd1t to make provisions for a fmic a little easier.

The 4BD2t was installed in NPR trucks with an intercooler, whereas the 4BD1T was not. The 4BD2T is rated at 135 hp whereas the 4BD1T is rated at 121 hp. I suspect the intercooler to be primarily the reason for the difference in hp. Both engines share the same block. The difference is in the heads and pistons.

The turbochargers are set up almost identically on both engines so you could easily add an intercooler to a 4BD1. If you were to drop a 4BD1T into an NPR that originally had the 4BD2T, the intercooler plumbing would hookj right up - you would only have to turn the turbo housing to line it up with the pipes.

As far as relaibility, I suspect both are about the same. The fact that there are a lot of 4BD2 heads on ebay only means someone has a lot of them for sale. If you notice, none of them ever sell so it would suggest the demand is low.

For those wanting to run WVO, I understand that an IDI setup is more suitable which would suggest selecting a 4BD2T.

Below, are the two turbo setups. The one one the left is the 4BD1T and the one on the right is the 4BD2t with intercooler hooked up. The compressor housing is rotated 90* between the two.

 

[rtarh2o]

Engine Mount

Ok, see if I am thinking correctly. I am trying to get the Isuzu engine to my toyota auto trans. Marks Adapters in Australia sells an adapter to mount a chevy diesel to the land cruiser auto trans. Can I use that with the adapter from isuzu diesel swappers that mates the isuzu engine to the Chevy trans? It seems like the Marks adapter basically makes the trans fit a chevy bolt pattern and I am thinking the Isuzu diesel swappers kit must make the isuzu fit the chevy trans. If this thinking is correct it would seem like it would work?
Thanks
Rusty
97 FJ80
78 Fj40

 

[Dougal]

As far as relaibility, I suspect both are about the same. The fact that there are a lot of 4BD2 heads on ebay only means someone has a lot of them for sale. If you notice, none of them ever sell so it would suggest the demand is low.

The 4BD2T exhaust manifold I have came from a 4BD2T which had cracked it's head.

Manifolds and turbos are completely swappable. Those photos you posted show the latest model turbo on a 4BD1T, which is basically identical to the 4BD2T turbo.
That turbo is a non-wastegated T25 with a T3 mounting flange.

Other 4BD1T's came with wastegated T25's, several other exhaust manifolds exist as well.

 

[astr]

.... Those photos you posted show the latest model turbo on a 4BD1T, which is basically identical to the 4BD2T turbo.
That turbo is a non-wastegated T25 with a T3 mounting flange.

Other 4BD1T's came with wastegated T25's, several other exhaust manifolds exist as well.

The 4BD1T in the photo is dated 8/89 and the 4BD2T is dated 12/93. I expect there were many variations of these engines depending on the country that they were destined for. I know that here in the US, NPR trucks came mostly turboed whereas in Costa Rica, most were not.

 

[PurpleFJ62]

Astr- thanks for the photos, helps to see the 2 set ups. I was at my local machine shop getting some cyl head work done of my own and I figured I would ask some questions about isuzu. They told me they have gotten some in the shop over the years and that they are good engines. Commented that all had over 300,000 miles on them, so apparently they last.

Dougal- I have herd of turbonetics t3 turbos. The tuners use them because they have ball bearings, is this what you are talking about. A diesel with a shiny turbo on it would really be something. I have herd good things about turbonetics b.b. turbos, supposted to spool up much faster. Almost like a supercharger.

Ebay has a few isuzu diesels, but not many. Do you think it would be wise for someone doing this swap to get an entire truck? It sounds like its simple engine, so it there anything you would have to get from the donar vehicle?

 

[ChuckB]

Any reason why one of these 4BD engines would not fit in a 55? Just doing a little dreaming while at work...

 

[PurpleFJ62]

from the pics I have seen a 55 is close to a 60 in terms of size. I see no reason why it would not fit. However I dont have a 55 to take measurments from. Somewhere around here there are dimensions for the engine, go out and see what kind of space you have to work with.

 

[Dougal]

The 4BD1T in the photo is dated 8/89 and the 4BD2T is dated 12/93. I expect there were many variations of these engines depending on the country that they were destined for. I know that here in the US, NPR trucks came mostly turboed whereas in Costa Rica, most were not.

Over here (New Zealand) the 3 ton NPR's originally came with a 3.3L engine, the 4BC2. The 4 ton NPR's had the 3.9 turbo 4BD1T.
Later the 4BC2 in the 3 ton trucks was replaced with the 3.6L 4BE1 engine.

The later 2 ton trucks can come with a 4.3L engine 9(4BG1).

T3 turbos fit on the laters style manifolds (4BD2 type), but be careful when choosing one. Most ricer style turbos have been intended to provide maximum airflow for maximum power on a petrol engine, they will spool up too late for most of our diesels.

Generally speaking diesel turbos have a much smaller A/R turbine housing to better extract energy from the cooler exhaust and to boost low end torque.


While they're a great engine, if I had a toyota I'd be looking for something like a toyota 14BT engine to drop in, just to keep the toyota-ness of it. The 14B is a similar size and format but even more refined, my employer has a couple of work trucks (toyota dyna) fitted with them.

 

[RHINO]

Any reason why one of these 4BD engines would not fit in a 55? Just doing a little dreaming while at work...

fits great under my piggy hood.

 

[88tlc]

isuzu to toyota a440f

Ok, see if I am thinking correctly. I am trying to get the Isuzu engine to my toyota auto trans. Marks Adapters in Australia sells an adapter to mount a chevy diesel to the land cruiser auto trans. Can I use that with the adapter from isuzu diesel swappers that mates the isuzu engine to the Chevy trans? It seems like the Marks adapter basically makes the trans fit a chevy bolt pattern and I am thinking the Isuzu diesel swappers kit must make the isuzu fit the chevy trans. If this thinking is correct it would seem like it would work?
Thanks
Rusty
97 FJ80
78 Fj40

I do not think you can use two adapters. if its a new bellhousing, to an adapter you may be in business. I pursued the option of the isuzu to gm adapter (isuzu swapper), then a gm to toyota adapter (marks). Both in fact are plates, so they are designed with a flywheel spacer, and with the plates, which will not bolt up. still would like to find a way!

 

[88tlc]

4bd1t reliability

As far as relaibility, I suspect both are about the same. The fact that there are a lot of 4BD2 heads on ebay only means someone has a lot of them for sale. If you notice, none of them ever sell so it would suggest the demand is low.

For those wanting to run WVO, I understand that an IDI setup is more suitable which would suggest selecting a 4BD2T.

I have a 4bd1t, that was supposed to be rebuilt, and was in fact ran hot, or ran with out oil or lord knows what. so in the process of rebuilding the head, and regrinding the crank, I have chatted with some people at the machining house here in Utah, Clegg machining. they see the 4bd2T with cracked heads a lot, they never see a 4bd1t head cracked.

also regarding the wvo, direct injection works great with WVO on my cummins diesel. why would it not work on the 4bd1t?

the mechanical injection pumps are also better with WVO.

 

[88tlc]

Dougal - your lucky that you live in a country that allows toyota diesel engines! and no predators!

 

[bram]

Hell Yeah RHINO! Nice Work!

 

[RHINO]

thanks bram, i cant wait to drive it !!

i have a lazy excuse of a build thread going in the 55 section title "enough talk !!"

 

[Dougal]

Dougal - your lucky that you live in a country that allows toyota diesel engines! and no predators!

Yeah I know.

Does someone want to get me some real measurements for the front end of the relevant toyota gearboxes. I have large chunks of my 4BD1T drawn up in solidworks, making a toyota box fit can't be that hard.

 

[bram]

Thats what I've been working on. I have my bellhousing in a CMM right now. Then a toyota one after that.

 

[astr]

I have a 4bd1t, that was supposed to be rebuilt, and was in fact ran hot, or ran with out oil or lord knows what. so in the process of rebuilding the head, and regrinding the crank, I have chatted with some people at the machining house here in Utah, Clegg machining. they see the 4bd2T with cracked heads a lot, they never see a 4bd1t head cracked..

It may very well be true. I have very limited experience with both engines. I would rely more on a machine shop's experience than the number of ebay ads for heads as an indicator of reliability. I have a 4BD2T that has low compression in one cylinder but have to yet pulled the head to see what is wrong. It could be a cracked head but I suspect it is a piston or ring or head gasket problem. I'll pull it after I'm finished with the 4BD1.

also regarding the wvo, direct injection works great with WVO on my cummins diesel. why would it not work on the 4bd1t?

the mechanical injection pumps are also better with WVO.

I had read somewhere that IDI was better than DI for WVO, but I have no personal experience. I may be guilty of perpetuating a myth.

Regarding your engine overheating: The 4BD1 that I have has two partially melted pistons and the PO told me that it happened on a hot summer day in the mountains of TN with a full load. It overheated, blew out coolant (head gasket) and never ran right after that. I pulled the head and discovered the bad pistons.

According to the FSM for the 4HE1, which superceded the 4BD1/2, one of the functions the ECM performs is to reduce the amount of fuel delivered by the injection pump when the coolant temp gets high. This looks to me to be an attempt by Isuzu to address the problem that my 4BD1 experienced and maybe yours also.