Isuzu Diesel to AX15 or R150

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ThePookieBear

ThePookieBear

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Hey guys, I have an '83 Toyo pickup with an Isuzu 4BD1 that has an SAE #3 adapter to ford T18 4 speed. This is the common ford "butterfly" bolt pattern.

What I need is two things, a five speed, and four wheel drive. So I'm looking into getting the Novak adaptor that will work with the AX15, NV3550, R150, etc. I need to keep the 10 spline input shaft that is the same as what the AX15 has. I was wondering what would be cheaper and or easier. This thing is ugly so its just a budget project...

(I need passenger side t-case drop of course)

1- Get an AX15 and swap the ouput shaft and tailhousing out to bolt an RF1A to it. If anyone has any info on what would be entailed in this let me know, and how hard it is. Or...

2- Swap the input shaft from an AX15 into an R150 that is already bolted to the RF1A.

I'd like to have the better 5th gear in the AX15, and I think the AX15's are cheaper than an R150 anyway. But i'm not sure how much work is entailed in swapping out an output shaft and tailhousing to the Toyo t-case bolted up. Any help is appreciated. Thanks guys, Michael.
 
Man, lots of views with no takers. :( The AX15 is basically an R150. Don't make me go to Pirate. ;).
 
swap the tailhousing, it seems the easiest. Pretty sure playing with an input shaft cluster gear swap may negate the better overdrive offered by the AX15.

Also, as a Toyota puritan, I must make my customary stand against putting a heep transmission in a truck, even if it's an Aisin gearbox.

Good luck!
 
Ha ha. I had the same reservations. But it is basically a toyota tranny in a Heep. I think I'll just tell people its an R150. Most won't know, then I'll delete this thread when its usefulness runs out. :).

So... would the output shaft need to also be swapped out? Would this entail a transmission tear down?
 
ThePookieBear said:
Ha ha. I had the same reservations. But it is basically a toyota tranny in a Heep. I think I'll just tell people its an R150. Most won't know, then I'll delete this thread when its usefulness runs out. :).

So... would the output shaft need to also be swapped out? Would this entail a transmission tear down?
Click to expand...

I think so, I doubt the heep output shaft would work with an Aisin t-case, but I'm not sure. I'm refraining from bashing the Dana t-case here, because there are those who like to crawl with 'em, and they're pretty much the most respectable part on said heep.
Whatever the case, I think it's the best idea, I'm doubtless there are adapter kits that may go between the two, but IMO most adapters just become a weak-link between the t-case and tranny.
 
Yeah, I don't like using an adaptor. Here though, we'll have to use one. I'd rather just use one. When I do my swap into my landcruiser, I'll be using a ranger overdrive as the adaptor to a FJ60 four speed.
 
ThePookieBear said:
Yeah, I don't like using an adaptor. Here though, we'll have to use one. I'd rather just use one. When I do my swap into my landcruiser, I'll be using a ranger overdrive as the adaptor to a FJ60 four speed.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a nice combo!
Honestly, I think that Ranger's a neat idea, though I'd like to run one in front of an H55F. Yeah, it's already got an overdrive gear, but there are times when I wish I had a step-gear between each gear, for those times when you're puling a hill, and a little too low for third, and too high for second, or when you're stuck behind a Subaru, and going too slow for fifth, and too high for fourth.
 
Okay guys, now I've got an AX15 sitting in the garage. I need to get it to a gear drive toy case. So what do I need...?

I can't quite figure out if the output shaft and tailhousing on the R150F is the same as the R151F, or which of those will bolt up to the gear drive t case. I know it can be done because some people have done it before, but there threads aren't all that clear.
 
I think Marlin produces an adapter for this.
I remember reading somewhere, a guy installing a 2JZGE (non-turbo) into an 85, if you google 2JZ Mini-Truck swap, he may have his still up. I think it was on Pirate. Basically, he tore it all down, and swapped an r154 cluster gear into an ax15 with the r151 output if I recall rightly.
whatever the case, it's likely you will need something between the tranny and the R1AF t-case, as it's radically different than the chain-drive. I'd talk to Marlin about that.
 
Well, I know it was done without an adaptor, but the websites are all fuzzy on it. Just trying to find out how many splines on the output shaft, etc.
 
If you have R151 parts than yes I'm sure it's possible without an adapter... However R151's were only in pickups for 2 years 25 years ago... Marlin makes an adapter because the stock parts are not readily available to do the swap...
 
So if I use the output/tailhousing from an R150 then I can only use the chain drive t-case, not the gear drive one?
 
Cool. Well, as i'm not interested in stacking t-cases or anything I'll probably just go for the R150 t-case. :).
 
Excellent. Yeah, I'll just do that. :0.
 
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