I've got an old Isuzu Trooper with a 2.2 liter diesel engine that is in a bad way. I like the car but want a different power plant. I've been considering engine swaps but have had a hard time finding something that would work without drastic changes (4bt is too heavy, OM617 is too long with the sump in the wrong spot for diff clearance, Cummins 3.3 would need gearing changes, etc.). Then I started reading about these TDIs...
I think this could be a good swap candidate. The weight is right, I think the gearing in the truck (4.55) could work well. Even stock the torque and HP is better than the Isuzu motor. Plus they seem to actually be fairly attainable. So mainly I'm curious about two things:
Does anyone have the dimensions for these engines? I'm particularly curious about the height. I can't find this information anywhere.
I keep hearing that the performance can be increased quite easily. I'm interested in maybe just a modest improvement. So what gains are we looking at with just having the ECU tuned? Or are we looking at injectors/injection pump mods?
Anyways, just brainstorming. I appreciate any input!
The VW will be a good option, but if you're after much easier fitment I'd be looking at the Isuzu reefer motors. I believe they are related to your C223 and may fit without much hassle. D201 is the model code, direct injection also.
The Isuzu 4JB1T fits very well, even bolts to the same gearbox as the C223, but they are getting rare due to age. The 4JG2 engines are related and bigger displacement but indirect injection so not as desirable.
VW 1.9TDI mounted in a transverse engine bay at its normal 20* tilt, measures 24" tall (bottom of pan to top of valve cover) and 26" deep (behind turbo to ahead of oil filter). Not sure what the width is (timing cover to bellhousing). You can narrow down the depth by modifying turbos, switching to gasser or remote filter mounts etc. Weight is 300 lbs dressed. ALH can run 180hp comfortably with turbo, injectors & tune. Theres more qualified folks than I on here to speak of the tdi. Alcaid, Whitmore etc.
Yeah I've looked into the Isuzu motors. The JDM imports are somewhat expensive for a motor that is likely to have poor parts support. I suppose it could be easier to get parts for the thermoking engine, but I think the RPMs would be wrong and I understand it won't simply bolt on to the transmission even in spite of being an Isuzu motor.
Much as I like the old Isuzu stuff (I liked that C223t!) I got really tired of hunting for parts. Chassis stuff isn't too bad, but engine parts were getting hard to source.
As for fitment the 1.9 sounds like just the right dimensions to get into the Trooper's rather small engine bay. Motor mounts I can fab up easily...transmission I think I could make an adapter plate without too much difficulty, or get a W56 from the junkyard and buy the adapter.
I'm attracted to the 1.9 because it seems that the size and weight are right, and being a high revving engine could possibly work well with the gearing in the truck already. Though from what I've read RPMs would be a bit high with the current 4.56 gears. Right now it turns about 3000 at 65, but I do have a 4.10 diff I can swap in (gotta find one for the front..!).
Anyways, thanks for the input. I'm stuck up here in Alaska for work right now, but the prospect of doing this swap when I get back home for the winter is exciting. This is the first swap candidate that seems really viable to me.
Yeah I've looked into the Isuzu motors. The JDM imports are somewhat expensive for a motor that is likely to have poor parts support. I suppose it could be easier to get parts for the thermoking engine, but I think the RPMs would be wrong and I understand it won't simply bolt on to the transmission even in spite of being an Isuzu motor.
The thermoking motors should use your original bellhousing/flywheel so bolt straight on or close to it. RPM range is about the injection pump. Which can be modified to whatever rpm you wish in much the same way as a M-tdi VW conversion.
So it is all doable. Major difference is the intake is on the other side.
As for fitment the 1.9 sounds like just the right dimensions to get into the Trooper's rather small engine bay. Motor mounts I can fab up easily...transmission I think I could make an adapter plate without too much difficulty, or get a W56 from the junkyard and buy the adapter.
I'm attracted to the 1.9 because it seems that the size and weight are right, and being a high revving engine could possibly work well with the gearing in the truck already. Though from what I've read RPMs would be a bit high with the current 4.56 gears. Right now it turns about 3000 at 65, but I do have a 4.10 diff I can swap in (gotta find one for the front..!).
Anyways, thanks for the input. I'm stuck up here in Alaska for work right now, but the prospect of doing this swap when I get back home for the winter is exciting. This is the first swap candidate that seems really viable to me.
I'll have to have another look at the industrial Isuzu motors. I've heard so much nay saying regarding them before that I haven't given them much consideration, honestly. Plus, just my experiences these last few years trying to get Isuzu parts. However, if the injection pump alone could make the engine more road-able, it might be worthwhile.
Admittedly I'm not well educated on these TDIs yet, but at the moment I'm thinking I would try to get an ECU and harness and retain the electronic pump. From the sound of it it seems I'd just need to send the ECU off to a tuner for immobilizer delete, etc. What I've read so far suggests the wiring can be simplified dramatically. Not too afraid of electronics because I've been poking around in ECM/IDM harnesses at work for years now, though I definitely appreciate the reliability of an all mechanical setup.
Anyways, it's all just speculation and research right now. Still several months before I can do anything about it :/
Admittedly I'm not well educated on these TDIs yet, but at the moment I'm thinking I would try to get an ECU and harness and retain the electronic pump. From the sound of it it seems I'd just need to send the ECU off to a tuner for immobilizer delete, etc. What I've read so far suggests the wiring can be simplified dramatically. Not too afraid of electronics because I've been poking around in ECM/IDM harnesses at work for years now, though I definitely appreciate the reliability of an all mechanical setup.
Anyways, it's all just speculation and research right now. Still several months before I can do anything about it :/
As you've read, an ecu flash and the harness can be cut down to nothing. The wiring is extremely simple and nothing to be afraid of. An ALH of 00-03 is what you want. Tune and nozzles will get you 160/280 at the crank easy.
I understand the thermoking D201 was produced until around 1998. Before then were the indirect injection C series which were a variation of the C223 which you have now. Current Isuzu industrial is an L series which is 2.2 litres and available even to meet tier 4 emissions but I don't know if it was related to the C or D series: http://www.isuzu.co.jp/world/product/industrial/engines/na/t4f_4le2x.html
Whitbread on this forum (and all the VW forums) should be able to tell you what is possible with the ECU on the ALH.
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