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49 willies jeep - is it possible to fit a Isuzu I mark engine? the early 1.7 or 2.2?

455 Views 11 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  Raven6, 
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Greetings from Oregon. My shop with tractors ( and everthing else ) burned during the fire season. Willies made farm jeeps and a friend gave me a 1949,
along with two engines that both turned out to be dead soldiers. I had an 82 I mark coupe years ago that was a little four cylinder diesel, and it appears they came
in a bunch of other types of equipment. the engine was small, 1.7-8 or 2.2, and might fit easily in the hole.
The size and weight seemed more or less equal, and for my use the little diesel is like the Hotchkiss engine done by the french. Building a L134 is horribly expensive,
while the isuzu, appers to be available for much less. The insurance company, basically gave me a proctology exam, along with the check. I had two tractors, needing both,
and the willies would fit the plan pretty well here. Being somewhat senior, ( 80 ) The issues is fitment with the willies as the bell housing includes the brake peddle and clutch
mount, so the engine needs a mounting plate or something too align the engine and bell housing and the clutch plate etc. This is not my expertise, although I am reasonably
mechanically savvy. Al of my equipment is diesel, part of the reason for my fantasy.
Any possible information is welcome, and I have heard of other types of this swapping business.
With all respect and thanks for any comments or ideas.
Lieutenant Robert Powell
Oregon City, Oregon
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Raven6 said:
Greetings from Oregon. My shop with tractors ( and everthing else ) burned during the fire season. Willies made farm jeeps and a friend gave me a 1949,
along with two engines that both turned out to be dead soldiers. I had an 82 I mark coupe years ago that was a little four cylinder diesel, and it appears they came
in a bunch of other types of equipment. the engine was small, 1.7-8 or 2.2, and might fit easily in the hole.
The size and weight seemed more or less equal, and for my use the little diesel is like the Hotchkiss engine done by the french. Building a L134 is horribly expensive,
while the isuzu, appers to be available for much less. The insurance company, basically gave me a proctology exam, along with the check. I had two tractors, needing both,
and the willies would fit the plan pretty well here. Being somewhat senior, ( 80 ) The issues is fitment with the willies as the bell housing includes the brake peddle and clutch
mount, so the engine needs a mounting plate or something too align the engine and bell housing and the clutch plate etc. This is not my expertise, although I am reasonably
mechanically savvy. Al of my equipment is diesel, part of the reason for my fantasy.
Any possible information is welcome, and I have heard of other types of this swapping business.
With all respect and thanks for any comments or ideas.
Lieutenant Robert Powell
Oregon City, Oregon
Click to expand...
You could use both Isuzu 4FB1 1.8L or its larger brother the Isuzu C223 2.2L; just find an Isuzu diesel pickup transmission with transfer case though you could use the stock Jeep drivctrain and have a bellhousing to fit (the bellhousing though to use were fairly rare in US, in our country there are available and mostly fits Toyota W40/W50 steel-case transmissions).

Using the Isuzu drivetrain though requires you to use a centered rear axle and possibly a different front axle if the transfer case output is on the wrong side.
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Most interesting, and thank you for the reply. With the original L134 being low horsepower, I would be fine with either of the two Isuzu engines. My desire,based on age of vehicle, would rather use the original underworks. The gearbox & transfer case are rebuilt, and not in the fire. No issue there. The key seems, to me, to be that the brake and clutch assembly mount on the willys bell housing on a pivot ball, and across to the inside of the frame on another pivot ball. Do you know the flywheel diameter of either of the two Isuzu engines, as it would be best of course to use the Isuzu starter. This process, is entirely foreign to me, so your thoughts are most important. This bell housing issue confuses me, as the front of course mounts on the motor, but the clutch & brakes mount on the bell housing as well. So personally, it appears the bell housing issue need be the focus. One would need set the willys bell housing on its back and measure depth from trans bolt up to spline into flywheel dimension. Any thoughts? Most generous of you to engage in this conversation. LT
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Raven6 said:
Most interesting, and thank you for the reply. With the original L134 being low horsepower, I would be fine with either of the two Isuzu engines. My desire,based on age of vehicle, would rather use the original underworks. The gearbox & transfer case are rebuilt, and not in the fire. No issue there. The key seems, to me, to be that the brake and clutch assembly mount on the willys bell housing on a pivot ball, and across to the inside of the frame on another pivot ball. Do you know the flywheel diameter of either of the two Isuzu engines, as it would be best of course to use the Isuzu starter. This process, is entirely foreign to me, so your thoughts are most important. This bell housing issue confuses me, as the front of course mounts on the motor, but the clutch & brakes mount on the bell housing as well. So personally, it appears the bell housing issue need be the focus. One would need set the willys bell housing on its back and measure depth from trans bolt up to spline into flywheel dimension. Any thoughts? Most generous of you to engage in this conversation. LT
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Also the issue I had seen that the starter is located on the LH (driver side perception), which may foul stock brake and clutch linkages on the Willys, and Isuzu bellhousings that I knew could be done with cable or hydraulic actuation (and some bellhousings could mount clutch pivot to either left or right of bellhousing).

Most Jeeps here in my country used firewall-mounted brake and clutches (cable or hydraulic).
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This is an example of Toyota W40/W50 tranny and Isuzu light duty pattern bellhousing looks like.

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Amazing. the light duty bell housing, even noting the left hand starter issue, looks promising, as the starter is located higher than some. Not knowing where you reside, time here is 11: 30 Pacific Daylight time. I worry that I am taking up a lot of your time, while in continuning, the possibility of either engine becomes more relevant. This thanks to your expertise. If humanly possible, I would like to use either engine, is the 1.8 smaller of the two by chance? Here in Oregon, I will try to find one of either, while your thoughts continue to be of great relevance. In searching, I will reconnect when I can find a engine of either, take some measurements and check with a known jeep restorer, concerning the "clutch brake issue". Please be well, and thank you for your information so far.
Can I buy the bell housing if the process continues and it appears capable of being done? Comments at your leisure, and I will connect again soon. Lt Powell
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Raven6 said:
Amazing. the light duty bell housing, even noting the left hand starter issue, looks promising, as the starter is located higher than some. Not knowing where you reside, time here is 11: 30 Pacific Daylight time. I worry that I am taking up a lot of your time, while in continuning, the possibility of either engine becomes more relevant. This thanks to your expertise. If humanly possible, I would like to use either engine, is the 1.8 smaller of the two by chance? Here in Oregon, I will try to find one of either, while your thoughts continue to be of great relevance. In searching, I will reconnect when I can find a engine of either, take some measurements and check with a known jeep restorer, concerning the "clutch brake issue". Please be well, and thank you for your information so far.
Can I buy the bell housing if the process continues and it appears capable of being done? Comments at your leisure, and I will connect again soon. Lt Powell
Click to expand...
I would get in touch with a man in other side of town who had done similar swaps with that bellhousing; you could use either engine but I prefer the C223 as its a pushrod motor with timing gears (but weighs around 450#) as opposed with 4FB1 with a timing belt drive (but way lighter, as light as the original L134), though parts of those were getting uncommon especially there in PNW area (Oregon, Washington states).

For clutch size, both uses an 8.5" clutch and uses a diaphragm pressure plate, with few mods for fork and release bearings.

I could secure a bellhousing but it normally costs $150-200 (used) and shipping it to Oregon costs more or less the same (standard freight).
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Discussed this issue with my Willys restorer. He noted that the brake clutch pedal pivot bar mounts on the transfer case, not the bell housing, which is a plus. In calling about, I found three I mark engines for 250.00 each, and probably can make one good one out of the three. The yard said they had been sitting a while, but if complete, diesels are easier to clean up inside I think. My guru, noted also that the left hand starter would probably be ok, as the engine sits forward far enough from the brake clutch throw. Will call the yard in the moring and find out if the three are I marks, or how to tell, have a thought on visual? Were their two engines for the I mark? possibly they are still in cars, who knows. Will chat tomorrow. Where are you? Time differential? Tell tomorrow sometime . This might be a fun headache . LT
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Raven6 said:
Discussed this issue with my Willys restorer. He noted that the brake clutch pedal pivot bar mounts on the transfer case, not the bell housing, which is a plus. In calling about, I found three I mark engines for 250.00 each, and probably can make one good one out of the three. The yard said they had been sitting a while, but if complete, diesels are easier to clean up inside I think. My guru, noted also that the left hand starter would probably be ok, as the engine sits forward far enough from the brake clutch throw. Will call the yard in the moring and find out if the three are I marks, or how to tell, have a thought on visual? Were their two engines for the I mark? possibly they are still in cars, who knows. Will chat tomorrow. Where are you? Time differential? Tell tomorrow sometime . This might be a fun headache . LT
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I dropped a DM for further details on swap, I'm located quite far across the Pacific pond (GMT +8)
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FourSixEast said:
I dropped a DM for further details on swap, I'm located quite far across the Pacific pond (GMT +8)
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WEll, bought the engines, and they are 1.8? the smaller version. Will gin knowledge before I begin asking more questions and I most appreciate the assistance. The jeep is a 1949 JC3A, and this one has the T90 transmission, if that number means anything to you. It is a very common transmission, so who knows. Just giving you a heads up, as
the delivery time is unknown as the distance is 2973 miles. Will commune again when the package lands. Please be well, and again, thank you for your knowledge, and kindness. LT
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The T-90 trans is a 3 speed with wide ratios for a diesel engine. Look for a close ratio 4 speed trans which would be more useful. Same trans/transfer case used in Scouts, so search there, too. A regular truck 4 speed with granny @nd 3 other ratios will not be any advantage.

Ed in CO
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Most generous of you to assist. If I grasp what you are saying. I have both the Transmission and transfer case. I have no concern about restoration. To repeat your info back, a top load four speed, as I would have less issue fabricating front motor mounts and keep the clutch and other operations ( reasonably the same ). Being this is a hail mary so to speak, and just a farm tractor in the end ( 5.36-7 ) rear end etc. My farm shop burned, so I am scrambling, while the L134 engines are more than I can afford.
Kindest of you as at 80 years, and not having done an engine install like this, I wouuld send whisky if I could, thanks, and any more thoughts most welcome.
Lt Robert Powell
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