Nice to see I'm not the only oil burning Canadian.
Check out the 2000 2.8L Isuzu diesel I stuffed into my Grand Cherokee.
The Isuzu performs about the same as the original gas burning 4L at half the fuel consumption!
I'm now slipping a 2001 4L Isuzu into a 1999 Dodge Dakota 4X4 for a shop truck. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

BFN
Randy

Thanks for writing in. Nice conversion! I would have loved to tackle a project like that had time/money allowed.
Did you know that in 1983-1985, a Cherokee was available in Canada with a turbo diesel? It had an 2.1L Renault diesel in it. There was one about 70 kms from my house, though I had never seen it, I called the woman when she advertised it for sale in the local auto seller. 330,000 kms on it, body was "repaired" (from rust) and painted, and she wanted $3500 firm. This was for a 1985, and that was about 3 years ago. I didn't have the money then anyway, even though I thought it was too much. Never heard of it since. The motor would be near impossible to get parts for, I figure.
I just picked up a 12' long utility trailer tonight to haul the Kubota on, so the little diesel will do some more work now. Finding something light enough for the Isuzu to pull, yet strong enough to carry a 1500 lb tractor isn't that easy to locate. But I have one. A little bit of modding and I'll be good to go.
I bet the Cherokee you made would pull this NO problem!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I finally decided to remove the head from the first engine I had in my truck today, and I'm surprised how decent it looked inside. Some burning on the #2 pison crown, but almost no ring ridge at the top of the cylinders. Now I didn't tear the whole thing down as I plan on doing, but for what I saw so far, I'm amazed. It was getting rather weak at the end of it. Well, the engine I replaced it with has almost 500,000 kms on it, and it was noticeably stronger, so what does that say. I'm curious to see what the valves are like. Time will tell.
As for the current engine in the truck, I checked the fuel timing, and it was retarded a bit, so I advanced it a bit past factory setting, but I can't tell any difference, as per the Seat-O-The-Pant meter.
The poor little engine works hard when I haul the tractor around, which isn't often really, so in order to keep from killing it I keep the speed down to around 70km/hr. Much above 80 and it smokes almost constantly. Foot almost to the floor steadily sort of thing. If I was in flat-land country it wouldn't be such a problem. I figure the tractor with attachments and trailer are likely around 2000lbs. Add to that the 3000lbs of the truck, and it's hauling a fair bit of beef. People don't like it when I go this slow on the secondary highways, but too bad for them. There are lots of passing areas so they'll have to use them, it looks like. Besides, I'm only on the road once or twice a month for ¢ hour at a time. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />
I'm going to post whatever else I find with the old engine. If I can ever find parts for it, I may attempt to rebuild her too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Zackery--
Last time I ordered parts from Isuzu I got all of the items I ordered as I always have. Still, I now have a problem as our local dealer has dropped the Isuzu line including parts so now I will have to order them from 200 miles away to get genuine Isuzu parts.

But, Parts America, on line, has a fair number of the engine parts listed. I have not ordered from them so cannot vouch for their performance. I think they would be worth a try though. Here is a link:

http://www.partsamerica.com/

And then, there is JLemond who has supplied parts to others.

Paul

Zackery Mac- I am new to trail talk. I am looking for an Isuzu pup diesel 2.2 normally assperated. I live in Cloverdale California (which is northern ca.). I have searched everywhere in the surrounding area and had luck finding one here locally in the classifieds. However, by the time I could get to the phone it was already gone at 7 am. Do you have any suggestions on how I could get my hands on one? If so please feel free to e-mail me at salmonassult2@aol.com Thanks Noah George.

Hi, and welcome to the board. You've come to a good place full of great people.
For finding a diesel, as far as I know (not too far sometimes <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />), diesels weren't as popular in the US as maybe they were in Canada, so finding a 20 year old truck may be more
difficult. I suggest you place ads in the local papers and Truck Trader type publications under the Want ads. Maybe something to the effect of ; "Wanted: Isuzu pick-up, any year, must be diesel and in running or repairable condition." The repairable condition may just mean that sometimes people can't get the ol' diesel to start and figure it's beyond help, when maybe all it needs are new glowplugs. Who knows.
Placing ads in malls and anywhere else free is an idea also.
Best of luck, I hope this helps. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Don't you just love it when you cause more problems for yourself?
I decided last Monday (Oct.11) to set the pump timing, which was retarded a bit, likely due to the million miles on the belt and probably never been checked since forever....anyway, in the process of trying to get the pump to move, must have pushed on the banjo bolt for the fuel return fitting.
Well, the smell of warm diesel is just as noticable to me as gasoline, so all week it's been getting stronger and stronger. *Sigh. I hate fuel leaks. You can guess where I'm going with this. 10pm last night I happened to be at my father's place, so I grabbed a 17mm socket, and give the bolt a gentle extra bit of torque to snug it down, and BAM!!, it stopped leaking. Really. It wasn't cracked, and didn't break like we all expected.
So where DID I go with this? No where really, just nice for ONCE to have something thought to be a messy repair to be a simple, 10 second fix. I was so amazed I just had to share it with y'all. Besides, a little life in the diesel forum shows we're still alive. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Wait, you mean you can actually spend less than half an hour on your truck and solve a problem??? Did you document this miracle so that others may marvel at your blessing or what?

Seriously, great to hear that it was such a simple solution. It feels good to have one go "right" from time to time doesn't it?

(No ventilator just yet, thanks)
James

Yearly Motor Vehicle Inspection (MVI) was due today (it is a safety inspection due once a year, usually at a repair garage by a licensed mechanic, due a year after the last one, which could fall on any month - for you who don't know what an MVI is).
Had to patch up the body on the truck to be sure it passed. Not about to break in half or anything, it did need some holes repaired. Since I keep the steering parts, brakes, lights, etc. in good working order, the body was the only question in my mind. So I did some welding and patchwork with 22ga. metal. Not pretty, but solid. Come summer I'll replace the front fenders and get proper panels for the rear wheel arches. For those whom have little problem with rust, count yer blessins. I'd love to have a southern rust-free vehicle that's worn out and needs mechanical repairs done. Bolts that actually turn and don't break. Wow. I hate doing body rust repair. I guess that comes from being a mechanic.
Anyway, it passed. $21.28 later, a new sticker in the window. Seems to me the fine here for no MVI is a LOT of $$. Now if I go through a spot inspection, I'm ok, unless it's the DOT spot inspection, in which case thay can take your vehicle off the road then and there, new MVI or not. You have to satisfy their demands for a safe vehicle. This is a way to make sure garages are doing their job also. They can be VERY picky if they want. Good in a way, as it helps keep the dangerous junk off the roads.
MVI's are a pain. I am licensed to check motorcycles and trailers for MVI.

Today I finally fixed something that's been driving me nuts since I bought this truck : the key buzzer! Every time you open the door with a key in it the darn buzzer gives that head-ache-inducing tone that really strikes a nerve. So today I took it apart and disconnected the ground wire from the key switch and now the buzzer only comes on when you first start it for the seatbelt, and if you turn the headlights on without the key on.
It was either that or borrow a buddy's 9mm and solve the problem another way...it can't make a noise with a hole in it! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />