Thanks for the heads up Bob. I intend to swap the whole drivetrain, I have the entire truck so I was plannin on using the rad too just to make it easier. I
Mark

I work in a salvage yard & REFUSE to sell an exploder transmission. It's just plain junk. Not designed for the HP & weight of the vehicle.

If you insist, get a FULL rebuild from a reputable shop.

We gave up selling those transmissions after pulling 4 to get 1 good one, even though we tested them before pulling them. Line pressures were in spec.

I would go for the 4.3 swap, as the engine/trans is much healthier & you can find a donor for it cheap.

2.8 would be a waste in my opinion, but the 2.5 5speed & 3.4L might be a go. Just change the head gaskets, as they have issues. Also, before installing any engine, swap out the seals & water pump.

Good luck...

Ed

Thanks Yank. Ive already been on the horn to our tranny shop about the A4LD. I figured while i have it out I might as well do the rebuild. At least ill save on the re&re <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Mark

One thing to consider with the 3.4L swap, if you use an Isuzu bell housing on the A44DL, you can bolt up the 3.4L V-6 to it. My research shows specifically it would need to be a '91-'94 Isuzu pick-up with a 3.1L V-6. Also, a Cadillac 4.1, 4.5, 4.9 V8 or Northstar V8 uses this same bolt pattern.

hmmm, northstar in a montero....

So do I have this right in my head...a 91-94 Isuzu 3.1L automatic transmission bell housing will mount to a mitsubishi km148 automatic?

And don't get too excited with the caddy 4.x liter, cast iron heads sandwiched between an aluminum block and intake IS trouble. I've rebuilt a fair share of them, and you must use GM's special coolant pellets after the rebuild. Essentially stop leak for the anti-freeze. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" /> They do make decent power though!

Ohh Vega horrers revisited, thank golly for new style headgaskets. At least I hope they use metal shim gaskets.

Well, not quite Vega horrors, they did use cast iron piston sleeves and the head gaskets were pretty stout looking. The problem was the head bolts, they are crazy long and the threads are in the very bottom of the block. So you're torquing a steel bolt in aluminum threads. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> I don't know how many times they'd strip and you'd tear down again to heli-coil the block. New bolts are a must!

Wow, that gets the gears cranking in my head. My dad has a complete Northstar engine from a 97 DeVille that he bought to build a sandrail around, but ended up buying a complete sandrail instead. I think it's rated at 275hp stock. Then I go to www.chrfab.com & drool a little bit, thinking about a 450hp Gen I 2 door.

OK so i hogged the tranny out of the exploder on sunday and took it into our tranny shop tuesday. The forward clutches were burnt and the pump gear is worn. 300 bucks later fix em up bumba clot. I'm doin it. Gonna start pullin the engine on the exploder this this weekend but i think i'll get the raider out wheelin a couple of times this year before I immobilize it. I'll keep you guy posted, and definatly take pics.