V6 *Broken* Bighorn... newest 4WD Stuff family member

[SupraLux]

Well, don't know what I was thinking, but in order to replace the Bighorn which blew up on the Waimak bridge at 100mk/h the other day I have bought another broken Isuzu... the mid-90's shape 5-door with a dead 3.2V6 in it.

I'll take some photos of it, but it looks like the passenger side camshaft pulley has fatuiged and just fallen apart, so I am assuming bent valves and possibly some head work required.

What I've got planned is this:

a: rebuild the broken head, get it running and see how the power is

b: if its good, oput it in the MU and move the 3.1 to the Hilux, put a lexus in the later bighorn with a sas for the wife to go shopping in

c: If its average then sell it... its got a reg and wof on it!

d: regardless, I have a 2.8TD bighorn with a dead donk to sell/part out. Anyone need anything? Looking at putting the hairdryer and air-squisher on the MU in the short term, as the MU is not intercooled and the turbo is a bit dodgy.

Does anyone have any experience with the 3.2V6? what am I likely to be looking at cost and problems wise? Am I wasting my time and should I just junk the motor and get on with the repowering and SASing of it? Rancho have released some filthy long coilover shocks in the US... once I get pricing on those I might be giong to do something stupid

Steve

[Rangielux]

An old workmate of mine spent some time swinging spanners in a Sydney GM dealer in the mid 90s and once told me he spent alot of that time working on the Isuzu V6. Head/valve train being the main problem area . Dont want to put you off just thought it could be usefull info.

About the spare bighorn Steve, does it have rear disc brake with handbrake in the caliper (not internal shoes). I need to do a couple of rear disc conversions to hilux's and want to retain the h/brake function at the disc also(and thought trooper/bighorn discs could be a good donor). doable or not? your thoughts? - Cheeers Alan.

[SupraLux]

Thanks for the info... I guess I'll find out, since I own it now anyway

I have some information that these are revvy motors not torquey so it might be no good for what I want anyway... still if I can fix the motor then I can always just sell it as a going concern... the rest of the truck is pretty darn tidy.

As for the 2.8, yes they do have the calipers with the mechanical handbrake, but I was warned off them as being too unreliable - there are some that I have used that seem to be pretty good... I've PMd you some details...

Steve

[truka]

hi mate if you decide not to go ahead with repairs i would be happy to take the auto trans off your hands..

[turoa]

hi mate if you decide not to go ahead with repairs i would be happy to take the auto trans off your hands..

umm, this thread was made over 2 years ago

[truka]

when looking for one of these you must live in hope my friend!

[SupraLux]

I hate to dash your hope on the bitter rocks of reality, but the truck is now baked bean tins... although I did sell the trans before it went... so you're doubly out of luck.

I still have wing mirrors, the grille and the seats tho (not recaros), among other small interior parts and electrical fittings.

Steve