Adding a new 660 to the stable.

[geoffinbc]

Well I am on the lookout for a new vehicle for offroad and camping use. I have narrowed my search to an 88 to 91 Isuzu Trooper. It has a rear axle stronger than a D44 and is a dropout style axle which also makes it a full floater. The front is IFS which I actually prefer since I will be logging more road miles than off road. But the center section is an iron case and is also a dropout style which makes it far stronger than what came in the S-10's. The trooper is also large enough to haul my camping junk inside keeping it dry and also let me sleep inside so I don't have to pack a tent. And the best thing of all the Trooper packs a 2.8L Chev V6.

So with my search narrowed here are my plans. I got a location on one with a great body but tired, yet still running, engine. So the price is a very reasonable $850. I have a 3.1L crank in my shed than came out of my buddies old 3.1L Cavalier. So I plan to stroke it and overbore it. That should get me up to a 3.2L. The cam will be a stump puller. Something with a 500 to 4500RPM range. The iron heads will stay on with just a gasket match. The TBI will also stay but will be upgraded to 4.3L size. The slightly larger engine should just require a boost in fuel pressure. But if someone has the ability to do some calculations on fuel requirements I would be interested. I run 4.3L injectors on my current 3.4L and I can wind it out to 5500RPM with no lean spots. However this is with lower than stock pressure. So I am thinking that a 3.2L with a low duration cam and a descent boost in fuel pressure on the stock injectors will be sufficient. The cam will require new springs of course and I am looking at some off the shelf LS1 springs. But in order to retain them I think I will need the COMP retainers designed to fit beehive springs to GM Vortec heads which used the older 11/32 stem size. Is anyone able to confirm this? Now with the new springs I will not be able to use the exhaust valve oil shield. Good riddance since the damn things add a good bit of weight to the retainer system. So is there a way to install a stem seal on the exhaust valve of the iron heads? I am thinking the material if the intake stem seal will not handle the heat. I thought at one time I read there was a Fel Pro seal for this application. Is anyone aware of such a beast?

I will have this engine torn apart from top to bottom so if anyone has some leads on cheep DOHC windage trays or any other goodies I will be glad to scoop them up. This will be a budget build with a very specific goal of big low end torque and reliability. I never want to be stranded off road

Hope you guys can shed some light on these questions. Thanks and remember iron heads will never die!!!

[Superdave]

remember iron heads will never die!!!

They should


Sounds like a fun project, good luck!

[geoffinbc]

Well one thing they do have is good port velocity at low lift. It helps with the motor I am trying to build. They do suck for max horsepower and efficiency though. I would rather have the splayed valves and fast burn combustion chambers. But like I said "budget build"

I just hope to get some answers to the questions I have. Once I get the truck I want to have the engine in and out within a week. I have good connections to parts suppliers, dealer included, and machine shops. So I should be able to make it happen.

[sharkey]

i do have a set of iron heads for sale. my dad spent 20 hours porting them, they have si valves, comp springs, locks retainers. one head is fresh, the other needs a couple guides. if your interested lemme know. i also got a crap load of other ironhead stuff.

[geoffinbc]

Cool. Well I will let you know when the engine is out.

[geoffinbc]

Well I picked it up tonight. The guy said the engine was tired but it really isn't that bad. There isn't a spot of rust and hardly a ding on it. I lucked out too it has the factory 4.77:1 gears and limited slip. Can't believe I only paid $850. The only bad thing about it was he smoked a pipe inside. So I'm gutting the interior this weekend and washing it top to bottom to get rid of the tobacco smell. But for the price I paid I will do it with a smile.

Pics will come soon.

[IsaacHayes]

Cool. Sharkey's stuff could make for one interesting ride!

[SappySE107]

From pics, I dunno if the iron heads beat the 3500 for port velocity.

[El_Diablo]

i deliver pizza.... can never get that smell out... i have like 3 air fresheners in my car, 2 of them by the passenger seat, atleast i can make $20+ and hour though, makes it all worth it

sounds like a fun project though, i would love to have something like it, now your giving me ideas, lol

[geoffinbc]

Yea it is a pretty sweet rig when you look at how it was all built. No wonder the Aussies go crazy over them. A lot of little feature that make it great for an off roader. So far no fun stuff has happened. Just some minor maintenance stuff. It was loosing oil faster than I could add it LOL. In 3 days it went through about 3L. I knew it was the distributor O-Ring so I got the parts yesterday and changed it a few hours ago. All is well. Now it needs a major engine wash. I also removed all the carpet in the back. The floor will get a coat of bed liner soon. I have been all through the vehicle from front to back and still cannot see a spot of rust. I lucked out big time I am still amazed. I should go get a lottery ticket.