Isuzu/gm 3.1/2.8 similarites?

[Zach90z24]

Does anyone have experience with the 2.8's or 3.1's equipped in early 90's isuzu rodeos, pickups,and troopers? I'm curious as to how similar the blocks are. Theoretically if a guy can virtually drop a gen 3 3400 in place of the 3.1 in the fwd cavaliers,how different would it be in. 4wd pickup. I assume a custom front mount new hoses, ect. But would wiring harness work? Clearance issues for retaining 4wd or are the blocks that similar. And lastly I highly doubt its got a the same memcal definition as the a$(I think?) in cavaliers. But could it still be tuned and/or could a differemt memcal be swapped in? Just a bit of a pipe dream at the moment but I got 3 isuzu p/u in the boneyard so to speak. Just thought it'd make a neat lil 4x4 with a 3450 in her with maybe that mpg/torque cam from wot

[geoffinbc]

An Isuzu engine block is a FWD block from say a 90~92 car/van. The heads are iron like an S-10 and so is the whole accessory drive system and fuel system. So the starter is on the drivers side and the flyqheel/flexplate and starter is from a FWD car.

I THINK a couple of the engine mount holes will like up but don't quote me. The good news is the starter is on the right side. Physically the engine will fit quite easily. If you want the aluminum top end then your going to have to work out all the EFI tidbits. Good news is you can flip the intake around and have the TB up front. But some of the accessories will get in the way on the FWD setup but you can modify the RWD stuff to mount to the FWD block.

[Zach90z24]

Yeah I suppose a new fuel pump would be necessary as well, I'd like to go the full efi route. Otherwise I'd just find like a camaro 3.4 but the 3400 just seems to be such a smooth running motor with decent upgrade potential

[Canyonero]

I've done the iron head 3.4L SFI in my Trooper for a time. I made it work, but not everything fits how you'd like it to. I reverted back to TBI last fall. SFI feels better to drive, but TBI is an easier fit.

I have about everything to make a 3.4/3400 hybrid, short of a spare 3.4L block to work with. But I think my time might be better spent working out the motor mounts to install a native 3400 block.

I had done some measuring and visual comparison, took some pics and borrowed some pics as well:

http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk185/Red0ktober/Trooper%203x00%20Swap/