Isuzu SUV Forum banner

RE: Isuzu Amigo 2.2 Engine Swap HELP! Thank You

1 reading
33K views 62 replies 15 participants last post by  MikeDTuning  
#1 ·
Hi new to the forum . I recently purchased a 1998 Isuzu Amigo with a 2.2L-4 cylinder- Five speed standard shift- 2wd. I have had it about a month and its been driving great. Until yesterday I flushed all the fluids( Axle , Tranny, Engine, Power Steering etc). Long story short we took it for its first road trip about 130 miles and the engine over heated ( lying gauge). I had it towed back to the house and I have diagnosed the worst issue... Pulled the plug and piston moves freely in the 1st cylinder 0 compression... First cylinder the rod snapped ( Checked the timing still good etc). Rather than ripping into the engine, What engines will direct bolt to this transmission. I believe it is a 60 deg GM bolt pattern but not sure. Any info would be highly appreciated.... Thank you!

-Nick-
 
#2 ·
Almost positive that the 2.2 has it's own tranny, and if you go with a 3.2 you need to get it with the tranny and all associated wiring and also the ECM. Bummer, big time engine failure. At least with the 2 wheel drive it should be easier.
 
  • Like
Reactions: xenon213
#5 ·
The 2.2 is a Daewoo engine made in Korea. I'm thinking along the lines of the previous poster that the trans is proprietary to the Daewoo engine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: xenon213
#6 ·
I don't know of any Isuzu manual trannys with removable bell housings. Technically, it's illegal to swap an older engine into a newer vehicle unless you are able to transfer all the emissions equipment to the engine. There are some areas where you can get away with it due to no inspections, but if inspections do come, you're stuck. The only really practical way to do a swap is to have a fairly complete donor vehicle of the same or newer year. There are a few here ho have successfully repaired their 2.2 engines. I do understand that yours may be beyond repair, so if that is the case, I would look into either a direct replacement engine / block (other Daewoo vehicles?) or a reasonable parts vehicle to do a swap. Sorry I don't have better news to share. Dennis
 
  • Like
Reactions: xenon213
#7 ·
I don't want to say "no you're wrong", I only know what I've seen with my '98 with the 2.2. I'm pretty sure the motor is GM, based on the "GM" cast into the side of the block. According to the owners manual the trans used in the 2wd models is a Borg Warner gear box not sure about the bell housing. The 4wd models use a MUA5 trans with an integral bell housing.
As for what bolts is direct bolt-in, I'm still trying to sort that out. Good luck though!
 
#8 ·
Pictures please. Folks get confused. Here's a couple of reasons. Early Rodeos came with an Isuzu 4 cylinder, or a GM V-6 engine. GM makes the Isuzu Hombre pickup truck. It has a GM 2.2 liter engine (available). It is basically a GM S-10 that says Isuzu all over it. Many folks prefer the older "real" Isuzu pickups. Isuzu Rodeos were available with a Daewoo 2.2 liter engine. It had a double overhead cam. It is not made by GM. I've seen the Daewoo engines, and I've seen the GM 2.2 engines. Thy are not the same engine. The GM isn't even an OHC engine. If you have a 1998 & up Rodeo OHC engine that says "GM" on it somewhere, the "GM" does not stand for General Motors. I do believe that the GM 2.2 liter 4 cylinder engine shares the same bell housing shape as the older GM 60 degree V-6s. I don't know or care what transmission a 1998 & up 4 cylinder Rodeo has. If, by chance it resembles the GM 60 degree bell housing shape, good luck with it.
As I said in my earlier post: I don't know of an Isuzu manual transmission with a removable bell housing. The other thing I said was I don't recommend trying to swap older engines into newer vehicles. There was a guy on here a while back who was trying to sell a 1997 Rodeo that had a GM 2.2 4 cylinder swapped into it. It was a pieced together set up. Dennis
 
  • Like
Reactions: xenon213
#9 ·
amigozilla said:
I don't want to say "no you're wrong", I only know what I've seen with my '98 with the 2.2. I'm pretty sure the motor is GM, based on the "GM" cast into the side of the block. According to the owners manual the trans used in the 2wd models is a Borg Warner gear box not sure about the bell housing. The 4wd models use a MUA5 trans with an integral bell housing.
As for what bolts is direct bolt-in, I'm still trying to sort that out. Good luck though!
OK , THE TRANS IS A BORG WARNER 5 SPD , THE ENG IS A GM SOURCED ENG FROM AUSTRALIA, USED BY DAIEWOO, MANUFACTURED BY HOLDEN, AND WAS BUILT IN ABOUT 3 DIFF SIZES , NONE WORTH A DAM, IT DOES HAVE A REMOVE ABLE BELL HOUSING , BUT ONLY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS , AND THEN ISUZU WENT TO THE MUA WHICH AS DENNIS MENTIONED DOES NOT HAVE A REMOVE ABLE BELL HOUSING EVEN IN THE 4CYL TRUCKS , THE BORG .WAS JUST TOO TROUBLE SOME, AND NEVER SHIFTED AS GOOD OR SMOOTH AS THE MUA.
BUT YOU NEED AN ENG, THERE IS REALLY NOTHING OUT THERE THAT WILL BOLT RIGHT UP WITH OUT A LOT OF WORK, AND A TON OF WIRING

THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION WOULD BE TO FIND A 2.6 GAS ENG FROM 93-95 FROMA 2WD RODEO , THEY ALL SO USED THE SAME BORG WARNER TRANS , YOU WILL NEED TO GET THE CORRECT BELL HOUSING , WHICH WILL FIT YOUR TRANS, USE THE ENTIRE 2.6 CLUTCH AND STARTER FLYWHEEL SETUP.
CONVERT THE ENG OVER TO A 2.3 CARB SETUP AND YOU WARE READY TO GO, BUT THE FUN BEGINS WHEN YOU START TO ATTACH THE A.C SYSTEM AND THE PWR STEERING SETUP.

OR TRY AND LOCATE A 98 OR LATER RODEO AND PULL THE ENTIRE ENG AND TRANS AND THE WIRING FORM THE BODY AND THE ENG COMPART MENT AND DOA COMPLETE SWAP, IT WILL BE ABOUT 90 % BOLT IN AND YOU WILL HAVE A MUCH NICER VEH.
 
#10 ·
JLEMOND said:
amigozilla said:
THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION WOULD BE TO FIND A 2.6 GAS ENG FROM 93-95 FROMA 2WD RODEO , THEY ALL SO USED THE SAME BORG WARNER TRANS , YOU WILL NEED TO GET THE CORRECT BELL HOUSING , WHICH WILL FIT YOUR TRANS, USE THE ENTIRE 2.6 CLUTCH AND STARTER FLYWHEEL SETUP.
CONVERT THE ENG OVER TO A 2.3 CARB SETUP AND YOU WARE READY TO GO, BUT THE FUN BEGINS WHEN YOU START TO ATTACH THE A.C SYSTEM AND THE PWR STEERING SETUP.

OR TRY AND LOCATE A 98 OR LATER RODEO AND PULL THE ENTIRE ENG AND TRANS AND THE WIRING FORM THE BODY AND THE ENG COMPART MENT AND DOA COMPLETE SWAP, IT WILL BE ABOUT 90 % BOLT IN AND YOU WILL HAVE A MUCH NICER VEH.
If you're in a state where you have to go through inspections, then bolting in an earlier engine may be problematic. Most states frown on older engines installed into newer vehicles! Check your local state regulations.

HTH,

GB
 
  • Like
Reactions: xenon213
#11 ·
I stand corrected by Jerry. I have one word for this: Aardvark. I agree with the V-6 swap idea. Dennis
 
  • Like
Reactions: xenon213
#12 ·
Some of you guys were requesting pictures these are some I snapped, let me know if these help Thank you all again . Nick
 

Attachments

#13 ·
itsmehb said:
Almost positive that the 2.2 has it's own tranny, and if you go with a 3.2 you need to get it with the tranny and all associated wiring and also the ECM. Bummer, big time engine failure. At least with the 2 wheel drive it should be easier.
I have been looking around through a bunch of listings to see if I can find another 2.2 but I'm trying not to have to pull the transmission if I can avoid it. Yeah its kind of a bummer it was a nice ride didn't see it coming. The 2wd is very open plenty of room depending on the engine swap atleast
 
#15 ·
DSUZU said:
I don't know of any Isuzu manual trannys with removable bell housings. Technically, it's illegal to swap an older engine into a newer vehicle unless you are able to transfer all the emissions equipment to the engine. There are some areas where you can get away with it due to no inspections, but if inspections do come, you're stuck. The only really practical way to do a swap is to have a fairly complete donor vehicle of the same or newer year. There are a few here ho have successfully repaired their 2.2 engines. I do understand that yours may be beyond repair, so if that is the case, I would look into either a direct replacement engine / block (other Daewoo vehicles?) or a reasonable parts vehicle to do a swap. Sorry I don't have better news to share. Dennis
I am not sure that the transmission is an Isuzu unit. Someone said below that it may be a Borg Warner unit either way the bellhousing appears to be removeable. Ohio is very lenient when it comes to inspection. When we bring a vehicle in the most I've seen done ( Unless it is a salvage/Rebuilt) is they check to make sure the VIN on the vehicle is the same as on the title. The reason I mentioned the Chevy LUV above with the 1.9 is I found one close to me for a reasonable price , my brother has an S10 with the engine and the bellhousing looks close but I'm not 100% sure he hasnt stayed long enough for me to check it out. I have done engine swaps in the past just never in an Isuzu. I would repair the engine and it was what I was thinking since the engine made such good compression (almost 180psi per cylinder) but i removed the air conditioning pump and there is a hole in the block. I appreciate the help however
 
#16 ·
amigozilla said:
I don't want to say "no you're wrong", I only know what I've seen with my '98 with the 2.2. I'm pretty sure the motor is GM, based on the "GM" cast into the side of the block. According to the owners manual the trans used in the 2wd models is a Borg Warner gear box not sure about the bell housing. The 4wd models use a MUA5 trans with an integral bell housing.
As for what bolts is direct bolt-in, I'm still trying to sort that out. Good luck though!
I did notice that once I had the engine apart that it was cast with GM stampings all over the block. My assumption which may be wrong was that it may have been a GM block fitted with the DOHC head from the Daewoo/Isuzu. Im going to need the luck however ! Gives me a chance to experiment, I have thoughts of a diesel if I end up gutting the tranny as well.
 
#17 ·
DSUZU said:
Pictures please. Folks get confused. Here's a couple of reasons. Early Rodeos came with an Isuzu 4 cylinder, or a GM V-6 engine. GM makes the Isuzu Hombre pickup truck. It has a GM 2.2 liter engine (available). It is basically a GM S-10 that says Isuzu all over it. Many folks prefer the older "real" Isuzu pickups. Isuzu Rodeos were available with a Daewoo 2.2 liter engine. It had a double overhead cam. It is not made by GM. I've seen the Daewoo engines, and I've seen the GM 2.2 engines. Thy are not the same engine. The GM isn't even an OHC engine. If you have a 1998 & up Rodeo OHC engine that says "GM" on it somewhere, the "GM" does not stand for General Motors. I do believe that the GM 2.2 liter 4 cylinder engine shares the same bell housing shape as the older GM 60 degree V-6s. I don't know or care what transmission a 1998 & up 4 cylinder Rodeo has. If, by chance it resembles the GM 60 degree bell housing shape, good luck with it.
As I said in my earlier post: I don't know of an Isuzu manual transmission with a removable bell housing. The other thing I said was I don't recommend trying to swap older engines into newer vehicles. There was a guy on here a while back who was trying to sell a 1997 Rodeo that had a GM 2.2 4 cylinder swapped into it. It was a pieced together set up. Dennis
I have posted some photos that I think may help to clear up some confusion. I had thought about the 2.2 GM engines like in the S10's but have never looked at one to know that they were not the same. I am not sure of the transmission but it does appear that it has a removable bellhousing and that if something else used that tranny I may be able to just swap bellhousing and engine into the amigo.. I have swapped engines before and the worst of it is the wiring which becomes tedious making the gauges etc work. But i plan to transfer as many of the sensor components as possible to the new donor engine to keep the computer happy. I have no intentions of piecing it together just to make it a reliable vehicle as it once was. Thank you for your info though as some of this was new to me
 
#18 ·
JLEMOND said:
amigozilla said:
I don't want to say "no you're wrong", I only know what I've seen with my '98 with the 2.2. I'm pretty sure the motor is GM, based on the "GM" cast into the side of the block. According to the owners manual the trans used in the 2wd models is a Borg Warner gear box not sure about the bell housing. The 4wd models use a MUA5 trans with an integral bell housing.
As for what bolts is direct bolt-in, I'm still trying to sort that out. Good luck though!
OK , THE TRANS IS A BORG WARNER 5 SPD , THE ENG IS A GM SOURCED ENG FROM AUSTRALIA, USED BY DAIEWOO, MANUFACTURED BY HOLDEN, AND WAS BUILT IN ABOUT 3 DIFF SIZES , NONE WORTH A DAM, IT DOES HAVE A REMOVE ABLE BELL HOUSING , BUT ONLY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS , AND THEN ISUZU WENT TO THE MUA WHICH AS DENNIS MENTIONED DOES NOT HAVE A REMOVE ABLE BELL HOUSING EVEN IN THE 4CYL TRUCKS , THE BORG .WAS JUST TOO TROUBLE SOME, AND NEVER SHIFTED AS GOOD OR SMOOTH AS THE MUA.
BUT YOU NEED AN ENG, THERE IS REALLY NOTHING OUT THERE THAT WILL BOLT RIGHT UP WITH OUT A LOT OF WORK, AND A TON OF WIRING

THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION WOULD BE TO FIND A 2.6 GAS ENG FROM 93-95 FROMA 2WD RODEO , THEY ALL SO USED THE SAME BORG WARNER TRANS , YOU WILL NEED TO GET THE CORRECT BELL HOUSING , WHICH WILL FIT YOUR TRANS, USE THE ENTIRE 2.6 CLUTCH AND STARTER FLYWHEEL SETUP.
CONVERT THE ENG OVER TO A 2.3 CARB SETUP AND YOU WARE READY TO GO, BUT THE FUN BEGINS WHEN YOU START TO ATTACH THE A.C SYSTEM AND THE PWR STEERING SETUP.

OR TRY AND LOCATE A 98 OR LATER RODEO AND PULL THE ENTIRE ENG AND TRANS AND THE WIRING FORM THE BODY AND THE ENG COMPART MENT AND DOA COMPLETE SWAP, IT WILL BE ABOUT 90 % BOLT IN AND YOU WILL HAVE A MUCH NICER VEH.
I appreciate the information and I will try to look into finding those components. My problem becomes is Isuzu's of really any kind are slim picking around where I live in Ohio and I'm just trying to gather as much info as possible. A carb setup would be nice and would eliminate alot of the "junk" from the EFI but I would have to look into it further
 
#19 ·
If you're in a state where you have to go through inspections, then bolting in an earlier engine may be problematic. Most states frown on older engines installed into newer vehicles! Check your local state regulations.

HTH,

GB[/quote]

Like I said above inspections are not really my worry here in Ohio. I do realize in other states this is a very real concern however Ohio does not really look into it. Generally unless its a salvage your free to swap to your hearts content as long as the VIN matches.
 
#21 ·
DSUZU said:
I stand corrected by Jerry. I have one word for this: Aardvark. I agree with the V-6 swap idea. Dennis
V6 is a very possible solution if I can find a donor vehicle. The only thing I liked about the 4 cyl was the fuel mileage atleast with my own personal driving was about 27. I'd like to put something in it to keep the fuel mileage up as it was a commuter vehicle. Anyone have an opinion on the 2.2L diesel like in the Chevy LUV as I have found a donor with one of those 4wd standard shift?
 
#22 ·
xenon213 said:
DSUZU said:
I stand corrected by Jerry. I have one word for this: Aardvark. I agree with the V-6 swap idea. Dennis
V6 is a very possible solution if I can find a donor vehicle. The only thing I liked about the 4 cyl was the fuel mileage atleast with my own personal driving was about 27. I'd like to put something in it to keep the fuel mileage up as it was a commuter vehicle. Anyone have an opinion on the 2.2L diesel like in the Chevy LUV as I have found a donor with one of those 4wd standard shift?
WELL IF YOU COULD FIND AN OLD S 10 DIESEL BELL HOUSING , THEY CAME WITH THE REMOVE ABLE BELL HOUSING BECAUSE THEY USED ALL SO THE B/W 4SPD , SO IT SHOULD BOLT TO YOUR TRANS, AND YOUR TRANS DOES USE THE STANDARD ISUZU INPUT SHAFT SIZE 1 I BUY 24 TOOTH . BUT
REMEMBER THAT DIESEL WAS USED INA VEH ABOUT 600 LB,S LIGHTER THAN THE AMEIGO AND WAS ONLY 60 HP. HAS ALL READY BEEN DONE ON THE LATER PICKUPS. AND WORKS JUST FINE , BUT IS VERY UNDER POWERED . IT IS NOT A HIGH REVING ENG. 4400 MAX

THAT IS A GORGEOUS AMIEGO , LOVE THE RED
 
#24 ·
WELL IF YOU COULD FIND AN OLD S 10 DIESEL BELL HOUSING , THEY CAME WITH THE REMOVE ABLE BELL HOUSING BECAUSE THEY USED ALL SO THE B/W 4SPD , SO IT SHOULD BOLT TO YOUR TRANS, AND YOUR TRANS DOES USE THE STANDARD ISUZU INPUT SHAFT SIZE 1 I BUY 24 TOOTH . BUT
REMEMBER THAT DIESEL WAS USED INA VEH ABOUT 600 LB,S LIGHTER THAN THE AMEIGO AND WAS ONLY 60 HP. HAS ALL READY BEEN DONE ON THE LATER PICKUPS. AND WORKS JUST FINE , BUT IS VERY UNDER POWERED . IT IS NOT A HIGH REVING ENG. 4400 MAX

THAT IS A GORGEOUS AMIEGO , LOVE THE RED[/quote]

So what your saying is that I need a S10 bellhousing that the LUV one wont work ? I found the LUV the only reason being. I assumed it would be a little weak but I wonder what the fuel savings would be.
Thank you! I love the look of the car and the red it really is a nice vehicle just a shame the engine went.
 
#25 ·
I also have a friend who has a rebuilt 3.9 4bt Cummins engine sitting however with the weight of that engine and the torque I am not sure the amigo could take the abuse. But if I end up tearing into it is an option that would make a very unique ride, and me and my father are both engineers by trade so hopefully we could figure it out. But for now I'd like to stick with easier swaps if I can :D
 
#26 ·
xenon213 said:
WELL IF YOU COULD FIND AN OLD S 10 DIESEL BELL HOUSING , THEY CAME WITH THE REMOVE ABLE BELL HOUSING BECAUSE THEY USED ALL SO THE B/W 4SPD , SO IT SHOULD BOLT TO YOUR TRANS, AND YOUR TRANS DOES USE THE STANDARD ISUZU INPUT SHAFT SIZE 1 I BUY 24 TOOTH . BUT
REMEMBER THAT DIESEL WAS USED INA VEH ABOUT 600 LB,S LIGHTER THAN THE AMEIGO AND WAS ONLY 60 HP. HAS ALL READY BEEN DONE ON THE LATER PICKUPS. AND WORKS JUST FINE , BUT IS VERY UNDER POWERED . IT IS NOT A HIGH REVING ENG. 4400 MAX

THAT IS A GORGEOUS AMIEGO , LOVE THE RED
So what your saying is that I need a S10 bellhousing that the LUV one wont work ? I found the LUV the only reason being. I assumed it would be a little weak but I wonder what the fuel savings would be.
Thank you! I love the look of the car and the red it really is a nice vehicle just a shame the engine went.[/quote]

THE LUV ENG , TRANS AND BELL HOUSING ARE THE SAME PART AS THE ISUZU BRANDED VEH, THE S10 IS ANOTHER MATTER , ALL THOUGH THEY USED A LOT OF ISUZU ENGS , THEY ARE NOT IDENTICAL TO THE ISUZU VEH ENG,S DIFF FLYWHEELS ,DIFF BELL HOUSING AND IN A LOT OF CASES THE OIL PANS ARE DIFF, THEY USED A LOT OF ISUZU ENGS WITH GM TRANS , AUTO AND MANUAL. , BORG /W AND OTHERS, , AS FAR AS BOLTIGN RIGHT TO YOUR BELL HOUSING , I DONT KNOW OF ANY ENG THAT WILL BOLT DIRECTLY ON, OTHER THAN THE STOCK HOLDEN STYLE ENG, AND THE REASON THE BLOCK HAS GM CAST ON IT , GM OWNS MOST OF HOLDEN, , THE TRANS SHOULD BOLT UP TO A NO. OF DIFF BELL HOUSING, FROM DIFF MAKES ,