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I gave Marlin of Marlin Crawlers an Isuzu part number for an Isuzu AR5 3.5L bell housing. Marlin ordered the bell and got it in today.

Let me back up a smidge, AR5 is the 5 speed manual for the 3.5L Isuzu's and as per Bruce Garland of Team Jackaroo, and my Isuzu tech bolts to my 3.2L

AR is still not confirmed as to who this is but I was informed that it may be the same people that make Toyota transmissions which is AISNI/SEIKO (SP). I asked Marlin *if* maybe it bolts right up, I was told I have better odds winning the lottery.

Marlin called me at work today, he was excited beyond anything I've heard Marlin be excited about.

The damned Isuzu AR5 bell bolts DIRECTLY to the Toyota transmission! Even the dowels line up! The only difference is minor in the AR5 depth is greater than the Toyota but that is an easy thing to make up. Especially compared to the hurdle that just got overcome.

This is not a rumor!

This is HUGE for anyone wanting to adapt to another (particularly Toyota) transmission in an effort to get lower gearing.

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Originally posted by rickwirth:
Are you still going to make it to Moab? I might be interested in doing this at some point in the future. Any chance you'll have it done for Moab?

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I still have our reservations for the Red Stone Inn. I definatley plan to make it to Moab. I have asked Marlin if he can do it before then and I will know by Thursday night if it may be done before then. Currently I am planning on driving my clutchless Amigo to Marlins this weekend. Can't say for sure but I sure hope it really will be a CRAWLOWEEN!

Yes, my clutch took a dump, kind of ushering in the gearing/transmission issue, but I'll be at Moab even if we settle on taking the Rodeo and doing some easy stuff and playing tourists. For obvious reasons, I would like to have Marlin finish my truck before Crawloween, it's now down to a timing thing.

3.2/3.5 = Isuzu engines (I think most know that)
AR5 = Transmission (manual 5 speed, like you said)
Bell housing = interface between an engine and the transmission (were the fly wheel is located)

Yes? Am I close here, come on throw me a bone.

Will any Isuzu (or GM as in 4L30E) Transmission bolt to any Isuzu Bell housing?
Are all of the 3.2/3.5 engine and transmissions interchangeable (and now Toyota)?

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Originally posted by Rick C:
For those of us trying desperately to follow along, but do not have such intimate knowledge of drive trains, a little help please.

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First let me clarify my knowledge of engines and drivetrains. As Chris pointed out last night in a phone conversation, I don't even change my own oil. I stumbled into this with pure blind dumb luck. If I touch an engine bolt it will either strip, round off or break. This is why I did research and asked a whole bunch of dumb questions to people who think I'm an idiot, if not completly crazy. Also why Marlin Crawlers will be doing my swap.

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3.2/3.5 = Isuzu engines (I think most know that)
AR5 = Transmission (manual 5 speed, like you said)
Bell housing = interface between an engine and the transmission (were the fly wheel is located)

Yes? Am I close here, come on throw me a bone.

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Yep, that's how I understand it.

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Will any Isuzu (or GM as in 4L30E) Transmission bolt to any Isuzu Bell housing?

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Are all of the 3.2/3.5 engine and transmissions interchangeable (and now Toyota)?

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Like I stated above me finding this information was pure dumb luck. Marlin himself can not believe that the Isuzu bolts on to a Toyota but it does. Who knows, maybe there are many more bolt ons we have yet to discover.

In summary this means that Amigo's, Rodeo's, Trooper's and Vehcross's that share the same 3.2L/3.5L engine block can have a bolt on crawling option whenever they want to do it.

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Michael '98 Amigo amigo_fan@mjw.com Amigo Project

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Originally posted by MichaelW:
In summary this means that Amigo's, Rodeo's, Trooper's and Vehcross's that share the same 3.2L/3.5L engine block can have a bolt on crawling option whenever they want to do it.

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And Rick, I'm working on an automatic solution for the 4L30E as well... This would be key because it would work with EVERY automatic Isuzu since 1989 (they all use the 4L30E) AND, unlike Michael's swap, would allow you to keep the stock tranny and just pop the money on t-case(s) behind it. That would certainly help out quite a bit in the funding department. I have no idea if this is even doable, and if so, what kind of options we're looking at here -- but if it can be done, this would be SWEEEEEEEET.

The AR5 Bell housing is an Isuzu part that bolts to the 3.2/3.5 engines and one of the manual Toyota transmissions? And why is that good?

Chris, what are you working on, will you wind up with a lower ratio than the upcoming Terra setup? Should I wait (like I have some other choice right now)

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Originally posted by Rick C:
OK,OK,OK...I think I'm starting to get it now. (you open the door, the light go on!)

The AR5 Bell housing is an Isuzu part that bolts to the 3.2/3.5 engines and one of the manual Toyota transmissions? And why is that good?

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Two reasons:
1) There are adaptors from Toyota bell housings to virtually any transmission; NV4500 NV435 etc...

2)Because the Toyota transmission bolts to the Toyota transfer case which Marlin Crawlers has modified a case to allow case stacking. This means that your final crawl ratio can be exponetially enhanced by adding tcases. Marlin even has triple cases if you are so inclined.

So why crawl? Well everyone could have input on this and I'm sure Randii will have more to add.... When you attack an obstacle with the stock 33:1 lowest ratio of the 98 Amigo, there is a line between what the truck could power over and what would have to be dynamically moved over with momentum and speed to carriy you over the obstacle. When you have a lower gear ratio the obstacles you power over become more than those you must charge at. When you attack an obstacle with speed to carry you over, you, your vehicle and your passengers tend to get tossed about and potentially damage something. Example would be hitting your differential on a rock. Gears will not change if or where you hit the rock but how you hit it. If you hit the rock at 15 mph you will cause more damage than if you hit the rock at 2 mph. Objects in motion etc...

Another advandage of gears is when you are in precarious situations the slower and more in control (not braking) you can be the safer your ride will be. Example, on the Hell's Revenge trail there was a little side hill with a little pocket to drop your down hill side tires into. If you took that at speed, the dynamic motion of your vehicle rolling into the pocket could carry you all the way over. With crawling gears you would go more slowly into the pocket and the dynamic motion of the roll would be far less severe.

I'm sure there is a ton more reasons, but I got to get back to work. This also leaves more room for others to add reasons.

Better control. Less wheelspin. Better power. Less dynamic weight transfer on sidehills.

Basically, with my current setup, I retain almost all the stock gear ratio choices of the original Isuzu setup... and I get three sets of progressively lower gears, in addition to these.

Congrats, Michael!