Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hey guys-should the question still exist if it is possible to shove a small block Chevy into a generation 1 Isuzu Amigo, the answer is YES. My 90 Amigo that originally came with the whopping power of a 2.3L now moves about with the power of a mildly built 305 Chevy sitting in front of a 700R4 tranny. For anyone considering doing the same or merely dreaming about the possibility, know that it can be done with any major alterations to the frame (no welding), and no damage to sheet metal (unless using HEI in which case a little push on the firewall is needed). It has the original Isuzu driveshaft which was only reduced about 2-3" when I upgraded from 350 trnsmission to the somewhat longer 700r. The funny thing was while running the 350 trans(shortshaft 6") the stock shaft fit perfectly w/out a yoke swap or anything. To anyone thinking of doing same, know that an overdrive gear is VERY necessary as Isuzu rear end gears are 4.555:1 so unless you like running at 4000-5000 rpm to maintain 60-70 mph, you want overdrive. Next step from here is a built 350 pushing well over 300 horsies and a move to a t56 6-speed(dual overdrive) to take advantage of the extra gear ratio and to get away from the slip one gets in a auto tranny. A far as any questions on radiator etc, It's a chevy radiator mounted in a stock position- somewhat tight, but plenty of room for a 16" electric fan to go to work from the front. Let me know if any questions as I imagine some guys may actually want to do this now. Pictures are forthcoming-have them scanned in at my brothers house just need them sent over so I can post them. Lots of little things you want to know so you do not waste money buying the wrong items to make this happen as I did originally. As they say you learn from mistakes. This is a 2-wheeler but willbe going to work on a 4wd version after my upgrades to this one in spring'05. Will be using this ones guts plus a transfer case. Should be easier now that the heavy work is done. See you all online! --Tad 
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LSGA
Mudrunner
Reged: 09/04/03
Posts: 312
Loc: Sandy Springs/Dunwoody, GA
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hehehe... all i can say is HOT 
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1996 Isuzu Trooper LS, 33" BFG KMs, ARB Bullbar, OME 919's + 2.5" Daystar Spacers, RS5000's (Nissan Patrol's in the rear), DOR Bumpstops, K&N cone, Aisin manuals, factory LSD. oh, and a ton of N.E. rust 
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Rodeo Guy
Body Damage is Cool
Reged: 12/07/02
Posts: 1074
Loc: woodbridge, va
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So...a v8 in an amigo huh? Thats like more cylinders right? Is it faster? 
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Mike
"Damn the carnage! Full throttle ahead!"
95.5 rodeo, 37" Trxus MT, dana 44/9", coil-overs, lockers..... http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/550454
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Smiley
Trail Leader
Reged: 12/12/01
Posts: 5911
Loc: Back in BFE, WV
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WELCOME!
Sounds great! - I can't wait to see the photos
Now all you've got to do is buy a VehiCROSS and you'll be a member of
The Most Exclusive Club in all of Isuzudom!
(It seems that all of our Tads end up buying one  )
Cheers! 
Smiley
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My CarDomain Garage
`97 Rodeo
`99 VX (sold)
`98 SLX
`95 Trooper
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Thanks...a few more cylinders yup. A little faster considering the 2.3 was rated at like 93 horse? My Current setup should be around 200+ horse but lacks the responsiveness I was looking for because of the automatic. A stick would really wake it up. Still able to light up my big 295/50R15's --one at a time-- into 2nd gear(really need a limited slip diff)Plenty of torque now too. You should appreciate the purty sidepipes singing along on the beast as well. Guess I am going for the muscle look, fat fenders big rear tires, and pipes. Should probably mention also have a 1991 4wd Amigo and a junker 89 Amigo for a lifetime of parts(already used it to save the 91, an 88 trooper, and a 93 pickup from extinction) my old 92 cobalt blue Amigo met an untimely end at the hands of an old lady and her Chrysler tank a few years back. --Tad G. (apparently a few Tads on here already?) 
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strawmyers
Isuzu Moderator
Reged: 10/01/01
Posts: 4016
Loc: Lafayette, IN
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Welcome to the board! There are others on this board that have shoe-horned V8's into their Isuzu........ but the list is pretty short. Sounds like a sweet project, can't wait to see some pics
I take it the motor mounts for the 2.3 ended up working for the 305 as well (since you said no welding). I would have never guessed that..... talk about lucking out!
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Sean Strawmyer
Back and ready to rock...... crawl.
From Indiana or surrounding states and interested in wheelin'? Check out www.mwior.com
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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The mounts I made are bolt-ins using the existing Isuzu frame mounts(2 bolts) and extending a plate forward a few inches with a tongue dropping down to meet the holes intended for the power steering stabilizer(?) so bolts up in 3 places to the frame on either side, all nice and stable like. I haven't had any luck finding the other v-8s out there for some time now--have seen a Rodeo and a Trooper or two, but have yet to see a post here or anywhere else for an Amigo. Would appreciate and info/links to those if you have them. Always looking at ideas maybe they made something better than I did? Tranny crossmember just had to be turned around and bolted in backwards, and a plate extended forward an inch or so to meet up with the tranny mount. Really odd thing there is that driveshaft angles were dead on without shimming. Some engineer in Japan must have been thinking how lovely a small block would look in one of these and built his SUV around that. This went in much easier than a stock Isuzu motor -for anyone who has tried to remove an intake manifold for a 2.6L while in the truck (or even out for that matter) you know what I mean.
-Tad G
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randii
4x4Wire.com Managing Editor Emeritus
Reged: 08/02/99
Posts: 9030
Loc: Fair Oaks, CA USA
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Kudos for getting it running!
I look forward to seeing the pics -- the only Chevy V8 swaps I have seen in 1st-gen Amigo, Rodeo, or Pups have been VERY tight, requiring pretty major sheet metal work, or at the very minimum, a big body lift. Out in the garage, I have my very own V8 snuggled into the stock sheet metal, but the radiator had to go on the front side of the bulkhead to be even close... I'm flat-out amazed you got a Chebby in there (mine's a Ford), and it does not sound like you even used the LT1's ultra-short front accessory dress. I'm definitely looking to hear more about how you pulled that off! 
Have you thought about running a auto tranny with a lock-up clutch? The T-56 is a great tranny, for sure, but they are pricey! 
How well does it cool with the pusher 'lectric fan?
Randii
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Randy Burleson
4x4Wire Managing Editor Emeritus
Mongrel Isuzu Amigo
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strawmyers
Isuzu Moderator
Reged: 10/01/01
Posts: 4016
Loc: Lafayette, IN
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The V8 into an Amigo swap is less common, which is why I said Isuzu's and not Amigos......... but there are some. Our own friendly moderator randii is in the process of dropping in a Mustang 5.0. There was some guy that came on here for a short time trying to sell his 350-driven Amigo (s/n was like AV8Amigo or something like that). And then one other guy that posted a couple of times that had either a 5.0 or a 5.7 in his, can't remember which. I realize all of that info is vague and useless, but except for randii (who is still in the process) none of the other guys ever became regular posters.
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Sean Strawmyer
Back and ready to rock...... crawl.
From Indiana or surrounding states and interested in wheelin'? Check out www.mwior.com
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StinkBug
Roll Me Over
Reged: 07/24/00
Posts: 2984
Loc: Under my truck.
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So I'm guessing this truck is a 2wd right? hmmm that could be a lot of fun. I'm currently running a late model 4.3 in my amigo at around 220hp and I'm pretty happy with it, but the 700 does dampen the fun a little. I'd be really interested to see how you got it in the stock sheetmetal, the 4.3 fits great, but I couldn't possiblely fit another couple holes in there without some serious trimming.
Dallas
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Crew Chief, RedBull RockCrawling Team
StinkyFab Custom Metal Creations
Project StinkBug
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