Vehicross engine removal & disassembly

[sleveritt]

Hey guys,
Finally got the engine out of my VX, and what a chore it was! Here is how it started:


A few days and many hours later (yes that is my bald head):


Then hoisted high like a prized kill:


I was surprised at the amount of fluids rolling out of the engine "after everything was drained":


Anybody need a backup transmission?


Wonder which one was causing the knock huh? Which one of these is not like the others?


Valves looked good though, impact was on the head:


On the bottom side. Hey that doesn't look right!


Bearing was flattening and flairing. Here are some close ups of the difference between the bad bearing and a good one:


Hear is what that bearing did to the crankshaft (notice the lip of the race is ground off). I doubt that can be repaired.


Anybody need a used engine block?


The cylinder walls looked really good for a vehicle with 120k miles on it.

[zukicon]

good write up. looks like lots of fun wrenchin.

[RamAirZ]

Are you putting another 3.5 in it? Good detail on the pics, the main caps look alot like an LSx series engine!



Could you have taken the core support out and brought it straight out the front?

[sleveritt]

Yeah the bottom end was the only really damaged part. The contact between the top of the piston and cylinder head is fairly minor. Two things kept me from fixing this engine or putting another 3.5L in it: First - I didn't really know how bad the internal damage was until I got it opened up and Second - I've owned an Isuzu before. While they were certainly overbuilt for the US market, when something did go wrong or wear out..... It was EXPENSIVE and hard to replace locally!!!

Hence the upgrade to a 5.3L Chevy Short Block, Turbo 400 trans, Dana 300 transfer case, Scout Dana 44 axles and possibly 37" tires. Besides the power window/locks and HVAC, the rest of the setup will likely be mechanical for better durability.

I see there had been many views of the thread but very little in the way of comments. It's like I drug a dead spy into the room for interrogation. Personally, I've never seen detailed pictures of the bearing failures that we all hear about. Anybody seen similar failures in terms of bearing damage?

Sam

[nfpgasmask]

Sam, you need to hook up with Ascinder as he is doing a very similar build.

Keep the info and pics coming. Technical mech threads like this with photos are something this thread will need lots more of now that our rigs are getting older!!!

Bart

[LittleBeast]

Hence the upgrade to a 5.3L Chevy Short Block, Turbo 400 trans, Dana 300 transfer case, Scout Dana 44 axles and possibly 37" tires. Besides the power window/locks and HVAC, the rest of the setup will likely be mechanical for better durability.

Hmmmmm, well whenever my engine blows I am going to be calling you up!!!!! But seriously take notes, I am sure many of us here would consider this swap in the near future, thanks for all the great info, and pictures.

[jdm monkey]

Does the VX engine have 6 bolt mains? or 4 bolt?

[RamAirZ]

Why are you going with a TH400? Not concerned with overdrive I take it anymore with 37" tires lol. I'm still debating if I want to go 5.3 or supercharged 4.3, either way I will be swapping over to the MUA5 isuzu manual when I do it, keep the console area looking real clean and stock, strong enough to handle either motor and drop in some Tera-low's. Are you going to use the AA universal motor mounts that weld to the frame and have the rubber mount? As far as the mains, I "think" it's just 4, I don't think they have the side bolts like the LSx engines have but I MAY be mistaken. I've been contemplating if I want to do solid axle front with this one but I think I'm gonna keep it IFS, at least for awhile lol. Good job! Can't wait to see more pics!

[Ascinder]

Does the VX engine have 6 bolt mains? or 4 bolt?

Six bolt mains.

Why are you going with a TH400?

I would imagine because the TH400 is a very robust transmission and it's still fairly short. And he probably wants to stay auto. BTW an NV4500 is like 5" shorter than the stock trans if you want to go with a robust stickshift. An SM420 or SM465 are even shorter than that, but they are only 4 speeds. All three of them bolt right up to any GM GenIII or Gen IV motors(5.3, 5.7, 6.0, 6.2, etc.)

[RamAirZ]

Ya I ran an SM420 behind my 6.0 in a 67' Chevy K10, had the Rockwell T221 t-case which wasn't the greatest but worked well. To use one on a Gen III/IV motor though you would have to either fab up a bracket to house a slave cylinder or clutch linkage if your using a clutch fork or switch to a hydraulic throwout bearing since the LSx blocks don't have a place for the pivot ball on the side of the block, as well as needing a longer/larger pilot bearing.The TH400 is short but so is a 700R4 and it can be built fairly stout as well and have a better 1st gear and weigh less, just my .02 but either is a good choice. One of the members on the Planet did a 700R4/Dana 300 swap in his SAS'd Rodeo. I'm gonna go with the MUA5 because it'll work well for my needs and look completely stock inside and I can bolt the tranny up to the trans crossmember and then position the new motor mounts accordingly (as long as oil pan etc clears). Too bad they never made a T56 in 4wd, I was going to use one in my 67' with a divorced NP205 but ended up selling the truck. I did an LS1/T56 conversion in an 87' Iroc that was originally a 305/700R4, now that car was fun! Even built my own long tubes for it. I didn't know the 3.5 had the cross bolts as well, that's pretty neat on the 3.5, seems like such a nice platform to have so many issues on the bottom end. Those guys over in Australia have it nailed down though! If I go 5.3 in this one I think I'm gonna go with an LM4 or L33, save a little weight off the front end and just like the iron blocks, they can be bored out. I haven't done it but from what I have read on the aluminum 5.3's is that the outside diameter of the sleeves are the same as an LS1's, just thicker walled to bring the bore size down, so you "should" be able to bore out to a 3.9 bore and have an assortment of pistons available instead of just Wiseco's.

[Ascinder]

Wow, finally someone who speaks my language!! I am just making an educated guess on the six bolt mains. I went downstairs and looked at the sides of the block down by my oilpan area and there are bolts coming in from the sides LS style. They couldn't really be anything else. I am running a married 205 off the NV4500 on a GM gen III 6.0 whith some bells and whistles. Fortunately there are provisions for my slave cylinder in the bellhousing and they make an input bushing that mates everything up nicely. I originally looked at the T-56 magnum as a possible choice, but 2WD isn't going to get me there. Better gears though.

[RamAirZ]

lol ya if our trucks were as big as my 67' long bed you could run a divorced setup, too bad there isn't enough room for that. Ya I speak your language, I've done a few LSx swaps in mine and other's vehicles and I LOVE them. I still haven't decided which way I want to go on mine just yet. I've had turbo'd ones, heads/cam NA ones, etc etc. The L31 Vortec 350 in my 98' GMC Z71 I built up (not LSx but still fun 4wd)using a marine intake manifold, speed pro dished forged pistons and h-beam rods, Vortec V1 supercharger and later on I even took that off and ran a nitrous express kit on it. It was funny seeing the people watching me spin 33x13.50 Swampers down the track lol. They'd come running up to me, "what do you have in that thing!". Been awhile since I built a toy like that. I've just been restoring and customizing a few things out here but hope to get started on some more serious stuff soon

[Ascinder]

Mine pretty much the fuel injected version of THIS I wanted a supercharger, but with 550 HP naturally aspirated, it seemed over the top, even for me I think I'd start breaking parts if I went much higher. When this engine starts to die I'll probably just overbore and stroke it. Now that I'm committed to NA, there's a lot of stuff to change to go FI, and it's just not worth the expense or hassle to me.

[RamAirZ]

Ya for sure. Lower compression pistons, forged internals if you don't have them already, plumbing, blah blah blah. The L92 heads are sweet, cheap HP compared to buying AFR or similar LSx heads. When it starts to go out, just make it a 408 hehe

[sleveritt]

It's correct on the 6 bolt mains. Several folks have commented that much of the engine/accesories looked amazingly like know GM parts, just larger/smaller and harder to source. (Might of has something to do with GM being a majority stake holder in Isuzu since the late 80's.)

As for the technical expertise, I've talked with many people concerning have a serious off-roader but still being street legal (for inclimate weather that routinely occurs here). About a 6" lift is all I would need to clear the 37" tires. I'm having a dedicated 4x4 shop do the install for me. John's 4x4 and More in Billings, MO. I just don't have the equipment in my arsenal to tackle something this extravagant. Though I do perform this tear-down with hand tools and a hoist. John has been in the business for many years so I am deferring to his expertise to make the driveline compatible and STOUT. John has moved to tube chassis for his competition rig but is still the reigning authority around these parts for building a 4x4 (the other shops will install lift kits and sell you parts, but that is about it). Lots of people are running the 5.3L with a Turbo 400 around these parts (fuel economy not so much of an issue since it won't be a daily driver - until winter.) The fit is going to be tight and might require and inch or two stretch on the front.

Although his shop has 3 tube chassis and 1 Jeep ahead of mine, I'm on the books for the last week of this month. No promises on how long the build will take but I've been welcomed to come by and take pictures if I want. Not going to pass up that offer.