from 3.5 to 3.2 install complete

[givegodachance]

I have finally got off my lazy hide and completed the swap from 3.5 to a 3.2. the only thing i was worried about was getting to the top trans bolts and that was real easy to do by folding up the inner wheelwells at the rear of them, Easyly bent back to stock once done and dont even notice they were bent. No other problems and it bolted right up. I have not really drove it yet because i have a spare on the front and dont want to rip up the axles but i should be getting a tire tomorrow.

[Scott Larson]

Congrats GG, I hope everything checks out AOK!!

[vt_maverick]

Did you have to swap the ECU from a Rodeo?

[H3_VX]

Update today?

[givegodachance]

I didnt not have to change the ECU but it is running just a little rough. My check engine light is on but dont have a code reader so i have to either buy one or borrow one. I also found a gas leak today so im not driving it. I have to get the connector from the return soft line to the hard line.

[VxSport]

hey GG

If you can't find one to barrow, PM me and I can send (mail) our extra one. It's just a basic reader, but it will get the number.

Just an option for you.... I am interested in your project, and will help.

How's the weather out east?

[vt_maverick]

How much $ are at stake here? Buy a cheap reader!

[Leon R]

Advance/Autozone will check the codes for you for free (though, they will not reset them).

[givegodachance]

it turned out my number 6 was not plugged in all the way, cleared codes and runs perfect

[89Vette]

Would you consider it smoother than the 3.5? What about power/torque?

Sorry, for not looking around, checking and reading...but did you swap ECM's to complete this conversion?

[givegodachance]

i have never driven a 3.5 cause when i got this it needed a motor but yesterday on the way home a stepped on it from a stop and it threw me back pretty good. and no i did not change the ECM out. I just bolted it right up. The only issue was the 3 plugs on the drivers side and all i did was unbolt the bracket it is on and plugged them in.

[Baldwin]

my mechanic says that the 3.2 is better than the 3.5. He said he's seen a ton of probs with the 3.5, but the 3.2's are robust. What's your gas mileage? Is it better than 18mph?

[vt_maverick]

I got around 75mph on the highway earlier this week.

[VXorado]

I got around 75mph on the highway earlier this week.

SNAP!!!

[MSHardeman]

Baldwin, the 3.5 is actually a stroked version of the 3.2. They use the same block (I think) and maybe different heads. Most of the problems with the 3.5 stem from a lack of oil drain holes in the pistons that, if they get clogged, can end up starving the engine of oil. The pistons in the 3.5 are very short for a V6 engine and there really isn't much real estate to put all of the rings on the piston. When Isuzu built the original 3.5's they only drilled a couple of oil drain holes in one of the ring lands and sometimes those get clogged, or they just don't drain enough oil back into the block so the oil left on the piston walls ends up getting burned. Some of the 3.5's, like my original one, burned a LOT of oil. When I got my VX with 35,000 miles on, it burned 3/4 of a quart of oil every 350 miles, or so, right up until the day I had to replace the engine at 130,000 miles.

I ended up buying a brand new Isuzu 3.5L engine knowing that the new engine had more/better oil drain holes drilled in the pistons and it has not burned a drop of oil in the 5,000 miles that I have put on it so far. Unfortunately the original 3.5's had some flaws, and it can really be hit or miss whether you'll have problems with one or not. Some VXers have had great success with their 3.5's whereas others have not been so lucky.