What to do with my old 2.8L?

[Canyonero]

I have an Isuzu Trooper with a 2.8L, prepping for a 3.4L swap. The 3.4L is keeping it's MPFI, so that means the 2.8L will also remain complete. I don't want to be sitting on an old engine, so I'm trying to think up some creative uses for it.

At 161k miles, it still runs fine. Starting to clatter a bit, and puffs a little smoke when started, but still alright. Might be better with a top end rebuild. I don't think it's really worth rebuilding when a person could just get a 3.4L, so I'm looking for something crazy-stupid to do with it as-is.

My brother wants to put it in a boat, and I'm all for that - assuming he provides the boat. Also thought about sticking it in a friend's engineless Fiero (he had a 350 in it, but sold the engine). Any other ideas?

[patgizz]

i'd do the fiero over a boat.

[sharkey]

well, being its from a rwd, the mount bosses on the block are in different locations than a transverse engine.

honestly, wait to see if you can find a rwd truck with a blown motor and stuff it in and sell it. may be able to make a feww bucks off of it.

[Canyonero]

Yeah, me too. My brother lived in Alaska for a while, and now he has a thing for boats...

I think my friend's Fiero GT had a 4cyl originally. I don't think he kept much of the old hardware and I don't know how much he had to hack to get the 350 to fit. I should arrange to see it's current condition sometime. Still my most reasonable option I guess. But come on guys, be creative.

I've only ridden in the Fiero once years ago, that thing was scary fast.

[Canyonero]

Honestly, wait to see if you can find a rwd truck with a blown motor and stuff it in and sell it. may be able to make a feww bucks off of it.

That was another idea I had. I wouldn't mind having a pickup. Old S10 would be fine for a utility rig. I still have a 4.3L TBI I bought for it a long time ago too. I could finally have the manifold machined and install it.

[Stewart G. Griffin]

Where do u live?

[Canyonero]

Oregon, who needs to know?

[sil]

convert it to run on water lol

quick google link

http://www.spiritofmaat.com/archive/watercar/h20car2.htm

im sure if you did research its possible

[Canyonero]

Here's a thought. Chevy Vega. One of my older brother's friends had a '75 Vega GT, stock. I liked that car. He banged it up a bit, because he's an idiot who wrecks every car he touches. It blew the head gasket, cracked the head in the process too I think... Anyway, many years ago and I was too young to take it off their hands. I missed out on a couple good deals because of that, I could have bought a Datsun 510 for $300 that was donated to the high school auto shop. A sort of friend of mine bought it and loved it. Until he got arrested, car impounded, and never reclaimed. Makes me mad, my dad wouldn't let me buy a $300 "junker" - which it wasn't.

AAAANYWAY - build the 2.8L a bit, maybe stroke it to 3.1, stick it in a Vega. Can't be that hard, people put 350's in them all the time. Trick is finding a decent stock 75-76 Vega in Oregon.

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Edit: Did a quick googling, looks like a Vega V6 swap is best done with a 90-degree engine - 3.8L or 4.3L

Maybe for my next project...

[Canyonero]

Question - 1990 Trooper 2.8L, iron heads?

[RebelGT]

keep it at wide open throttle, and make bets with friends as to how long it'll take for it to blow up.