4JG2 into UBS55 Pighorn - oil filter positioning issues

[BlairNZ]

So my 4JB1 started giving pressurising problems along with a reasonable oil leak that has convinced me to fit a 4JG2 that wasn't doing much other than gathering dust in my shed. Before I lift it into the engine bay, I noticed that the oil filter on the 4JG2 is positioned exactly where the exhaust runs past the bellhousing on the 4JB1... I have several ideas to deal with the problem, they are:

1: swap oil filter housings - creates minor hassles for heater hoses and where they run
2: fit a remote oil filter kit - costly alternative if there's an easier way
3: modify exhaust - leaning towards this as the exhaust only needs to move an inch or 2 out from the bellhousing
4: some other way I haven't thought of yet?

Has anyone here done this swap before? Anything else I'm going to have to swap? I've seen a couple of UBS55s running the 4JG2 but never really thought about the oil filter issue until I was facing it now!

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Blair

[PaladinAus1]

Swapping the oil filter housing will probably be the quickest fix, but the 4jg2 housing will make fitting a dump pipe and exhaust easier, so I'd take the exhaust route personally.

[BlairNZ]

I'm not terribly keen on swapping the filter housing as it seems like a potential future problem waiting to happen if I do! I think modifying the exhaust is going to be the best bet because I can probably manage that by using the front half of the exhaust from the 3.1 (the part that runs to behind the gearbox) and make up any difference behind the gearbox with an additional flexi-pipe

[isuzurob]

need to swap engine mounts also, and run a bigger radiator to keep the 3.1 cooler

[BlairNZ]

I've swapped the mounts already, wish I could have used the 3.1 mounts - so much easier than the 2.8 set up! But thanks for the heads up on the radiator, I was just going to put the 2.8 one back in... Guess I better upgrade it huh!
Cheers

[turnturn]

And remember that it will seemed low geared compared to other 3.1's. (I've assumed that your UBS55 is running 4.5:1 vs the 4.3:1 of most 3.1 powered Isuzu's).

[BlairNZ]

And remember that it will seemed low geared compared to other 3.1's. (I've assumed that your UBS55 is running 4.5:1 vs the 4.3:1 of most 3.1 powered Isuzu's).

I was planning to continue running the UBS55 diff as it is LSD, however, if this is going to cause it to rev too high at 100km/h then I shall swap diffs with my 3.1 mu river truck (and probably fit the LSD to my other 2.8 pighorn)

I'll decide my diffs fate once the engine is in and it shows how its going to run

[isuzurob]

ubs55 standard diffs are 4.3 so no need to worry

[geeves]

The only 2.8s with 4.5 diffs were the Mus and the bighorn that left the factory on 31 inch tyres I dont know why the Mus had the lower gearing

[mattmannz]

Does anyone know what the code is for the 4.5 or 4.3 riffs is? I could do with some lower gearing now I am on 33s.

[BlairNZ]

Well that's a bit of a relief that I don't have to worry about the diffs!

The engine is now sitting in the engine bay, so far it looks like the exhaust isn't going to cause too much of an issue. (Yet!)

Thanks for the help!

[geeves]

I wouldnt rely on the code as diffs may of been swapped. Assuming you dont have a front locker lift one front wheel and rotate it one turn while counting the drivershaft revolutions Half the number to get your ratio. If you have a locker do this on the back but its harder if you have a lsd

[turnturn]

BlairNZ, sorry about the mis-information about the diff ratios of the UBS55.....I had based my comment on Mu stuff.

[BlairNZ]

BlairNZ, sorry about the mis-information about the diff ratios of the UBS55.....I had based my comment on Mu stuff.

No worries! It's better to have all bases covered huh!

[BlairNZ]

and run a bigger radiator to keep the 3.1 cooler

What sort of radiator did you use/do you recommend? I have the 3.1 radiator but before I make major changes to make this fit, I would like to be sure that its going to be the best solution? I've been looking at alloy radiators on Trademe, the hilux radiator looks fairly similar to the bighorn radiator in terms of size and mounting and there's an aftermarket one with a core over 50mm, but as I said above, would like to go with something that is definitely going to do the job, and preferably without a whole lot of modification to make it fit!

Cheers

[isuzurob]

stay well away from alloy they are crap, any twisting and they spring leaks and dont cool aswell as copper radiators, there are lots of different hilux radiators, my radiator is a modified hilux 3L from memory, modified fan shoud, side bands and is 65mm taller, 20mm wider and 3 core so wont fit without a body lift, had to also modify the fan as it was to close to the radiator, i also run a 70 degree thermostat never ever seen mine over 85 degrees

[isuzurob]

oh and had to modify the pipes as they dont fit the bighorn radiator hoses

[BlairNZ]

Hmm that's very handy information to have thanks! I'll try finding a genuine hilux radiator and making modifications from there. The truck runs fine up to 70 - 80km/h, but above that it starts to get warm. At least I've been able to drive it so I know that all these little hassles are ultimately going to be worthwhile!

[Qtrain]

I have 1990 Irmscher r bighorn running 4jg2! Goes bloody well! Temp hardly goes above 1/3 and plenty of grunt!

[BlairH]

I have 1990 Irmscher r bighorn running 4jg2! Goes bloody well! Temp hardly goes above 1/3 and plenty of grunt!

Yeah mine went hard once I fitted a triple core radiator. was a decent upgrade to the 2.8 but it wasn't the straight forward swap I had imagined it was going to be! Just a few little things that took some figuring out...