Isuzu's direct attack
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• Isuzu's range of directinjection, high-revving, small diesel engines is now available for replacing the original units in Land Rover vehicles, Bedford TLs and small 4x4s.
The engines, imported by Talbot diesels of Iver Buckinghamshire, can be bought through Gretton Motors of Cinderford, Gloucestershire, which also manufactures the fitting kits.
An expansion of the dealer network is under way, and Bradford conversion specialists Sinunonites will soon offer the conversion off the shelf.
The most popular engine conversion is the .4,000 (exVAT) 3.9-litre 4BD1 or 4BD1T, which fits into the Land Rover, Range Rover or London taxis in place of the existing Land Rover or Ford diesel units. Over 30 vehicles have been converted and the target is to convert around 10 vehicles a month.
Gretton Motors and Talbot diesels are confident that the 110kW six-cylinder 6BD1 engine will be a popular conversion for the Bedford TL range, and they are working on this at present. The smaller 4JB1 engines can also be fitted to the Land Rover vehicles and taxis.
The turbocharged version of this engine is the Isuzu Trooper engine, and employs a twostage injection needle. The result is said to reduce smoke and diesel knock when the engine is cold.
Isuzi's ID! C180 engine is the same as in the Bedford KB pickup range. It will be offered as a conversion for light 4x4 vehicles like the Suzuki SJ series, or the Dacia Duster.
The imported engines are part of an enormous range produced by the Japanese firm, which is 36.8% owned by General Motors.
With a stated aim of developing a ceramic diesel engine by the end of the century, the company has produced diesel engines with many innovative features such as electronic control systems, ceramic glow plugs and square combustion chambers.
It is also conducting research into several important areas of engine technology such as variable-geometry turbocharging.