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3.8 V6 into my bighorn

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:55 am
by FORGE1
Well as per the title. When my 3.2 gives up the ghost the plan is to buy a 3.8 holden motor (super charged if I can get one cheap enough). does anyone know if my gearbox will bolt straight up or will I need to make some minor adjustments. They do look like a very similar motor and I havent had a decent chance to look at one up close to see. but would like to know if anyone has done this before or something along those lines. Mine has done about 280kms and isnt blowing any smoke or has any issues so I wont be looking at this change for a while but I may as well start getting ready with the way my right foot is with the old girl lol. Last outing which was reasionable driving (around town) I put $20 of 95 in and got 21kms so something cheaper running would be nice :) :lol:

Re: 3.8 V6 into my bighorn

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:50 pm
by geeves
Adapter plates have been made but its more common to use the auto that comes with the 3.8 and mate either a transfer box from the bighorn auto or a hilux to this

Re: 3.8 V6 into my bighorn

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 10:14 pm
by jellis
how hard is it to put the tansfercase onto the commy gearbox?
also is the mu auto the same as the bighorn one?

Re: 3.8 V6 into my bighorn

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 2:50 am
by geeves
Ive never done it but do a search as there are others here that have

Re: 3.8 V6 into my bighorn

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:30 am
by slightlydodgy
there was someone selling the commie trannie to bighorn transfercase adapters on trade me for about $300

Re: 3.8 V6 into my bighorn

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:59 pm
by FORGE1
Ok sweet. I was probably wanting to keep my Manual gearbox as thats my preference. I wonder if the housing are similar being both v6. Surely they make a adaptor plate for the 3.8 to the 3.2 5 speed.

Re: 3.8 V6 into my bighorn

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:59 am
by geeves
If you get the early comadoor engine you will find that the manuals had a different crank. Find a wreck with a manual comadoor v6 and box and use that

Re: 3.8 V6 into my bighorn

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:52 am
by ONO2HI
if your doing it for fuel saving save your money for gas, not worth the hassel man

Re: 3.8 V6 into my bighorn

Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 6:54 am
by hms69r
going holden auto to isuzu trnas case is easy any 1 with a lil mechanacal and engineering no how can do it
i have done about 10 now

Re: 3.8 V6 into my bighorn

Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 9:01 am
by nb422
Actually the later isuzu 6ve1 manual box is identical bolt pattern to the 3.8 so bolts up. I am now trying to work out if this is still the case for the 3.2 6vd1 instead of an adapter plate