Isuzu Pup Diesel

[deerefan]

As fuel prices climb and talks of small diesel trucks escalate, I recall Isuzu making a small truck with a diesel engine and 4 or 5 speed manual trans that was pretty durable and got excellent fuel mileage. A chilhood neighbor had one, but I have not seen one in years. Does anyone own one, what type of mileage does it actually get? It would be nice to see something like this more commonly in America, though with a little better tow capacity.

 

[RobertN]

In the late '80's I had a friend with a diesel Toyota. He got 40-50mpg. But it was a slug; non turbo. He did a lot of white water rafting and kayaking; he drove that truck all over with river gear.

The issue does not seem to be availability; there are a number of trucks on the international market. It is the US EPA and Safety regulations that seem to limit imports, and efforts by the US manufacturers to build them.

It has been discussed here how nice, even in the full size market, it would be to have a mileage diesel. All the effort seems to be in the HP wars of the Big-3.

I have mentioned before, I would like a 1/2 ton Dodge or Ford with 30mpg diesel, even at a loss of HP compared to the 400hp/800ftlb motors in the latest 3/4 and 1 tons.

Kind of like the way gas engines have been for years; you could get a moderate performance smallblock, or a ground pounding bigblock.

 

[deerefan]

In the late '80's I had a friend with a diesel Toyota. He got 40-50mpg. But it was a slug; non turbo. He did a lot of white water rafting and kayaking; he drove that truck all over with river gear.

The issue does not seem to be availability; there are a number of trucks on the international market. It is the US EPA and Safety regulations that seem to limit imports, and efforts by the US manufacturers to build them.

It has been discussed here how nice, even in the full size market, it would be to have a mileage diesel. All the effort seems to be in the HP wars of the Big-3.

I have mentioned before, I would like a 1/2 ton Dodge or Ford with 30mpg diesel, even at a loss of HP compared to the 400hp/800ftlb motors in the latest 3/4 and 1 tons.

Kind of like the way gas engines have been for years; you could get a moderate performance smallblock, or a ground pounding bigblock.

I do recall that isuzu not being real peppy, I think it had only 70 hp or something. He had a pile of miles on it and it was reliable. It would be great for what I do.

 

[dodge man]

The problem with the Izuzu's in this area was they were pretty rusty after a few years. I'm also not so sure they were all the reliable. I had a friend that got into the VW pickups with the diesels. They were based on the Rabbit body, got great mileage, but were really more of a car than a truck.

 

[Bird]

A friend who owned a paint & body shop bought one of the Isuzu diesel pickups in 1980. It was run hard and mistreated, but had about 75k trouble free miles on it by the time I bought a 1981 Isuzu I-Mark sedan with the little diesel. Then in 1984, my dad bought a new 1982 Chevy Luv pickup the dealer still had in stock. For those who didn't know it already, the diesel Chevy Luv back then was simply an Isuzu diesel. In 1989, one of my brothers was selling Chevrolets/Buicks/RVs. He bought the little Chevy Luv from Dad and gave it to his teenage son when he sold Dad a new standard size half ton pickup. Than a few years later, my brother gave the little Chevy Luv to a stepson in Alaska. That little truck had a lot of miles on it the last time I heard from it, but I don't know how many. In 1986, we got my wife a new vehicle and gave the Isuzu I-Mark sedan to our eldest daughter. It had 80K miles on at that time. Daughter finally traded it off when it had a little over 150k miles on it. I think those engines and transmissions (both manual in the pickups and automatic in the sedan) were nearly indestructible, and I'd lover to have one now, but as dodge man said, body rust was common.

 

[jonyyuma]

As fuel prices climb and talks of small diesel trucks escalate, I recall Isuzu making a small truck with a diesel engine and 4 or 5 speed manual trans that was pretty durable and got excellent fuel mileage. A chilhood neighbor had one, but I have not seen one in years. Does anyone own one, what type of mileage does it actually get? It would be nice to see something like this more commonly in America, though with a little better tow capacity.

Okay,I Have a 1984 S-10 with the 2.2 Isuzu diesel in my front yard. The t-10 transmission is broken, bad bearing chewed on the main input shaft. It produced 62 hp. and ran 33 mpg mixed driving to work for 14 years..I special ordered it new.... the body needs paint. the tires have gone flat and air compressor is bad. I will take a look at OFFERS?...Jy.

 

[deerefan]

A friend who owned a paint & body shop bought one of the Isuzu diesel pickups in 1980. It was run hard and mistreated, but had about 75k trouble free miles on it by the time I bought a 1981 Isuzu I-Mark sedan with the little diesel. Then in 1984, my dad bought a new 1982 Chevy Luv pickup the dealer still had in stock. For those who didn't know it already, the diesel Chevy Luv back then was simply an Isuzu diesel. In 1989, one of my brothers was selling Chevrolets/Buicks/RVs. He bought the little Chevy Luv from Dad and gave it to his teenage son when he sold Dad a new standard size half ton pickup. Than a few years later, my brother gave the little Chevy Luv to a stepson in Alaska. That little truck had a lot of miles on it the last time I heard from it, but I don't know how many. In 1986, we got my wife a new vehicle and gave the Isuzu I-Mark sedan to our eldest daughter. It had 80K miles on at that time. Daughter finally traded it off when it had a little over 150k miles on it. I think those engines and transmissions (both manual in the pickups and automatic in the sedan) were nearly indestructible, and I'd lover to have one now, but as dodge man said, body rust was common.

If I remember, they were 4 cylinder engines, something like 2.0 litres or 140cu/in, right?

 

[jonyyuma]

Precisely 2.2, non-turbo and 144cu. in. I turned the air off when taking off from a light .. the chevette was even smaller isuzu engine, then there was w diesel escort and i drove an enimic Nisson diesel, that was new and pathetic...JY.

 

[Kermitfrog]

Sure enough most of them rusted away before their drivetrains died. I've had various 4cyl diesels and my brother had a Pup diesel 4WD new. Been looking for one but they are few and far between. When I was in the middle east working for our uncle Sam my unit used to get unmarked trucks, they were great! We used Misubishi and Toyota diesels and they were built great and held up to our abuse.

 

[jonyyuma]

I saw truck loads of a gm product streatched 4 doors, S-10, not made for USA.They were all going to Brazil.. they had turbos fitted to them. TheyTmust have been military, but were different colors like police??he 1986 s-10 had a turbo on an 4 cyl isuzu engine. Few were produced and sold then small diesels just faded form the car lots..

 

[schoolsout]

The problem with the Izuzu's in this area was they were pretty rusty after a few years. I'm also not so sure they were all the reliable. I had a friend that got into the VW pickups with the diesels. They were based on the Rabbit body, got great mileage, but were really more of a car than a truck.

Had a customer that had a fleet of Pups about 100-150 at all times throughout all of his locations. Best truck he has ever owned...couldn't kill them.

There are some dedicated sites for the Pups, I think. It's kind of a "cult" item now so there is a premium for them, if I recall correctly. I looked to get one a few years back, but didn't really pursue it much.

 

[Bird]

If I remember, they were 4 cylinder engines, something like 2.0 litres or 140cu/in, right?

They were definitely 4 cylinder and I couldn't remember whether it was 2.0 or 2.2 liter so I'll take yonyyuma's word that it was 2.2L. Another interesting thing was that a close friend and neighbor across the alley had bought a new 1980 Mercedes 240d (2.4L diesel). We set it and our I-Mark side by side and opened the hoods to see how similar or different they were. They looked almost identical except that (1) the Mercedes engine was slightly larger, (2) Isuzu used a normal looking 12 volt battery and the Mercedes had a loooonnng narrow battery, and (3) the fuel return line was plastic on the Mercedes and steel on the Isuzu. Of course they were both naturally aspirated and I drove that Mercedes a few times and I do believe our little Isuzu had better handling and better acceleration.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I remember Toyota, Ranger, Pup, S-10, Nissan, and a few other diesels. They were severely underpowered.

There were cars also like the Rabbit, Chevette, Escort, ect. Again, dogs.

There is a guy on here that has taken a tractor 3 cylinder engine out of a Jinma and put it in a Mazda pickup, same thing as a ranger. There is a long thread on it.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

I remember Toyota, Ranger, Pup, S-10, Nissan, and a few other diesels. They were severely underpowered.

There were cars also like the Rabbit, Chevette, Escort, ect. Again, dogs.

There is a guy on here that has taken a tractor 3 cylinder engine out of a Jinma and put it in a Mazda pickup, same thing as a ranger. There is a long thread on it.

Chris

I would like to find one in 4wd if possible. I farm and work in construction, spending 40% of my time off road. I currently use my 97 F150 4x4 for this but it get 15mpg @ best and I do not need the capacity of a full size truck for work or just cruising pastures. You are right, they are difficult to find. I think an interesting swap wouldbe one of these motors into a mud boat which are popular in the swamps here in louisiana. My old boss put a 4cyl engine (gas) out of a datsun in one he was building.

 

[Bird]

I once met a fellow, as a result of an accident he'd been in, who had one of the Isuzu diesel pickups. This was after they quit selling them in this country and he had just been involved in an accident that totalled his little pickup. He said he didn't know just what he was going to do because he couldn't think of any other vehicle that he could use as he'd been using the Isuzu. He hauled hay, and I guess sometimes range cubes, into the pasture for his cattle and he could put that little diesel in first gear, let the clutch out, leave it idling, and get out and walk along beside it throwing out the feed or hay for the cattle. I could understand that because I'd seen myself how slow it would go at idle in first gear and still have enough power that there was no danger of it killing the engine.

 

[jonyyuma]

The best Diesel of the 3 have driven was a 82 mercedes Benz 300 td. It is still here with nearly 300k. I always wanted to transplant it into a lighter sports car like a Firebird.It runs like the wind from 50 to 85, which has a pin in the speedo. It still is winding up and flys low......have no doubt it will do 120 with most v-8s from a running start. It is 3 liters and 120 hp from factory. the non-turbos were 85 hp. My kin had a Pup. it ran about like my S-10, but died of rust at 350k as all were exposed to the rust from the japanese transit across the seas...Never saw one with out a rusty tailgate. They sold thousands in Arkanasas, until the year the S-10 came out..

 

[ndrmyr]

I also recall Mitsubishi selling a small turbo diesel in the early/mid 80's, also sold under the Dodge Ram 50 badge. Available in 4x4, and extended cab, they were surprisingly peppy, and accelerated briskly, but were also prone to rust. It is sad that a similar vehicle just isn't sold in the US market today. I suspect that $6 gas prices will resurrect in our market. Many diesels are sold in Europe because of much high gas than diesel prices due to taxation.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I once met a fellow, as a result of an accident he'd been in, who had one of the Isuzu diesel pickups. This was after they quit selling them in this country and he had just been involved in an accident that totalled his little pickup. He said he didn't know just what he was going to do because he couldn't think of any other vehicle that he could use as he'd been using the Isuzu. He hauled hay, and I guess sometimes range cubes, into the pasture for his cattle and he could put that little diesel in first gear, let the clutch out, leave it idling, and get out and walk along beside it throwing out the feed or hay for the cattle. I could understand that because I'd seen myself how slow it would go at idle in first gear and still have enough power that there was no danger of it killing the engine.

The guy who cuts the hay in the field across the street does just that. He has about a 97 or 99 F-350 SRW. Its a stick and a granny gear in it. He just puts it in 4 Low and its so slow he has to wait on it when he is trowing bales in the bed and on the trailer behind it.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

The guy who cuts the hay in the field across the street does just that. He has about a 97 or 99 F-350 SRW. Its a stick and a granny gear in it. He just puts it in 4 Low and its so slow he has to wait on it when he is trowing bales in the bed and on the trailer behind it.

Chris

Pretty much what I will use it for if I can find one. Do not want one too rusty or beat up because I plan to drive it daily. Makes my pickings kind of slim.

 

[RobertN]

Weren't they all in that time-frame though? Any of those non turbo diesels. Even the first non turbo Ford 7.3's.

I remember Toyota, Ranger, Pup, S-10, Nissan, and a few other diesels. They were severely underpowered.