G200 KB Rodeo

[Sphoenix]

Hello all. I have a 87 KB Rodeo 4WD as a work ute, with a G200 engine. It's too slow! I'm looking at changing the engine, but for something different, I want to keep the original box and transfer case, therefore maintaining the 4WD system.
I have found that Castlemaine Rod shop do an adapter plate to bolt a V6 commodore engine to the rodeo 4cyld gearbox (I haven't confirmed if that's for the early Rodeo or later 2.6 style), and have heard of people bolting 202's to rodeo/gemini gearboxes (with an adapter plate), but would think that would be way to long for the engine bay.
Does anyone know of or have heard of any other combos that have been bolted to or inplace of gemini/rodeo G160, G180 or G200 engines?

[IZU069]

Would a 4ZD1 (2.3L carby) or 4ZE1 (2.6L EFI) do the trick?

RodeoBob would be the one to advise for fitting, but I don't think it's tooo difficult. The 4Z's have a similar gearbox, though the 4ZE1 went to a larger box (& diff), but it still bolts on AFAIK.

I thought the '87 Rodeo would have had the 2.3L (4ZD1). The E1s started in 1989.

Both engines are reasonably torquey which should suit a work ute, and extending the length of the 2 pipe section in the 4:2:1 exhaust should boost the torque. (Not that I have experience with the 4Zs, but by fitting a 26" twin pipe to the standard exhaust manifold on my standard EFI G200W (G200 twincam) - albeit with twin DCOE45 Webers - doubled the torque from ~186Nm@5k RPM to 300Nm@2k & a peak of 383Nm@3k. That meant more torque than a V8 with best fuel economy at 3K RPM.)

But hopefully RodeoBob, Poida or others can provide better info.

A 4Z should save the cost of Holden adaptors. You might be better off fitting the Holden V6 with its gearbox and just modifying the driveshaft (maybe just the length as some of the Gemini/Rodeo/Jackaroo etc splines are the same as some Holdens (autos?).
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Isuzu means a lot to me
(Caveat Emptor: But I've never owned a Gemini)