Help! Should I fix or sell it? (Irmsher SWB)

[isuzuser]

Hi guys, sorry my first post has to be a tale of woe.

In a fury of Isuzu enthusiasm I purchased a 1992 Bighorn Irmscher SWB with the 3.1 turbo diesel. It's pretty tidy looking and (did) seem to run OK.

Being new to Bighorns, coming from a Nissan Terrano (which served me well), I was initially really happy with what seems like a much better made truck, I was happy with the increase in size and the general design and features of the Bighorn. It all seems to work very nice and was quite comfortable and relaxing to drive as well as being incredibly economical for what it is.

Unfortuneately I never got a chance to see what it was like offroad because the damn thing crapped out on me a week after buying it and I'm extremely dissillusioned with my purchase now.

I would like peoples opinion on what I should do with it now.

This is how it crapped out:
After returning from a short drive, I idled it for 20 seconds for the turbo to cool, then switched it off. No funny sounds.. seemed completely normal. Went to start it up half an hour later and all I heard was a the click sound of the starter motor trying to engage. tried it several times to no avail. The starter motor is working OK and is trying to turn the engine but it appears the engine has seized up. I removed the inspection plate to try and move the ring gear in case the starter motor had jammed but even with heavy duty force it wasnt budging.

I took it to a mechanic who has gone as far as checking the cambelt isnt broken but is not going any further because he suspects there is some major internal damage of some sort but he doesnt really know what and the next stage of discovery will cost $$ with probably little purpose according to him. I don't want to pay big dollars to find out the engine is cream crackered when I could spend that dough on a S/H engine.

My question to you guys is:

What the hell might be wrong with it?

Whats the best thing to do, look for second hand engine, and replace this one or just cut my losses and get whatever trademe or turners will give me?

Im on a bit of a budget so whatever I do will have to be done with that in mind. I dont want to spend the cost of the car rebuilding the engine just to go sell it again.

Does anyone have/know of an engine/Donor car that might be suitable?
Can anyone reccomend someone here in CHCH who could be of help in an engine swap who doesnt charge like wounded bull?

How much would I get for it if I wrecked it and how much hassle is this to do? I'm just trying to get my money back and get the hell out of it now.

Does anyone want to buy it as is? It's pretty tidy and looks like it has never seen so much as a gravel road during its entire life.

Sorry for the longwinded post, just trying to be thorough.

Would appreciate any advice

Thanks

[geeves]

To sell it broken will lose most of your money. If you bought it from a dealer then you might have some recourse there. If when investigating you find it was a problem that was covered up you might be able to claim against the seller but expect this to be hard work.
If it was running ok before stopping then seized solid my first thought is something has leaked into a combustion chamber. Try taking the glow plugs out and seeing if it turns over then. If it sprays water everywhere suspect a blown head. You could try ironite as a cheap fix but follow the instructions on the bottle. New heads are 4000 second hand half this plus gaskets.
Beyond this some dismantling is required to find out if its serious or not. The above check can be done yourself Also try removeing the tapet cover and loosening the tappet assembly and see if you can turn the engine. This will prove that valve timing isnt the cause which could be a cambelt jumping a tooth or broken pulley or stuck valve. To go furthur probably means engiine out when you will be able to check that its not a jammed auto (unlikely) and remove the sump and look inside.
So far you havent wasted any money as the engine has to come out and head and sump dont require paying the mechanic as you do these yourself.
Only other thing to check is oil level but if this was low it would knock before siezing.
Good luck

[isuzuser]

Hi Geeves, Thanks for your most helpfull answer.

I bought it privately, but I do have rights as a private buyer under the contactual remedies act apparantly,if what the buyer said persuaded me to buy it, was untrue, and caused me loss which is clearly the case. Being right in the eyes of the law and getting money from someone because of that is by no means sure though so Im not sure I'll bother.. yet.

How would I check if the tranny has locked up? Does it need the engine to be removed to fix this prob?

It's at the mechanic's still so I cant do anyting till i get it back (if i do) but I know the oil and water were fine and the temp guage hovered around the 1/3 mark on the scale.

Thanks for your help.. Still scratching my head as to what i'll do with it though..
Cheers..

[mudgrip4]

There are some guys selling isuzu parts here in chch including 3.1 motors. Can put you onto them, but you will need to find out what the issue is first.

[geeves]

Its not clearly the case that something they told you was untrue. Problem with older cars is they do break without warning in which case it could of been in fine condition when sold. You need to find evidence of a dodgy fix and prove the seller was aware of it and hadnt adjusted price accordingly. I sold a camping trailer a while ago with new warrant and current rego but sold as is. The ad quoted the condition as rusty. Buyer looked underneath and asked if the Wof issuer was a friend of mine. Everything was above board and up front so even if he had tryed I had the law on my side. If I had said excellent condition though and filled the rust with newspaper and bog he would have had every right to sue me.
The simple tests above should give you an idea of what to do but its worth spending a couple of hours on labour to prove. A second hand engine from a wrecker could cost from 2000 to 4000 and only have a 3 month warrentee. Finding a damaged Mu or Bighorn with a good motor at turners or trademe might be cheaper but there will be more cost swaping it as you have to get the engine out.
Re siezed trans It is a possibility but Ive never heard of it happening. Im assuming its auto