Hi.
Anyone with a ~2litre 4banger like a Toyota RWD pickup drivetrain engine+transmission ?
Do not need power, do not need 4WD, do not need more computers on board, do not need performance, do not need to play in the mud/sand/rocks/snow. Any 4 cylinder option ?
BMW 218i / 228i ? + ZF 8HP50 ?

 

BMW might not be a bad way to go but I'd suggest something like a 2L X3 engine. This way you get a 4WD 8HP. There are a couple companies that make 4WD 8HP to LT230 adapters. This way the entire driveline from TCASE to the wheels would remain OEM. This makes the drive shafts, e brake and a bunch of other stuff no longer an issue.

This is exactly what I did with my VW diesel swapped Land rover. Although I used a 6 speed manual transmission.

 

If lack of computers are your thing, an 8hp is the last thing I'm looking at


In the late 80s/early 90s some jeep Cherokees and Comanches came with the aw4 and 2.5 4 cylinder engine. These came with a 4.56 rear axle (2wd) that would be valuable on marketplace to the jeep community to help recoup some of your investment funds should you acquire the entire vehicle. Axis industries has the adapter to make this transmission fit the lt230. Around 87 the 2.5 got fuel injection but even the later ones from the 90s can be converted to a carb

Another option if you don't mind losing overdrive is the iron duke legendary 4 cylinder paired with a th350. 25 years ago this would be an easily sourced and cheap couple hundred dollar package plus the adapter (a few vendors make the th350 to lt230 adapter or at least did).

Neither combo is plentiful everywhere like it used to be but parts/repairs/up keep on those power trains would be easy and readily available for many more years to come.


I'd want to keep 4wd to play in the snow.

If you are wanting to say screw 4wd buy any reasonably priced rwd pick-up or suv, steal the rear axle, engine and transmission, drop it in. Use wheel spacer adapters and call it a day.