Sorry to be so blunt, but you’re crazy. If it is in as great condition as you say, sell it to somebody in a flat state such as Ohio where the hills won’t get in the way. Use the proceeds to buy what you want (second hand if money is an issue). Swapping out the engine takes on a lot of risk and to infer from you post, switching from an automatic transmission to a manual (stealing the words of Ray and Tom) is the equivalent of giving a car a sex change. I’m just afraid that if you attempt the change it’ll never be the same again. Alternatively, find a v8 that is rusting away in Margaritaville but has a good drive train and put your gear on it.
“The infamous 20 mph over Eisenhower Pass was back in 1994, when the Rodeo was almost new.”
I find it hard to believe this car with a manual transmission could be so lame in the mountains, Are you familiar with downshifting and running up the rpm?
Assuming this is a high mileage vehicle, a super charger, or a turbo, or any modification along these lines would most assuredly be a death sentence for the piston rings and valve train. I think that putting a V8 in this car is a great idea IF you have the $$$$. Otherwise, I’m certain you could find a low mileage engine out of a wrecking yard that would double the life of the vehicle (if the rest of it is in as good of shape as you say it is. ) Check your compression. Oh, and when was the last time you replaced your catalytic converter (or is that Cadillac converter? I can never remember, but I never got a Cadillac out of one…)
You’re mostly right. Except we actually drove the Rodeo over Eisenhower Pass (and watched the VW bugs whizzing by) the same year we bought it. Compared to our '86 Trooper, the Rodeo was a muscle car. But 20 mph on I-70, no matter the elevation or grade, is unacceptable.
And you’re spot-on about the safety issues - in consideration of which, probably neither of us should be driving it. And neither of us feels any attachment to the CRV. Oh, did I mention we also have a DeLorean (started up twice a year) and a 2008 Nissan Altima red spoiler-ed sport-thing (maybe 2K miles on it) sitting in our garage? I guess we’re both hopeless sentimentalists.
Thanks for the feedback.
That is exactly why I mentioned the word crazy in the - I quote myself - “the most flattering way” 
You’re doing just fine. Nothing wrong with being attached to the Rodeo. It’s just your original question about swapping the engine that you should - as your significant other rightfully point out - abandon. For your occasional trips to Santa Fe and don’t like to Rodeo’s performance simply take the CRV or the Altima. Those will also handle the Eisenhower Pass with ease if you ever decide to go there again I am also curious about that 56 Chevy Good luck with everything!
The 20 mph was in third gear. But I appreciate your disbelief about the Rodeo’s performance - because I’ve also never accepted various dealers’ and mechanics’ claims that the truck simply wasn’t built for high altitude driving (it’s an SUV, for pete’s sake) and/or is “under-powered.” I don’t suppose you know a good Japanese vehicle diagnostician in NM or even AZ? We take the Rodeo to ABQ’s Japanese Car Company, but they (possibly with my husband’s prompting) just laugh at me.
By that same reasoning, most (mentally healthy) parents are able to let go of their adult sons and daughters. Are you more attached to a machine than you are to people?
Having an emotional attachment is understandable. I feel the same, but to a lesser extent. However, not being able to break the attachment is unhealthy (even more so when it is a machine).
Replacing just the engine and drivetrain with anythng reliabel will cost you much more than trading it for a new SUV. Replacing engines and drivetrains with larger units that the vehicle is not designed for is a costly endeavor, frought with challanges, and in some case the chassis then needs major work to accomodate the new weight and power.
Your best bet is to simply trade it. But don’t make the mistake of assuming you need a big V8. Test drive some of the new vehicles without preconceived ideas. You may find that some of the new V6’s have plenty of power. There are even high performance sports cars out there with V6 engines…the Nissan 370Z for one.
Your posting puts me in mind of my 1994 Isuzu pickup. It had a 4cyl engine and not much power but I had it for about 14 years and 225,000mi when it was totaled in a rear-end collision. Little ever went wrong with it. I still miss it.
I am glad it was not a problem with the concept of down shifting, but threw it out there as you never know. Someone new to a manual might just leave it in 5th gear and expect it to go. I read one review:
Vehicle
"1993 Isuzu Rodeo S 4dr SUV
Review
I bought my 93 Rodeo LS 4WD in 95 with 70,000 miles on it. It now has 199,930 miles on it (as of 8-4-09). I’ve maintained it faithfully and other than normal wear and tear repairs (rubber hose, brakes, etc) I have not had any major repairs needed on it. I upgraded the suspension with CALMINI offroad 3" lift about 11 years ago, and even with the added stress on the driveline from the modified suspension, it still runs like a champ. Now, I use it mostly for off-roading and it has impressed other offroaders who were amazed that I was able to keep up with them on some of the more challenging trails. The body style is still attractive and it’s perfect sized SUV, not too small, not too big."
I find it hard to believe other than you have had a problem since day one. I would not do an engine change, but in your case would consider a vacation in high altitude to drop it off at a qualified mechanic and see if they can make it run like it should.
Thanks for the feedback on your 93 Rodeo. I’m glad you understand why I don’t want to let mine go. I actually already live in high altitude: Rio Rancho, NM, sits at 5,100 feet. But our local Isuzu-doctor doesn’t seem to have a clue. Maybe I should make some calls to Denver.
I feel your pain. Many of the comments I’ve received advise me to “just let it go.” Easier said than done.
I understand, but I bet most are thinking ‘If you have to have a faster vehicle, get a new(er) one, trying an engine swap will be a nightmare’. So what you might need to ‘let go’ is your hope of creating a faster Rodeo. I do think that there’s something fundamentally wrong, it should not be that slow (I never knew ANYTHING was slower than an old Beetle!).
I was thinking about the Eisenhower incident some more. You mentioned that the car has a 5-speed manual. You were going up the pass at 20 MPH in 3rd gear. This seemed to have answered the downshifting question (because you actually did downshift). After giving it some more thought I am thinking that at 20 MPH in 3rd gear uphill must have almost been lugging so low were the RPMs. I am now pretty positive that with a hearty shift down to second, flooring it and getting it up to 5000 RPM and going back into third the situation could have been resolved. Once you are revving too low in a gear uphill it’s a downward spiral. The car will go slower and slower even if you floor it more. I imagine you creeping up the hill at 1800 RPM in 3rd gear, flooring the pedal with no increase in speed. But at least it was holding its speed at 20 PMH.
Having driven a 4cylinder 5-speed 4Runner for years I think I have a certain feel for these things and this might be it.
Maybe you are just in general not revving it high enough and shifting before the optimal torque. I could usually operate my 4Runner at around 2000 RPM but when power was needed you had to rev that baby up to 4000 or 5000 RPM. At around 3000 or 3500 the real power would kick in.
What do you guys think? is that a possibility?
If it’s easier said than done, here is what I suggest: Buy a new vehicle first. Keep the old one around so you will be able to compare the two. After a while, you will fall out of love with the old vehicle and you will be ready to sell it. If you don’t fall out of love with the old vehicle, you will know the new vehicle was a mistake and you can get rid of it instead, but at that point, you might want to get fitted for a straight jacket.
For goodness sake, it’s a car, not a beloved pet you have to put down to spare it suffering. Put this in its proper perspective.
I think you hit the nail on the head. She should be driving an automatic.
That’s insulting. Would you say it if I were a guy? BTW, I’ve been driving a stick for almost 50 years.
Apart from the question insult or not: Do you think there may be merit to my hypothesis or is it bogus?
And what about that 56 Chevy?
I’m interested in the hypothesis, and will try it out in practice. We have plenty of mtns here in NM. And thanks again for taking my dilemma seriously.
I left the 56 Chev in California in 1969 when I drove back home to Michigan. The Chev had a cracked block, so I borrowed $400 from my grandfather and bought a very used Roto Rooter truck to haul my belongings back east via Vancouver, BC, and the Trans Canada Hwy. Made it home without a hitch.
I believe you must pass an emissions test in ABQ…That makes engine swapping almost impossible. Even if you could do it, all of todays engines have computerized controls that just don’t swap very easily…The finished product is just not worth the effort…