The issue would be the accesory drives liek for the hypdraulic pump, etc. They may not be available for another engine & then you have engine mount & space issues to design. Then when you are ll thru who can remember what parts were used to make it work?? The Namco is an older than dirt vehicle & with all the fuluid drain it's value is what teh scrap yard would pay - right now scrap prices are pretty good.

Don't see why it wouldn't work. Honda makes great stationary units but their quads are horrible. But that's a discussion for another forum.

I remember the big joke around the shop back in the 70's when we got a Namco in for repairs was to park it right next to a real forklift so it could nurse off it overnight.

Can't say I've heard of it. But anything is possible if you have teh time & $$ to do it. Being a Namco I would look for a good used truck to replace your Namco a nice 3 Wheel electric would do nicely (if it fits your applications)