Question for you diesel heads

Viggen · 10-22-09, 06:49 AM

Im in school right now but scheduled to finish in a year and am starting to put together a list to build a 4Runner expedition truck. Im a huge mountain/ road biker and head out into the woods to go hiking, camping, climbing, etc... quite often and want to build a rig that will take me there comfortably. I always had 4wd suvs and then went to cars, VWs and Subarus, and now am coming back. I would like to build up a second generation 4Runner with a SAS and a diesel motor (either Toyo or VW, havent decided yet). My question is, as I plan this out, what gearing would you all suggest with a diesel and something like 33's? Im trying to put together a list so that I can slowly put things together by the time I graduate. Thanks!

liljlandon · 10-22-09, 09:29 AM

I understand the want for diesel, but is it really worth the hassle? You lose the ability of have an american oriented expedition, as parts would be few and far between.

Now, I would say 4:88's or 5:29s depending on how much highway speed driving you plan.

Dieseler · 10-22-09, 10:33 AM

Toyota 1HZ diesel

Viggen · 10-22-09, 12:09 PM

I know that the parts availability is a few days away but I really want a diesel for the economy of it. Running a lift and larger tires/ shorter gearing kills the miles per gallon and low teens is just plain embarrassing and terrible. With a diesel, the mpgs with all the mods will still be respectable. Theres just not a lot of diesel options out there for us.

pappy · 10-22-09, 12:24 PM

You might consider visiting the diesel section here at MUD.

Diesel Tech and 24 volts Systems - IH8MUD.com

Adam R · 10-27-09, 11:47 PM

If you are not in a hurry, follow the advice of liljlandon. My 2L is gear limited to about 70 mph with a 4.30 rear end. Anything higher such as 4.88 or 5.29 is definitley not the way to go. I'm planning on going to 4.10's with 35's when I transplant my engine into an 80 series. That will give me a comfortable 75 mph without being wound out and I should have the hp to move it down the road with comparative ease. I'm running almost 20 lbs of boost.

Adam R.

NorCalBorn · 10-29-09, 11:09 AM

If you're dead set on diesel, 1KZ-TE, but parts are more than a few days away, unless you're in Panama or South, then maybe 10-15 days if lucky. Stateside you're looking at 30 days minimum due to the need to import from Japan or Australia. Engines, in fact complete drop in assemblies, plug and play can be had for anywhere from $5000-9000 easily and will likely be auto-4wd from a Prado or similar.

As for gearing, as said, 4.88 or 5.29's work well if you go with the KZ-TE. The turbo does help things to spool up better.

Now, honestly, as much as I appreciate a good diesel, having even thought of it myself, and driven in the conversion, I can honestly say after driven the 3.4 swap, the 3.4 is a much better budget and parts wise undertaking in North America and down through Guatemala for the reasons I've already listed.

Considered a Cummin's swap?

Oh, and yeah, ditto, visit the diesel section and post this stuff there, there's more interactive info and peers there than here, not that we don't like you visiting.

Post pics when things are underway in my Mud Expedition Thread! http://forum.ih8mud.com/expedition-b...ion-build.html

DanS HJ-45 · 10-31-09, 10:09 AM

1) The diesels rule. Don't let these guys discourage you. Just be prepared to carry some spares with you, or at least keep them stored somewhere ready to be shipped to you if something nasty happens.

2) My faux-lux with 4.10s and 31" tires will crawl as slow as any gas truck I've seen (pappy--we should see if Milli or mine crawl slower one of these days). When I switch to 33" tires, I don't plan on anything lower than 4.56 at the moment, but then we'll see.

Now, I would ask: are you sure that a 4-runner is what you want? A 60 series with a diesel (like a 1HZ) would be just about as efficient, while still giving you more room, and a factory solid axle. If I were building a dedicated expedition rig, I don't think I'd look at the 4-runner very hard. If you are set on the 4-runner: 1KZ-TE. I'm pretty well positive that a 1HZ won't fit in a 4-runner

The diesel is the buisness. Toyota diesels are simply awesome, the 1KZ-TE is meant to be in a 4-runner. As good of an engine as the 3.4 is, I'd rather have a 1KZ-TE. Shoot, I just took a quick road trip to Utah from here and my only fuel stop was Moab (that's 8 hours away) and I could have gone another couple of hours safely. When I have driven my Dad's 3.4 Taco on the same route, I have to stop for fuel a few hours before that. Add the ability to burn biodiesel and I simply can't be convinced to own a gasser again. But then, I'm irrational that way.

Dan

KLF · 10-31-09, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanS HJ-45

A 60 series with a diesel (like a 1HZ) would be just about as efficient, while still giving you more room, and a factory solid axle. If I were building a dedicated expedition rig, I don't think I'd look at the 4-runner very hard.

Dan knows his stuff about these things. And this is the best advice I've seen so far in this thread.

Check out wagongear.com, and Kevin Rowland's highly modified FJ60 that now has a 1HZ. Now THAT'S an expedition rig. You will quickly run out of room with a 4Runner.