94 FZJ80 6.2 conversion begins!

[icecruiser]

I stuffed a 6.5L TD-4L80 in my 80-1-HDT in 2005 from a Suburban 2500 97.

[smileyboy]

Don't mean to hijack the thread. But, tell us about it. Performance, efficiency, reliable. Would you do it again?

[made4surf]

Originally Posted by icecruiser

I stuffed a 6.5L TD-4L80 in my 80-1-HDT in 2005 from a Suburban 2500 97.

Why would you sell such a cool ride?

[rtarh2o]

That is a nice swap, if I were running 44's I am sure I would have needed the 6.5TD! Would be great to see more pictures. It is amazing how the 6.2/6.5 conversion is fairly popular everywhere but here in the states where the engines are so available. I actually read some of the customer reviews on a couple Australian websites that helped steer me that direction.

[smileyboy]

Originally Posted by rtarh2o

That is a nice swap, if I were running 44's I am sure I would have needed the 6.5TD! Would be great to see more pictures. It is amazing how the 6.2/6.5 conversion is fairly popular everywhere but here in the states where the engines are so available. I actually read some of the customer reviews on a couple Australian websites that helped steer me that direction.

LOL I know. I have found the same. Everyone seems to use them elsewhere. I even emailed a company in Australia and they just raved about the engines and why they were the only diesels worth of the conversion.

[rtarh2o]

I guess the grass is always greener, I wonder if they would trade us a boatload of 6.2's for a boatload of Toyota diesels? That was my first choice but couldn't find or afford one! I think I am going to be quite happy with the 6.2, just wish I could get the muffler shop to get to work on it, 2 workers out sick all week! I guess I have waited this long another week shouldn't kill me!

[icecruiser]

I dont have many pictures but here is one.

[smileyboy]

Wowo looks cool. How did it run for ya?

[rtarh2o]

Must be kinda hard parking that at the mall, not real practical here but I would love to have it anyway! That must be alot of fun taking those out on the ice. What gearing and suspension is on that?

[made4surf]

Do you guys in Iceland make you own fender flares or is there a company over there that manufactures them? They look like the stock ones on steroids.

[icecruiser]

rtarh2o, if your cruiser is not suspension lifted you will have some trouble fitting the 6.5 td. The orginal turbomanifold interfears with the shock tower on the frame. My yoda is (or was) lifted ca 18cm on suspension so I lowerd the shock tower to fit the engine. A 5cm body lift would have helped on fitting the Suburban radiator, I lowerd the front body mount to fit the very wide Chevy rad and used a 11 blade fan. A big rad is a must for this mod up here when driving in up to 1 meter deep powder fuel use can go up to 100 liters per 100 kilometers so that makes a lot of heat. But thats only in extreme conditions. I used 4.88 gears and all dealer imported cruisers here have lockers. If you turbo your engine keep the boost low 6-8psi max or you will have headgasket problems, and with big diesel engine power the inputshaft on a 700 trans snaps... Many moons ago the 6.2L was the most popular engine swap up here.

Ps. Now my 1HD-T will go in my #eep Grand Cherokee and i have got a 7.3 Power Stroke for my 78 chevy pu

[smileyboy]

LOL too funny. Jeep gets the Yota engine and the chevy gets to ford engine. So the 6.5td 80 should have a lift? Would the stock OME lift do? I believe it lifts the truck 1 inch or so. 6.5tds are cheap here. I think that may be the way to go for me.

[rtarh2o]

I did my 6.2 swap with the ome, oem lift (gets confusing) It did raise it about an inch. I also did a 1" body lift just to give me more room for exhaust, fuel lines etc. A suspension is not going to help clear the shock tower anyway unless it is a really big lift like his and allows you to lower the shock tower. Check in this thread, I think there is a picture of a FZJ80 with a 6.5TD, I am pretty sure it will fit without any lift. The only place I notice a potential problem is the front driveshaft clearance with the transmission pan.
Rusty

[fzjconvert]

still waiting for the outcome! I was reading this thead and is like reading a good book. Only to find some has rip out the last ten pages....

[rtarh2o]

I took my 6.2 FZJ80 to the exhaust/transmission shop 2 weeks ago today! I thought at the time it was maybe a 2 day job, if they would actually work on it it would just be a several hour job. I have been checking on it everyday. All they are doing to the transmission is hooking up the lock-up cable (I think that is what it is called) I was in there yesterday and they said they needed to modify the bracket for the cable, I was afraid this would take another several days so I took the bracket home with the cable and made a round hole square so the cable would snap into it. I returned the cable later and stayed to watch the guy put it on. Finally late yesterday they got it on the rack to build the exhaust. Checked on it today and still nothing but they guy was suppossed to stay until it was finished tonight. I will check on it tomorrow, not really expecting anything though. The shop has had 2 guys out sick for over a week and they are swamped with more work than they have ever had, just my luck! Anyway, hope to get it back tomorrow but unfortunately I have to go out of town tomorrow night so I won't get to do much with it until Sunday afternoon. I will post something as soon as I drive it though.

[made4surf]

Man..... they are lagging. Here's some pics of mine, I think my exhaust guy did it in about three hours but I had brand
new down pipes from my dads old suburban that he modified for my cruiser.

[made4surf]

[made4surf]

Sorry, I thought I had some better photo's but this is all I have for right now.

[rtarh2o]

I should have gotten more of the exhaust, I think they are having trouble finding flange bolts (metric) and maybe even flanges. It is sort of typical of my luck. I talked to the guys a few weeks ago about doing it. At the time it was slow for them so they said it wasn't a problem. It made sense at the time to take it to them because I needed both exhaust and transmission work, they do both plus they are willing to fabricate things if needed, just a little slowly. Anyway, I think they are finally on it, I will stop by there in the morning and hope to pick it up tomorrow at some point so I don't have to wait until Monday! I don't think they have more than about 30 minutes work in it so far, it has just been sitting. If I was brave I would take it out town with me tomorrow night but I need to check alot of things out before I head out on a 300 mile trip. Maybe next time.
Will post my thoughts as soon as it hits the road.

[smileyboy]

Can't wait. What size exhaust u getting? Stainless steell

[Chas Stricker]

It's looking great. I think you'll be very happy with the power and mileage. Mine was way tired and still put out 15mpg on the highway and city. I did put the banks on it though. Keep plugging away.
Chas

[rtarh2o]

Checked back on my 80 today. They don't have any flanges to fit it so they are heading to the salvage yard tomorrow morning to find some, maybe even pick up a bit of the downtube to help them out. Our local salvage yards are so bad though I am not holding my breath. I am out of town until Sunday so will go check again Monday morning, they are going to try to get it to me then. I am going with a 2.5 - 3.0" exhaust whatever they can fit under everything, not stainless, I am sure that would take another several weeks! Will post again on Monday, hopefully with good news.
Rusty

[mac]

Nice work. Very tidy install.

I may have missed it, but did you pull the pan and check the #2,3,and 4 main bearng web? I just tore down a couple of these and they were both cracked. If I was planning on a long term relationship with one of these engines I'd be installing a DSG main bearing girdle and possibly some ARP head studs.

[made4surf]

Originally Posted by Chas Stricker

It's looking great. I think you'll be very happy with the power and mileage. Mine was way tired and still put out 15mpg on the highway and city. I did put the banks on it though. Keep plugging away.
Chas

Do you have a pic of the banks installed?

Did your engine get pretty warm with turbo while climbing up grades?

[Chas Stricker]

I'll look for the photos. Heat was never an issue. I wrapped the turbo housing and down pipe with heat wrap and it was fine even in the summer here. I also had a huge radiator in the front to keep the temp down.
Chas

[rtarh2o]

I did pull the oil pan and checked but not really thoroughly. I swapped the military oil pan out and looked at it while I had it off, I didn't notice any cracks but if they are hairline type cracks I could have missed them. I was amazed however at how clean everything looked. Hopefully it is ok, I would hate to have to tear it down anytime soon although it would be really easy compared to the 1FZE.
Going to go check on it Monday and hope to get it home but not really counting on it.
Rusty

[Dazza]

what size exhaust and type of muffler are you guys using?

I am thinking of going from stock manifolds to 3" single pipe... was looking online and saw that stock gm used dual 2 1/2 with restrictive muffler.

not sure what would be best. Seems like the sinlge 3" would be easier to route under the vehicle and sound better(I like loud...)

have no idea what type of muffler to use, have heard these sound cool with a flowmaster, but want t see what all options are.

[Chas Stricker]

I used 3 inch and very few smooth bends. I also used a flow through muffler(you could look straight through) from a drag car I bought at Summit. With the turbo is was quiet even without the muffler. I think unless you build it for gobs of power and fuel all you'll need is a 3 inch single. Good luck,
Chas