First, I should say that I don't know anything about diesels-- but I have been wondering when someone was going to put a 3.0L Duramax into an 80 series. Straight six, crazy power, crazy gas mileage. Seems like that would be a win win win.
I know they have some sort of oil pump belt that needs to be changed every couple hundred thousand miles, and people don't like that. And who knows what kind of computer they require. But everything else sounds like it would be awesome. The original version was called an LM2, but the new ones are called LZO. I am not sure what the difference is.
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The difference is in the torque curve.
1HDxx engines, peak torque is at 1600rpm
The Duramax is 2750RPM.
That makes a huge amount of difference in drive ability. The heavier the vehicle, the more that will be felt.
Basic tuning, exhaust, turbo mods week get the same numbers, but 1000rpm or more lower in the rev range. This is what diesels are good at.
A landcruiser with a 1HDxx 4.2litre diesel will climb a brick wall at not much more than idle. Give it a tune, It'll also get you off the mark fast. Faster than people give them credit for.