13bt, 14bt, or 15bt into a LJ78??

[Mwanza Mud]

Also, about the KZ having a record of blowing heads...like I said, here they don't have that record. I mean I've looked at information that says otherwise speaking of other places, but I can't overstate how often you see this engine here...the light duty, HIace, hilux, etc., and nobody thinks it has that reputation. And, not only are there a lot here, they've been here for a long time, so its not that there are just a bunch of bombs out there waiting to blow. Independent safari companies use these engines for game-cruising from time-to-time (the LWB 70 is more popular), but there is a lot of long-distance climbing that takes place with the Great Rift Valley being an obstacle to and from game parks with each trip. So, while I'm not denying that people report problems in different countries, I still say I have to go with the word of the people who are using this engine in my environment...and their word says no worries.

All that said, I'm still not sold on it.

 

[crushers]

i have looked into this in the past when i blew the head on my wifes wheeling rig. the frames are identical except where the coil suspension is mounted and the very front where the fenders attach on the front cross member. the frame is deffinately strong enough even for the HDT.

nope the manual and 4.90 gearing is fine.

i have watched as the mini diffs stood up to V8s and 38s with gobs of torque going through them. it comes down to how you drive and how tight the diff is. remember the front diff is the same as the 81 series with the HDT. these are the same size as the rear diff.

i would look into a bit bigger rad or a rad that is in the truck you are pulling the engine from.

other than that is just a matter of fabbing what you need.

do a write up, i will enjoy the read...

Also, all LC70's coming here anymore are coil frong/leaf rear models, so I would have to agree with Wayne on that one. Anyways, I'm not concerned about the weight regarding suspension so much as whats the difference frame-wise as far as support is concerned. I mean I run this vehicle with no regard to the "light-duty" status it was given with it's name, meaning I go anywhere my colleagues go with their solid axle 105's and do so leaving considerable less ruts.

Anyway, I guess what I'm looking for is:
A. Are there any issues related to the "light duty" moniker as far as frame is concerned? If so, I haven't yet discovered it. I know it's shorter but I don't think it's weaker than its long-wheel based cousins. Somebody slap me and correct me if I'm wrong.
B. I'm talking manual transmission with the 4.88 I believe: this gonna present problems?
C. As somebody mentioned, we're talking those 8 inch diffs. If I lock one with one of these BT engines...we talking twisted metal??
D. Something else I should be thinking about that I'm not?

Jason

 

[crushers]

Also, about the KZ having a record of blowing heads...like I said, here they don't have that record. I mean I've looked at information that says otherwise speaking of other places, but I can't overstate how often you see this engine here...the light duty, HIace, hilux, etc., and nobody thinks it has that reputation. And, not only are there a lot here, they've been here for a long time, so its not that there are just a bunch of bombs out there waiting to blow. Independent safari companies use these engines for game-cruising from time-to-time (the LWB 70 is more popular), but there is a lot of long-distance climbing that takes place with the Great Rift Valley being an obstacle to and from game parks with each trip. So, while I'm not denying that people report problems in different countries, I still say I have to go with the word of the people who are using this engine in my environment...and their word says no worries.

All that said, I'm still not sold on it.

yep, stick a LJ78 into rural ontario or keep it in the city then it would probably last a long time.
same with your terrain, maybe the KZ lasts well...here i can see importers screwing the public again with promises of no problems and hundreds of cracked heads...

same s*** different pile...

 

[roscoFJ73]

yep, stick a LJ78 into rural ontario or keep it in the city then it would probably last a long time.
same with your terrain, maybe the KZ lasts well...here i can see importers screwing the public again with promises of no problems and hundreds of cracked heads...

same s*** different pile...

Wayne we've had the 1KZ and its derivatives in oz for 11 years and its a very popular engine.
The resale price of diesel 90 and 120 series is one of the best of any vehicle.
The blown head is a non issue and no worse than any other similar alloy head engine pulling around the same weight.
I am sure the canucks will take to it like aussies have

 

[crushers]

i will have to dig up that post i read on one of the Ozzie forums showing a different view point...

 

[crushers]

Wayne we've had the 1KZ and its derivatives in oz for 11 years and its a very popular engine.
The resale price of diesel 90 and 120 series is one of the best of any vehicle.
The blown head is a non issue and no worse than any other similar alloy head engine pulling around the same weight.
I am sure the canucks will take to it like aussies have

so...
based on this thread i can start buying the KZ units with no worries...right?

now to be clear here, if i invest 100G into these rigs you will guarrantee me that i will not be sitting on a dozen time bombs... you are THAT sure...

 

[roscoFJ73]

so...
based on this thread i can start buying the KZ units with no worries...right?

now to be clear here, if i invest 100G into these rigs you will guarrantee me that i will not be sitting on a dozen time bombs... you are THAT sure...

Well they were 4WD of the year several years running and are still considered the best in their class with the main opposition being the Pajero.
You dont get there in oz blowing head gaskets in the middle of the Simpson Desert.

I would not put them in the same class as the 1HZ/HD T and other landcruiser diesels,but if people want a 4 cyl 3 litre diesel with a 150 HP,they will have to endure alloy heads and electronic fuel injection

Try a few of the aussie forums,you would be hard pressed to find a bad word about them.
Hey we even have own 90/120 series forum on MUD,ask them

 

[Mwanza Mud]

All right, then, I suppose the last thing that will help me is actually looking at availability of NEW parts here in my corner. I'm gonna guess the best availability is the KZ, with the KD behind it, the BT's in numerical order from lowest to hightest.

I appreciate everybodies input. These confirmed my suspicion that "light duty" was a label given this vehicle in relation to the engine and people's view of coil suspenion, but everything else is no problem...and not really "light duty." You might not want to rock crawl, but traversing a buried boulder field...no problem.

Wayne, concerning the KZ, like you indicated it really depends on use. If people are looking for a daily driver for the hourlong interstate drive to work...maybe something else (I'd try it without hesitation, but just trying to curb my indiscriminate use of other people's money). If they are looking comfortable vehicle with a smaller diesel to fuel their trail following...I'd say this is the one.

I know from your writing you like the shortened body...well, in my opinion, this is the engine that should have been in it from the beginning. Especially if we're talking the mechanical version where you can play with the boost compensator pin to smooth out the power flow over a "wider bandwidth" as opposed to dropping it all on at 1700 RPM's or whatever.

The power comparison between the KZ and the LT's is ludicrous. Simply from a user anecdotal standpoint, it's the difference between deciding to wait to pass (LT) and looking for the first slight opening (KZ), the difference of necessarily contemplating the high to low range switch when coming upon any type of mud bog (LT) and most of the time not even thinking about it unless length and type of mud indicate otherwise (KZ).

Anyway, the .02 of a tinkerer who doesn't have control of the vocabulary but works and sees these engines everyday.

Thanks again

 

[denis]

i have watched as the mini diffs stood up to V8s and 38s with gobs of torque going through them. it comes down to how you drive and how tight the diff is. remember the front diff is the same as the 81 series with the HDT. these are the same size as the rear diff.

39/8 is NOT bombproof