1FZ-FE Failed, help decide what to do

[MPolley]

My family was borrowing my LX450 and the engine lost all oil pressure, overheated, and is knocking.

This was unexpected and I don't have the time or budget right now I would like to have for this project. My ultimate goal was to diesel swap this truck so that all my vehicles would be diesel (I have 2 VW TDI cars), but not sure I can pull that off right now.

Here are the options I'm looking at and have read up on. I can't find definitive cost or time.numbers on here, and need help deciding which way to go.

• Isuzu 4BD2T-would get me the diesel I want at a low price. I read on ecomodder a guy used the stock trans but he never finished the thread so not sure if it works that way ir not
• LS swap. 5.3s are a dime a dozen and good power. I work part time at a trans shop so can get a 4l60e beefed up cheap. Major turn off for me is the $1300 price tag on adapter kits
• 2UZ-FE swap-I can use stock a343f trans with a bellhousing and valve body swap, early 2000s models will be simple wiring it looks like. Non-VVT engines arent much of a power upfrade. I loved the VVT/a750f in my Tundra, but wouldnt be using that particular setup
• Rebuild the 1FZ-FE--outrageously expensive and stil end up with mediocre power and abysmal fuel,economy

What is the most cost effective and quickest route? I would love to improve power and fuel economy so that I drive it more often

Thanks in advance!

 

[slow95z]

Just get one from a part out? Can find a good 1fz for a grand.

 

[MPolley]

Just get one from a part out? Can find a good 1fz for a grand.

I hadn't seen any that cheap unless they were blown or had way more miles than my truck (220k)

I will check the Mud classifieds again

 

[slow95z]

I have sold several in the 1k range. Put out a wanted thread. They can be found if you can wait a few days.

 

[MPolley]

I have sold several in the 1k range. Put out a wanted thread. They can be found if you can wait a few days.

I will definitely do that. I'm not too crazy about the 1fz engine compared to other options but replacing with a used one will be the cheapest route for sure.

I'm not in a major rush because it's not my daily driver, thankfully. I use it on the weekends and it's the only automatic transmission vehicle I own so I loan it to my family when they need an extra vehicle.

 

[Kernal]

Had the engine been worked on recently, crank pulley/harmonic balancer removed/replaced??

 

[SmokingRocks]

it isn't 'outrageously expensive' to rebuild the 1fz-fe if you do the labor yourself. In fact it will be thousands cheaper than any swap.

The most costly swap would be the 2UZ, those vvti engines are not cheap.

 

[Azca]

Really depends on you. If time is an issue and you use this as a DD, you really only have two choices rebuild or buy used. Rebuild, if you do it yourself can be done for about $2,500 to $3,000. You can also buy a short block which, in hindsight, was what I should have done but money was a big issue at the time.

If it is not your DD then I would do the LS. There have been far more of them done, and there is a good pool of people here on mud who have done them. The diesel maybe nice but, there would appear to be a significantly smaller pool of information and parts available which, equals more time and money.

The 2uz is a great engine but, you are not getting a lot for the effort and as it ages, parts availability and cost will become factors.

Good luck with this and hope, in the end, it works out well for you!

 

[BerettaMato]

Just get one from a part out? Can find a good 1fz for a grand.

This would be your best option and buy you the time to save up for the diesel swap in a few years. I have a stock motor for sale. If the buyer I have backs out I will let you know.

 

[scottryana]

Who’s doing the work? Have they done a swap before? Do they have time/space/equipment to do the swap?

Buying the engine or trans is the least of your worries for a swap. It’s all the little things that take time and money. I would say the last 20-25% takes as much time and money as the first 75-80%. Lol

 

[SmokingRocks]

This ^ is why I elected to rebuild rather than swap.

 

[-Spike-]

A local recently sold his 80 after a similar experience. The new owner pulled the pan and fixed the problem for about $200.

 

[MPolley]

Had the engine been worked on recently, crank pulley/harmonic balancer removed/replaced??

No idea. I have only done some maintenance since I bought it

it isn't 'outrageously expensive' to rebuild the 1fz-fe if you do the labor yourself. In fact it will be thousands cheaper than any swap.

The most costly swap would be the 2UZ, those vvti engines are not cheap.

I was going to go with a non-VVTi 2UZ which was much cheaper, but cost/performance doesnt add up

Really depends on you. If time is an issue and you use this as a DD, you really only have two choices rebuild or buy used. Rebuild, if you do it yourself can be done for about $2,500 to $3,000. You can also buy a short block which, in hindsight, was what I should have done but money was a big issue at the time.

If it is not your DD then I would do the LS. There have been far more of them done, and there is a good pool of people here on mud who have done them. The diesel maybe nice but, there would appear to be a significantly smaller pool of information and parts available which, equals more time and money.

The 2uz is a great engine but, you are not getting a lot for the effort and as it ages, parts availability and cost will become factors.

Good luck with this and hope, in the end, it works out well for you!

It's not my DD but I plan on moving in a couple months so time is an issue unless I wait until after the move to start and just tow it to the new place

This would be your best option and buy you the time to save up for the diesel swap in a few years. I have a stock motor for sale. If the buyer I have backs out I will let you know.

I appreciate it!

Who’s doing the work? Have they done a swap before? Do they have time/space/equipment to do the swap?

Buying the engine or trans is the least of your worries for a swap. It’s all the little things that take time and money. I would say the last 20-25% takes as much time and money as the first 75-80%. Lol

I'm doing the work. I've got a lot of automotive experience, but this will be my first swap other than Hondas. I may wait until I move and have a place where I can work indoors vs working in the driveway.

This is my snow vehicle/home depot rig/ fun vehicle, so I hate to have it down but can live without it if need be

 

[MPolley]

A local recently sold his 80 after a similar experience. The new owner pulled the pan and fixed the problem for about $200.

What did the problem end up being?

 

[Dave 2000]

Sorry I cannot help your decision but, this is exactly why everyone should 'T' in an oil pressure light and buzzer.

Regards

Dave

 

[-Spike-]

What did the problem end up being?

Bearings. Not sure which.

 

[cowboyjack]

Wow. If I could have found a decent used engine for $1,000 I would have swapped a used engine in when my bearing spun. Nut came loose on the rod cap. How random is that?

But the only used engines I found were of questionable ancestry, zero maintenance history, and/or had 200k + miles on them and were closer to $2,000.

Just rebuilt my 1FZ-FE, using a new OEM short block and pretty much all new accessories. Could have used the old block and saved about $2,500. Am in about $7,500 on parts including rebuilding the head and new water pump, fan clutch, alternator, starter, etc. Made sense to me to do it all "while we were in there." Couldn't do all of the mechanical work myself, so ended up right around $10,500, all in. But now I have an engine I know will run another 200k miles at least, if not more. And it runs like a brand new cruiser. Over 10 years, that's less than $100 a month, to my way of thinking.

And yes, definitely added in an oil pressure gauge with warning light/buzzer and coolant temp gauge.

Shopping around, LS swaps looked to me to be about $10k by the time you got a newer engine, the adapters, wiring and misc. parts. AND if you can do the swap yourself. If you have to hire it out, you are looking at closer to $20k. Sure, folks write about doing a whole swap for two hundred bucks and my hat is off to them. (Mild sarcasm.)

I'd LOVE to have a diesel swap, but it looked to me to be a bit more hassle and money than doing an LS swap. But then you DO have the diesel.

Just my experience, your mileage may vary.

 

[jpoole]

Moving sucks enough as it is so I'd probably wait to start any large tasks on the truck to avoid overlap or an immobile truck and scattered/loose parts getting added to your move.

Depending on how long you want to have the truck, etc. you may want to install a used engine and then rebuild your current one over the long run, etc. Here's an engine that popped up recently and is out of a wrecked 80 if I'm not mistaken:

1996 Toyota Land Cruiser LX450 fzj80 Engine Motor 1FZ-FE

I've seen sub 200k engines in junkyards as well:

Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

A bit of a gamble but given how solid these engines typically are is a safer bet than used engines for most vehicles. I'd consider some seal replacement including the HG before install but don't think it's a requirement since most can be done with the engine installed and you may want to find out how well the engine runs before spending money on it.

Seems like a swap is a great option if you are excited about it and up for the extra effort that will be required to get it dialed in etc. A rebuilt/used 1FZ will probably be a lot more straightforward and more predictable transition.

Maybe in the next few months you can nail down exactly what the problem is and try an easier fix pre swap? It's much more likely with the help of our fellow mudders and the shared experience/wisdom or at least creative thinking.

 

[inkpot]

Bearings. Not sure which.

Pretty sure it was a rod bearing instead of a main bearing on the crank.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

I'll be interested in which direction you go. Mine needs to be rebuilt, so I am pricing that option out now. I have a bottom end knock, but I don't want to go all out and do a swap, as I am happy with the current power given my needs and I want to keep it fairly stock.

Good luck in your decision.