1HDT into L78

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BiffS

BiffS

Too many projects... ooh, look. Something shiny.
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looking to get a 77 or a 78, but theyre not that easy to come across without a 2L.

But I've found one with a toast 2lte and i was considering swapping in someting more reliable.

does anyone have any experience with swapping in? I figure it will be a complete block and some other bits, but i'm more concerned with the fit and accesories.

Ideas?
 
Forget it and buy the real thing. The 6 cyl will not fit into the 4cyl engine bay.
The 4cyl bonnet angles down at a sharper angle.

Maybe there is a way with much chopping and lifting but I cant see it being worthwhile.

They are available with a 6 cyl in a HZJ77

I would get the 78 and add a 2.8 Litre or even a 1KZ if it can be sourced.
 
the engine bay on a L series 71/78 is about 5 inches shorter and about 2 inches narrower than the "heavy duty" body styles.
you could swap the front clip from a HD 70 on but then that is more money and more work. also the suspesion of the L series will not support the weight of the HDT...
i have thought much of this through when the head went on my wifes wheeling rig...
 
78 Swap Alternatives

Biffs:

I suspect that the only heavy duty engine that might fit would be the 1 PZ - There isn't 5" of extra room under the hood of my HZJ73, and if Wayne says the engine compartment is 5" shorter in the 78, the only way it might fit, is if it was a cylinder shorter thus the 1PZ. Then you have the issue of weight etc....

I'll likely get flamed by the 'Yota purists :flipoff2:for suggesting this, but probably the best engines to swap in would be a 3.8 liter Buick V6, or a 4.3 Chebby...:bounce2:
 
BiffS said:
looking to get a 77 or a 78, but theyre not that easy to come across without a 2L.

But I've found one with a toast 2lte and i was considering swapping in someting more reliable.
Click to expand...

Is it Yellow?

If so, it came off the boat with no oil in the pan. Probably cheaper to rebuild the engine that's in it and do the head swap at the same time.

How about a Benz diesel? It's been done with a mini-truck/4Runner.
 
you know Denis, you could be right. i will go out and measure the difference between a LJ78 engine bay and the HZJ77 engine bay and report back (once the sun comes up).
of course you did allow for the proper rad to be installed to cool the 1HZ into the LJ78 engine bay right?
 
Jim_Hbar said:
Biffs:

I suspect that the only heavy duty engine that might fit would be the 1 PZ - There isn't 5" of extra room under the hood of my HZJ73, and if Wayne says the engine compartment is 5" shorter in the 78, the only way it might fit, is if it was a cylinder shorter thus the 1PZ. Then you have the issue of weight etc....

I'll likely get flamed by the 'Yota purists :flipoff2:for suggesting this, but probably the best engines to swap in would be a 3.8 liter Buick V6, or a 4.3 Chebby...:bounce2:
Click to expand...

The 3.8 V6 into Bundeeras and Hilux is one of the most common swaps in oz.As common as a sbc into a 60
There is at least 3-4 kits on the market and numerous shops that can do it at a fixed price.
I think we also have a 4 litre alloy version of the V6 in the Commodore.
 
The 2.8 Hilux diesel should fit straight into a 2.4 slot;)
 
Previa Diesel said:
Is it Yellow?

If so, it came off the boat with no oil in the pan. Probably cheaper to rebuild the engine that's in it and do the head swap at the same time.

How about a Benz diesel? It's been done with a mini-truck/4Runner.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's the one. . .
 
how about a 13bt its more powerful than the 2lte it sholud fit right? what about the transmission bellousings would they be completely different or what?
 
driveline issues with 13b-t, but hey thread started with 1HDT...;)
 
okay, so i went and measured the LJ78 and the HZJ77 for comparisions.
the HZ is 41" from firewall to in front of rad
the LJ is 34 1/2" from firewall to front of rad (so i was off on my guesstimate, sorry)
the 2LTE is 22" from front of bell housing to front of block and 27" to front of fan
the 1 HZ is 33" from front of bell housing to front of block and 36" to front of fan...
my question is, even using a rad from a 80 series how do you plan on fitting a HDT or a HZ that is 36" long to the front of the fan into a engine bay that is only 34 1/2" long?!?

cheers
 
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bolting a front clip from a HD 7* will work as well. i checked out the mounting points for the fenders and a very small amount of rework to the front frame horns and the fenders will bolt right up. after that there is no massaging to be done except for the suspension.
you can use a HZJ7* for motor mount location and if you do it this way then stock HD 7* rad can be used from a HZJ77, stock accessories... actually this way you have more room under the hood for air dispersial. the end product should look almost factory with out the butched front end.
after recomfirming with a tape the size of the engine and the idea of a rad location as you say, i am still not picturing how you can get that to work without some serious butchuring to the front bib. if you tuck the engine right against the firwall, you still need to cut 1 1/2" out of the front bib, try and fit a rad in there but the front bib angles to the back and it is already behind the cross member you are wanting to use as a rad mount...
if you extended the front bib ahead 5 inches then it "might" work but how to make that look clean is beyond me...

hummm, i feel the front clip swap would be the cleanest, easiest way to accomplish sticking a 6 cylinder into a LJ body...

if you ever tackle this project Denis i would love to see how you do it...personally a 1HZT or a HDT would be nasty in a LJ71/8. it truely would be a "baby" 80 series...
 
I studied this issue on an early, round headlights LJ, I will have to break the tape out once again and see if the square headlights style is much different. A 50mm body lift would make the tings a good bit easier too.
I might try it one day when I can find an affordable HDJ drivetrain donor truck. I already have a fair bit of square headlight salvageable cab and sheetmetal, and enough steel and wood to build a big flatbed. Basically I just need some time and money :doh:
 
2rivers said:
driveline issues with 13b-t, but hey thread started with 1HDT...;)
Click to expand...

know anyone that's tried it? Does it it fit into the 2lte tranny? What type of driveline issues?
 
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