2UZ-FE swap with manual tranny... thoughts?

[Rusty]

I know many have inquired, and threads are out there on this topic, but I can't seem to get concrete answers on the line of thought I have on tackling this project... I'm sure there are enough Toyota technically inclined members here on 'Mud to help me figure this out...

The F engine in my '71 is toast and in need of a rebuild, I was going to restore the truck to stock but now I'm contemplating a Toy V8 swap, mated to a H55F. Lifting the hood of a 40 to find a modern Toyota V8 would be super cool to say the least. I'm now luke-warm on keeping the F engine and 3 speed tranny if I'm going to go through the trouble of a full restoration.

I'm surprised that this Cruiser engine swap is not more common since the 1UZ/2UZ-FE engines are reasonably priced and very available, but there seems to be little info out there on the topic of this swap with a manual transmission.

As far as I can tell, most 1UZ-FE or 2UZ-FE swaps that have been done with Cruisers have used an auto tranny, this makes it easier since the ECU in these engines also runs the auto. As far as I can tell the only Toyota ECU that will run a 1UZ-FE is an early Toyota Crown ECU since in these cars the auto transmission had its own stand alone ECU. The engine ECU will run the engine and not care what transmission you bolt up to it. There is quite a bit of info out there on making a 1UZ-FE work with a Toyota manual gearbox because 1UZ-FE swaps are common, especially in North America with Supra owners. I believe Castlemain Rod Shop in Australia makes bell housing conversions to make "R" and "H" series transmissions work with the 1UZ-FE.

Ideally, I would think that the 2UZ-FE would be a better choice for a Land Cruiser since it produces more torque much sooner. For some reason there is little info on doing a swap into a Land Cruiser with a manual transmission. From what I've read getting a 2UZ-FE to work without the auto transmission behind it is difficult; the later VVT and "drive by wire throttle" is another problem area as well from what I can tell. I doubt a 1UZ-FE Crown ECU would run a 2UZ-FE so I would think that the best bet is to run an aftermarket ECU, which means tuning it because no one, i.e. AEM seems to offer a pre-programmed "plug and play" ecu for the 2UZ-FE. An aftermarket ECU means tuning it and I don't think that there is anyone near me that would be familiar with tuning a 2UZ-FE, though I could give it a go myself I suppose.

The other option for getting a stock ECU to work with a 2UZ-FE that I've heard is to jump the park/neutral pins to fool the ECU into thinking that the transmission is in park. I haven't heard of anyone doing this, so if someone out there knows if this works, I'd be greatful to hear confirmation.

As far as getting a manual transmission to work with a 2UZ-FE any bell housing that bolts up to a 1UZ-FE should work with the 2UZ-FE, I think the pattern is the same. I know Lextreme.com offers a hybrid 1UZ/2UZ-FE that uses a 2UZ-FE block and they claim that it is a straight drop-in for an existing 1UZ-FE conversion.

Before I start buying parts I'd like to get some of these questions answered... anyone out there in Cruiser Land with modern V8 Toyota swap experience able to chime in?

 

[Rusty]

If you haven't looked at this thread yet it might help:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/407965-project-ambitious-1uz-fj40-help-needed-3.html

Post #45 they deal with a 2UZ

Yeah, I've read that thread and this other thread that a group of guys in Pakistan posted about stuffing a 2UZ-FE in their FJ-40. Unfortunately there is little tech info in those threads, though it is nice to see that the engine fits well.

It's a little different is some respects as well given that the Toyota parts options are limited here in North America. I'd love to find a H151F transmission/transfer combo but I doubt that will happen. The 2UZ-FE only came with an auto behind it in our market. It might be that this swap is easier in other parts of the globe, I suspect that you could get a manual transmission behind a 2UZ-FE on a Land Cruiser elsewhere in the world. I think their engine came with an auto but I don't know how they are managing the engine, whether or not they have an automatic transmission independent ECU or not. Those details are not there.

If I can get a North American 2UZ-FE ECU to run the engine somehow without the auto transmission, I'm sure I can figure out the rest. Hopefully someone tech savvy out there can set the record straight on whether or not the stock ECU can be fooled into thinking the auto tranny is there, in neutral by jumping the appropriate pins in the ECU.

If I manage to pull this off I'll document and post up the swap here on 'Mud, I just need to get some of the general details worked out before I start buying parts.

 

[Hellebore]

Dellow automotive here in aus do conversion kits with cast alloy bellhousings custom flywheels etc basically everything you need - i just got a kit from them to put a 1uz into my 84 using the h55f trans but they will custom make it to your requirements they pack it all up pretty small too - the box would be about 600x600x250 and weighs in at about 25-30kg so i imagine shipping would be reasonable for you

Cam

 

[Rusty]

Dellow automotive here in aus do conversion kits with cast alloy bellhousings custom flywheels etc basically everything you need - i just got a kit from them to put a 1uz into my 84 using the h55f trans but they will custom make it to your requirements they pack it all up pretty small too - the box would be about 600x600x250 and weighs in at about 25-30kg so i imagine shipping would be reasonable for you

Cam

Thanks for the reply...

Australia seems to have all the good stuff.

How do you like your 1UZ for low RPM power? Is it comparable or better than an inline 6? Any fitment issues with your Dellow kit?

 

[Hellebore]

Thanks for the reply...

Australia seems to have all the good stuff.

How do you like your 1UZ for low RPM power? Is it comparable or better than an inline 6? Any fitment issues with your Dellow kit?

havent driven it yet - im in the process of doing a frame off.
I have however been in a hilux surf with one which is comparable in weight to the 40 and from idle rpms an 3rd or 4th gear it *really* gets moving quickly I imagine there will be a bit less of that really low down lugg that the 2f has but im sure that 1st gear in the h55f trans is low enuf to counter that.
plus looking at the power band on the graph on this page - looks like there is plenty of low down torque
1uzfe Q&A, 1uzfe information and swap

Cam

 

[Baltoro Jeeper]

Hey there @Rusty! Sorry have not been on mud for sometime. I replied to your PM and then saw your post and this thread and thought I would chip in with what little I know of the electronic tech involved in our 1UZ and 2UZ swaps into FJ40s in Pakistan.

Firstly, we from what I understand both the 1UZ and 2UZ were wired with stock ECUs less all the auto transmission stuff. Both seem to run fine. I don't really see why the 2UZ with stock ECU would have an issue without the auto as the basic wiring and electronics design is quite similar to the 1UZ. There are tons of info on running the 1UZ without the auto on lextreme.com for all its variants. The drive by wire however was a PITA as the electric shop chaps had to go through a dozen different pedals and several wiring configs before they actually got it to rev-up right. I must mention that we didn't and still don't have the precise wiring diagram for the early JDM 2UZ that we swapped in I will try and get more details on 2UZ electronics on my thread.

Secondly, my impression of having driven both 2UZ and 1UZ conversions is that in a 40 series, with the right gearing, the 1UZ is quite comparable to the 2UZ in terms of both on and offroad performance. Granted the 2UZ will usually win in most respects, the 1UZ has some advantages (lighter weight with full aluminium block, significantly lower cost, simpler electronics, more rugged construction, no DBW) which make it very competitive when all things are added up.

The low end torque on the 1UZ is quite adequate for a light 40 series. It probably would be a different matter on a bigger riglike an 80 series but here on this video with 4.1 diffs and 4.5 first gear you can perhaps get a sense of the low end: SK471 - YouTube (apologize for pimping this all over the place but its about the only video we have )

 

[millas]

I am currently building myself a rig with a 1UZ VVTi mated to a H55f. Unfortunately I will have to go with an adaptor plate to mate the 2, as we here in South Africa don't have guys who can make us the correct bellhousings. Will be running the VVTi with an aftermarked ECU Called Spittronics.

 

[Rusty]

Well I've made the leap and bought a 2005 4.7 VVTi engine with 70K KM on the odometer, it's getting yanked out of the donor truck right now.

I can have anything I need out of the donor that I will need for the swap.

So far I've identified the obvious... engine, ECU, harness, motor mounts which I will tweak to fit the '40 chassis. The owner said that the gas tank has been removed so I can have the fuel pump which in the '05 I think is pressure regulated by the ECU...

From what I've read you need the air injector controller and DME... anybody know what the hell these parts are and where they are located?

Can anyone think of anything else?

 

[Rusty]

Hey there @Rusty! Sorry have not been on mud for sometime. I replied to your PM and then saw your post and this thread and thought I would chip in with what little I know of the electronic tech involved in our 1UZ and 2UZ swaps into FJ40s in Pakistan.

Firstly, we from what I understand both the 1UZ and 2UZ were wired with stock ECUs less all the auto transmission stuff. Both seem to run fine. I don't really see why the 2UZ with stock ECU would have an issue without the auto as the basic wiring and electronics design is quite similar to the 1UZ. There are tons of info on running the 1UZ without the auto on lextreme.com for all its variants. The drive by wire however was a PITA as the electric shop chaps had to go through a dozen different pedals and several wiring configs before they actually got it to rev-up right. I must mention that we didn't and still don't have the precise wiring diagram for the early JDM 2UZ that we swapped in I will try and get more details on 2UZ electronics on my thread.

Secondly, my impression of having driven both 2UZ and 1UZ conversions is that in a 40 series, with the right gearing, the 1UZ is quite comparable to the 2UZ in terms of both on and offroad performance. Granted the 2UZ will usually win in most respects, the 1UZ has some advantages (lighter weight with full aluminium block, significantly lower cost, simpler electronics, more rugged construction, no DBW) which make it very competitive when all things are added up.

The low end torque on the 1UZ is quite adequate for a light 40 series. It probably would be a different matter on a bigger riglike an 80 series but here on this video with 4.1 diffs and 4.5 first gear you can perhaps get a sense of the low end: SK471 - YouTube (apologize for pimping this all over the place but its about the only video we have )

Thanks for the info, I appreciate all that I can get... Which year is the 2UZ that you guys used, was it a VVTi? It sounds like the non-VVTi engines are much less trouble to get working.

It's funny, I read some threads on swaps and things seem to go really well, read another and the person doing the swap ends up throwing in the towel!

 

[Borrego]

Very old thread, but are there any updates on this swap???