3B Diesel Conversion/Swap: Fj60 & BJ60 Are Now One

[dkoorits]

I've been wanting to post these photos for almost a year now as a thank you to everyone on the ih8mud forum. All the information that I found reading posts and questions I asked various members was invaluable on my 3B diesel swap and Fj60/BJ60 conversion.

I purchased the 1985 BJ60 in the Spring of 2011 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and drove it down to Maine with the hopes of doing a full restoration. The 3B diesel engine ran strong and started the restoration but on a new suspension, bumpers, tires , power steering and multiple misc items on the engine and redoing the interior. However as I started to think about working on the body and frame and realized the amount of rust and corrosion I started thinking that the cancer might have spread to far.

In the following year in 2012 I found a 1985 FJ60 though ih8mud in Boise, Idaho. I once again flew out on a whim and drove it back. The engine barely chugged along but I could not believe the lack of rust on the body and frame. It was immaculate.

So last spring I pulled the 3B, overhauled it prepped the FJ60 for the transfer. 2 months later it was ready for the road. A 1985 BJ60, all original.

 

[rrv333]

Looks great

 

[dkoorits]

Thanks. Here are some more photos of the Engine Swap. I was able to do everything in that little garage except for welding on the engine mounts. I was able to tow/drag the FJ60 down the road a few miles with another truck and my wife driving to have a shop do the welding.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Subscribed

 

[dkoorits]

The Old BJ60 body and Gas 2F Engine being towed away followed by some shot of the interior. All original.

 

[dkoorits]

The Final Photos: The Rig has 460,000 km or 285,000 miles. The underside. I still can't believe. The only issue is that I feel obliged to leave it parked in the Garage during the winters up here in Maine. The 3B engine in place and running strong and the final shots of the outside. Next: A little body work and touch up paint job. Some lights and a roof rack and then I think it should be Good To-Go.

 

[Callahan Offroad]

great job!

Did you remember to switch the filler hole? Since diesel pumps have a wider nozzle?

 

[cruiserjunktion]

That's awesome!

 

[Granite Grinder]

And maybe a turbo would be nice, really wakes that 3B right up

 

[dkoorits]

Yes I did switch the filler hole and I am also thinking about a turbo.

 

[SteveH]

Very nice and sanitary conversion - and yes, please leave it parked inside for the winter, sprayed with oil!

 

[Elbert]

nice swap...truck looks very clean.

I hate it, when rust hits a nice vehicle....you made the right call swapping engines...etc

 

[dkoorits]

Added an ARB rack and some Hella lights to the front.

 

[dkoorits]

The Last Piece. Finally got around to having it painted this summer.

 

[greencruiser]

Thats awesome wish i could get ahold of a clean 60 to swap haha i have 5 rusty bj60s

 

[gilamonster]

Nice swap! I grew up in ME, great place to live.

 

[RoadRamblinFJ60]

Hi all, brand new to these forums. Glad I stumbled onto this thread instead of posting a new thread. Seeing that someone else has done what I have been looking to do gives me hope!

Over this past summer I acquired a 1983 FJ60 in beautiful shape, with 201k miles on the 2F gasser. The 2F has a thrown rod and I do not see the worth in rebuilding that particular engine. I will most likely end up selling the 2F as a package later to fund my diesel rebuild.

I have been wanting to swap a Toyota 3B diesel into it, and I am currently waiting to put a down payment on a 1985 BJ60 that a guy had imported from Canada. I just need to pay the man a visit. The 3B lost compression around 400k kilometers, so a rebuild will be next on my list after getting my hands on the diesel. After the rebuild, I plan to swap the 3B into my FJ.

I am not sure if I should keep searching through the build threads, or start my own build thread. But I would like some more details on this particular build, because I am pretty much following the same criteria for my project. I would like to see what I am getting myself into! My FJ is the brown '83 LC, and the BJ is the blue one. I will have two Land Cruisers, both of which are not running. This will be a slow project, so please bear with me.

 

[SteveH]

Can you compare the 3B driving experience to that of the 2F? Do you like the (ahem) power band and drivability better than the 2F?

 

[dkoorits]

Hi all, brand new to these forums. Glad I stumbled onto this thread instead of posting a new thread. Seeing that someone else has done what I have been looking to do gives me hope!

Over this past summer I acquired a 1983 FJ60 in beautiful shape, with 201k miles on the 2F gasser. The 2F has a thrown rod and I do not see the worth in rebuilding that particular engine. I will most likely end up selling the 2F as a package later to fund my diesel rebuild.

I have been wanting to swap a Toyota 3B diesel into it, and I am currently waiting to put a down payment on a 1985 BJ60 that a guy had imported from Canada. I just need to pay the man a visit. The 3B lost compression around 400k kilometers, so a rebuild will be next on my list after getting my hands on the diesel. After the rebuild, I plan to swap the 3B into my FJ.

I am not sure if I should keep searching through the build threads, or start my own build thread. But I would like some more details on this particular build, because I am pretty much following the same criteria for my project. I would like to see what I am getting myself into! My FJ is the brown '83 LC, and the BJ is the blue one. I will have two Land Cruisers, both of which are not running. This will be a slow project, so please bear with me.

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Hi RoadRamblin Great to hear you are planning on doing a conversion. It was a lot of work but definitely worth it. I found so many great posts in the forum that helped me along the way. Just keep searching. Everything from welding new engine mounts, switching over wiring, adapting the fuel line, customizing the radiator and on and on. I was able to do everything in my modest garage and tools with the addition of an engine hoist and towing my rig down the road to have new engine mounts welded on at a garage. Let me know if I can be of any help.

 

[cruizerbuddy]

i'm getting ready to do my 2f/4sp to 3b/5sp conversion. i have a complete donor rig from canada so i should have all the parts available. my concerns are the edic and wiring. i'm leaning towards eliminating the edic on this setup as it will be my primary rig. my wife's stock bj60 has a functioning edic on her's which i'm glad. i don't mind pulling a lever to kill the motor, but it'd be nice to get the edic functioning... My other concern is gettting the motor mounts in the proper location. my plan of action is to get everyting in position and install the drivelines to confirm what i think i know in regards to location. then i'll mount the engine mounts to the block and mark where they naturally want to reside... Does this sound proper? I don't want anything to be bound up at all obviously. something tells me that measurements won't be enough...?
Any other ideas/tricks on how to get the mounts positoned proper?
I'm just going to wilson switch this motor as it's far less complicated to me. I'd like to keep with the original glow plug system but the wilson switch works without any problems ever...
Like the others have eluded. The donor rig is paramount! already ripped the gasser fuel lines, fuel tank, power steering lines and clutch slave lines. need to address the fuel fill hole as i wasn't aware of that potential issue...
I love the 3b diesel and cannot wait for my FJ60 to be back on the road with that power plant. Already sold the 2F/T/T to curiserpartslllc
Any feed back comments or concerns welcome.