4.2 trailblazer I6
- Thread starter lt1fire
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Anyone heard of swapping one of the new envoy/trailblazer motors into an fj8.... not really a bad thing 280 hp... 20+ mpg... not much bigger that the 3FE???? anyone heard or seen this beforeWhy? Do you really think you are going to get 20mpg with that engine in a heavier, less aerodynamic truck? If you are going to swap a chevy engine in, use a tried and true small block. They are less expensive, parts are available everywhere, and there is a ton of information on how to do the swap.
AND it has that great V8 exhaust note.
I would not waste my time swapping anyting other than a V8 or some version of diesel. No reason to down-grade to a GM 6 cylinder motor.
I would not waste my time swapping anyting other than a V8 or some version of diesel. No reason to down-grade to a GM 6 cylinder motor.
- Thread starter
- #4
I don't know I can get a I6 and a tranny for a LOT less that a used ls1 and tranny.... wouldn't do anything less that an ls1 for this truck. HP different between the stock motors is not much.... and those I6 right now appear to have zero reliability issues... I know it is a new motor and time will tell but my friend beats on his and doesn't really take care of it and it's never even hiccuped
You'll have an interesting time figuring out an oilpan. The front differential is integrated into the oil pan on those trucks.
good luck with the electronics on that motor also. they are overcomplicated for what they are.
I'd rather have my dogs in a hamster wheel with a gear reduction system to drive it than put a GM motor in an 80.
I thought about this engine when it first came out - for a 40. On paper it's o.k. My dad's Trailblazer got good mileage and super power - towing a camper it didn't feel like anything was even there. Then the engine started knocking at 40,000 miles or so (after about 4 recalls for other stuff). GM sent out a notice that they were extending the warantee on the engines cuase they may just sieze anywhere from 30-90,000 miles. Then they refused to replace the engine, even though it met the requirements of their own service pointer - typical GM. There is a reason GM's going out of buisness... Oh, after 20 some calls and trips to the dealer, they finally did replace the engine - and dad finally bought another toy (a Avalon to go with the LX450). I'd watch out, ya' never know if the motor you're getting is one of the junk ones.
- Thread starter
- #11
I have heard that some of the earlier ones have problems... but like I said my friends has tons of miles on it..... 160k i believe (he's a traveling salesman) no problems as of yet..... and I've owned many different GM's throughout my life as well as most of my friends. I know there are some bad ones and i'm not at all disputing toyota reliability superiority... I was just wondering if anyone had seen this done before?? As for fixing it everyweekend..... never had a problem with any of mine.... only two cars my family have ever had a problem with was a 93 fd probe, a 96 toyota corrolla (fairy sure the previous owner changed the oil every 20k miles or so) and a 98 honda civic. As for my GM's i've owned.... 94 firebird had 155k on it... replaced water pump and optispark (distributor), 99 Z28 70k... nothing wrong... only ever did tune ups and replaced the brake rotors once, 92 chevy suburban 201k.... nothing ever went wrong, 91 regal... nothing wrong, 97 Grand Prix 165k... nothing wrong.....
In the long run GM's aren't as reliable as Toyotas, but then nothing is, but they are far, far from junk.... although some years and engines were
In the long run GM's aren't as reliable as Toyotas, but then nothing is, but they are far, far from junk.... although some years and engines were
Swapping down in reliability is kinda like paying someone to hit you in the head with a hammer. You'll drop huge time and money into it. Someone's also pointed out the showstopper - the drive shaft on that engine goes right through the oil pan. Ever priced out a custom oil pan?
PS - For 3 months, I was GM's Worldwide Powertrain Planner. Don't do it.
DougM
PS - For 3 months, I was GM's Worldwide Powertrain Planner. Don't do it.
DougM
Crap...I didn't know my 1FZ engine is supposed to be reliable!!! Please tell my engine that 
It is sort of like the pot calling the kettle black..
Blowing head gaskets is a huge issue with these engines...I have had to tow my LX450 twice..once for HG and once for rear coolant lines rusting through and dumping coolant over the road...
Oh...I have now a leak above the starter and I am hoping it isn't the HG again (PHH was replaced at 90,000K during HG repair). It might be a freeze plug. It only leaks when I pressurize the system with a radiator tester.
One thing..my engine doesn't burn oil...
I guess I need to pull the starter...to locate that leak.
It is sort of like the pot calling the kettle black..
Blowing head gaskets is a huge issue with these engines...I have had to tow my LX450 twice..once for HG and once for rear coolant lines rusting through and dumping coolant over the road...
Oh...I have now a leak above the starter and I am hoping it isn't the HG again (PHH was replaced at 90,000K during HG repair). It might be a freeze plug. It only leaks when I pressurize the system with a radiator tester.
One thing..my engine doesn't burn oil...
I guess I need to pull the starter...to locate that leak.
Crap...I didn't know my 1FZ engine is supposed to be reliable!!! Please tell my engine that
It is sort of like the pot calling the kettle black..
Blowing head gaskets is a huge issue with these engines...I have had to tow my LX450 twice..once for HG and once for rear coolant lines rusting through and dumping coolant over the road...
Oh...I have now a leak above the starter and I am hoping it isn't the HG again (PHH was replaced at 90,000K during HG repair). It might be a freeze plug. It only leaks when I pressurize the system with a radiator tester.
One thing..my engine doesn't burn oil...
I guess I need to pull the starter...to locate that leak.
I'm still waiting for that legendary Toyoto reliability to kick in also. Both of the ones I've owned (babied by PO's), I've had to do some major work on with +-100k miles.
Jack
- Thread starter
- #16
"Someone's also pointed out the showstopper - the drive shaft on that engine goes right through the oil pan. Ever priced out a custom oil pan?"Yeah I saw that and... yes i have put a custom oil pan in a car before but it pretty much answered my question with that.... i'm not going to do it. "That motor is JUNK! Plain and simple...."i'd have to disagree with that but hey to each his own"Swapping down in reliability is kinda like paying someone to hit you in the head with a hammer. "on a car that i drive 20k a year ... yeah i'd agree with you ... but on a rig that i'm going to drive at most once a week for trails or trips.... doesn't really matter.... I'm probably not going to put more than 300k on it before I find something else I want or find an even better engine (4bt) to throw in it. It's not like i'm talking about a yugo engine or something. But like I said to each his own. I do appreciate everyone's input on this matter. My thanks
Crap...I didn't know my 1FZ engine is supposed to be reliable!!! Please tell my engine that
It is sort of like the pot calling the kettle black..
Blowing head gaskets is a huge issue with these engines...I have had to tow my LX450 twice..once for HG and once for rear coolant lines rusting through and dumping coolant over the road...
Oh...I have now a leak above the starter and I am hoping it isn't the HG again (PHH was replaced at 90,000K during HG repair). It might be a freeze plug. It only leaks when I pressurize the system with a radiator tester.
One thing..my engine doesn't burn oil...
I guess I need to pull the starter...to locate that leak.
And rear coolant lines are which part of the engine exactly????
Less than 10% of 1fz engines have experienced head gasket failure per a survey on this board a while back. Granted, more and more of them will experience it as time goes on, but I would venture to say that it is NOT a huge issue as you say, but rather a design weakness. Compare perhaps to the 3.0 4runner/truck engine; very few of those rigs made it past 150k without losing a gasket or two-a design flaw and a huge issue, whereas the vast majority of 1FZs make well past that point with no failure.
Dan
At 189k miles, I have yet to have any major repairs needed on my 80. The headgasket is original, the PHH is a heater hose and should be considered normal maintenance on a 12 year old truck w/ almost 200k miles.
What you guys that are baggin on Toyota's reliability/sustainability are missing is the fact that these trucks do require maintenance, but they also have a realistic service life of 300k miles with good maintenance. Try that with a GM/Ford/Chrysler vehicle.
I have a 1999 Yukon w/ 199k miles on it, and IMO it is a poster child for the "exception to the rule." It has not had a single problem that would not be considered routine maintenance, still got the original tranny(amazing by GM standards, these trucks were/are notorious for losing their trannies at less than 100k miles).
What you guys that are baggin on Toyota's reliability/sustainability are missing is the fact that these trucks do require maintenance, but they also have a realistic service life of 300k miles with good maintenance. Try that with a GM/Ford/Chrysler vehicle.
I have a 1999 Yukon w/ 199k miles on it, and IMO it is a poster child for the "exception to the rule." It has not had a single problem that would not be considered routine maintenance, still got the original tranny(amazing by GM standards, these trucks were/are notorious for losing their trannies at less than 100k miles).
PHH has been replaced on my truck at 90K. HG failing at 90K isn't normal. My truck is at 145K now and has been babied with all the maintenance done from every fluid changed (to synthetic) to every hose replaced at 90K. I had no idea about the rear coolant lines when I did the HG but if they fail, and cause the engine to fail, I consider it an engine problem. If the window motors fails, does it stop the engine, no? Then it isn't an engine but if you loose coolant, no matter where you lose it, I consider it an engine issue. Difference of opinion.
Oh, I don't have a single spot of rust on my truck..other than those coolant lines and they rusted through like they were premade with rust......no special coating...no galvanization.......My truck is now undercoated with a waxoyl like substances...
To me, 10% HG failure rate is a huge number...opinions will differ on that.
130,000K on my 2001 wife's taurus and the 3.0 Duratec V6 24valve engine still has yet to have a single problem. We changed the spark plugs for the first time at 120,000!!! (They are rated to go to 100,000miles). Dealership does the coolant every 45K and tranny fluids every 30K and the car is rock solid reliable (knock on wood!. I change the fuel filter every 30K and it is a 30 second job, just with a screw driver...can't do that on a FZJ80....My wife wants another Taurus (or that new Fusion thing)...
I don't own a GM vehicle, but I consider it funny when people talk about Toyota reliability but ignore all the problems with the cast iron/alloy head engines that Toyota's built in the past....
There are things reliable about Toyotas, but their modern truck engines isn't one of them...(atleast up to 1997, no experience with later engines). Oh, what about the 20R or the 22R or RE? They have timing chain/guide issues as well as HG issues after 100K miles (getting over 100K was considered exceptional then anyway, compared to US engines). The 3.0V6 had well known HG issues resulting in a service campaign. The 3.4V6 had badly designed heads and initial HG issues...
I know that engine from GM had initial issues. I have been in a machine shop with those brand new engines being rebuilt due to the steel cylinder inserts not being properly set. But, most modern engines are tons more reliable than what was offered 10 years ago....from any manufacturer....
So, someone can point out initial issues with that GM engine, and I can point out issues with Toyota engines...
Pot...stop calling the kettle black...
Kettle...stop calling the pot black....both are black!
Oh, I don't have a single spot of rust on my truck..other than those coolant lines and they rusted through like they were premade with rust......no special coating...no galvanization.......My truck is now undercoated with a waxoyl like substances...
To me, 10% HG failure rate is a huge number...opinions will differ on that.
130,000K on my 2001 wife's taurus and the 3.0 Duratec V6 24valve engine still has yet to have a single problem. We changed the spark plugs for the first time at 120,000!!! (They are rated to go to 100,000miles). Dealership does the coolant every 45K and tranny fluids every 30K and the car is rock solid reliable (knock on wood!
. I change the fuel filter every 30K and it is a 30 second job, just with a screw driver...can't do that on a FZJ80....My wife wants another Taurus (or that new Fusion thing)...I don't own a GM vehicle, but I consider it funny when people talk about Toyota reliability but ignore all the problems with the cast iron/alloy head engines that Toyota's built in the past....
There are things reliable about Toyotas, but their modern truck engines isn't one of them...(atleast up to 1997, no experience with later engines). Oh, what about the 20R or the 22R or RE? They have timing chain/guide issues as well as HG issues after 100K miles (getting over 100K was considered exceptional then anyway, compared to US engines). The 3.0V6 had well known HG issues resulting in a service campaign. The 3.4V6 had badly designed heads and initial HG issues...
I know that engine from GM had initial issues. I have been in a machine shop with those brand new engines being rebuilt due to the steel cylinder inserts not being properly set. But, most modern engines are tons more reliable than what was offered 10 years ago....from any manufacturer....
So, someone can point out initial issues with that GM engine, and I can point out issues with Toyota engines...
Pot...stop calling the kettle black...
Kettle...stop calling the pot black....both are black!
That number is currently at 19.92% per the poll. The 1FZ is a great engine, but it has issues just like any other motor.