76/78 series diesel swap and lockers questions

[plasticbadger]

Hi, I'm currently looking into buying a 70 series Landcruiser here in the UK and wanted to ask a few questions before I commit.

I'm looking for a semi-LWB four door model (76/78 series?) and the most likely candidate is a JDM Prado LJ78G with a 2L-TE diesel engine. Many of these seem to suffer from head gasket and head failure, so they are very cheap with a blown engine. What are the engine swap options, as heads for the 2L-TE are expensive and it doesn't look like a good engine to start with?

I'm thinking a later 1KZ-TE from a Hilux Surf could be an option, and I've seen the swap done in a Hilux before. What about a 1HD-T from a 80 series, as that's a great engine? Would this need the 80 gearbox and transfer case? What other diesel options are there?

Lockers wise, some Prados have the factory rear E-locker, but they're rare. Where can E-lockers be sourced from, are they Hilux 8" size, or larger 80 series (9.5" rear) sized? What other parts are need, i.e. half shafts?

 

[Tassie KZJ78]

I can kind of answer a few of your questions,

The 1kz-te is a good swap, but it also suffers from similar problems to the 2l-te (head problems)
The 1pz may also be an option for you (5 cylinder diesel from the swb 70 series cruiser)
I don't know how you will go for length with the 1hd-t in the engine bay & getting a gear box/transfer to work may also be a problem, not sure what side the front drive shaft comes out.
If you've got a bit of coin to spend then a 13bt could also be an option.

As for the lockers, Japan may be a good place to source one (if you've got a contact there), they are a 8" diff, but if you get the 71 series prado (2l-te model) i believe you have to get the locker from that particular series because it has a funny offset on the pinion gear, there's a few write ups on here that covers the installation off the e-lockers.

Hope this helps a little bit

 

[Mark_kzj78]

Hey plasticbadger,

why not just hold out for kzj78 which already has the 3l in it. May take a bit longer but they are out there.
hope I'm allowed to do this but if you check out The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club :: Index then you will get more relevant info on engines that are avaliable in the UK.

Mark

 

[plasticbadger]

Thanks Mark and Tassie.

The 1KZ-TE seems like a good swap with plenty of people doing it on the UK landcruiser forum, but it's still an electronic engine and still suffers from head problems. Waiting for an actual KZJ78 to come would look like the best option if I go that route, even if it needs a head!

Tassie, by 13BT I persume you mean the turbo diesel 3.4 rather than the Mazda rotory?!?!

My favourite to start with was the 1HD-T, as Toyota did fit it to heavy duty HDJ79s of some form. I've also seen the 1PZ and 1HZ (which I think is version of the 1HD?), I just don't know how transferable the gearboxes are, i.e can I get just an engine and bolt it to where a 2L-TE was?

I like the idea of a 76/78 series with a big simple engine and lockers. Tough, simple and capable. But it's all so confusing! I need to read up on all this a lot more before parting with my hard earned!

An edit to say, I've been doing some more research and it seems the type of 78 series I'm looking at is the Landcruiser 2 or Prado, which is the coil sprung light duty version of the 70 series. There seem some confusion, but many people say that the Prados have a shorter, lower bonnet/hood than the heavy duty models which makes getting any of the inline 6 cyl engines in a problem.

 

[gotoy]

Thanks Mark and Tassie.

The 1KZ-TE seems like a good swap with plenty of people doing it on the UK landcruiser forum, but it's still an electronic engine and still suffers from head problems. Waiting for an actual KZJ78 to come would look like the best option if I go that route, even if it needs a head!

Tassie, by 13BT I persume you mean the turbo diesel 3.4 rather than the Mazda rotory?!?!

My favourite to start with was the 1HD-T, as Toyota did fit it to heavy duty HDJ79s of some form. I've also seen the 1PZ and 1HZ (which I think is version of the 1HD?), I just don't know how transferable the gearboxes are, i.e can I get just an engine and bolt it to where a 2L-TE was?

I like the idea of a 76/78 series with a big simple engine and lockers. Tough, simple and capable. But it's all so confusing! I need to read up on all this a lot more before parting with my hard earned!

Toyota 13BT is the 3.4 turbo lump.

Any of these engine changes will require new engine mounts so its not just a bolt in job.

All the 6 cylinder engine are quite heavuy for a coil sprung 70, assuming your is coil sprung.

 

[Clint79]

Toyota 13BT is the 3.4 turbo lump.

Any of these engine changes will require new engine mounts so its not just a bolt in job.

All the 6 cylinder engine are quite heavuy for a coil sprung 70, assuming your is coil sprung.

All the post 99 7x series cruisers are coil sprung up front, these come with diesel 6 , turbo diesel 6 , turbo diesel v8 , petrol 6 and petrol v6. so upgrading to a 6cyl with coil front shouldn't be a prob

 

[Birder]

PlasticBadger:

What you are looking for often turn up on ebay in the UK, as at today there is two, one has a head fault and the other and electrical fault.

IMHO you will be far better off looking for a good 3L or one with all the work done. The cost of a blown or faulty one may look cheap but once you add the cost of the parts to fix it you will find it would be far more than the cost of a good one.

It took me months to find my HZJ75 Pickup only for it to be less than 10 miles from my house.

There are loads of stories of someone buying a 2.4D 70 series with a fault thinking its a bargin only to find its a nightmare.

If it looks to good to be true, it most probably is .

Also remember that imported cars from Japan have often been clocked. I remember someone buying a Jap imported sports car with 60k on the clock and thought he would change the timing belt only to find a sticker on the inside of the cover that said, "Timing belt changed at 300,000km".

I also remember a guy in the uk with a mini. He bought it with 20k on the clock. When it came to sell it he had 90k so he thought he would wind it back (easy on early minis) and when he opened up the speedo on the inside in felt tip pen was these words

"Oh no, not again!"

 

[plasticbadger]

Birder, I'd seen those two on ebay and that was what started the question in my mind. I've seen Ok LJs selling for £1500+ and some KZJs sell for £2000+, so my mind thought if I can buy a non-runner for £700 and swap in a better-than-standard diesel for the same or less money it would be a good idea. From what's been said here though it doesn't seem too likely.

One idea I did have (and be ready to cast shame on me here), how about swapping in a complete diesel engine/gearbox/transfer case from something else. Easily available, cheap and reliable in the UK would a Landrover Tdi, or a Daihatsu 2.8 turbo, both of which have the correct outputs on the transfer case. Has anybody done something similar?

 

[gotoy]

Birder, I'd seen those two on ebay and that was what started the question in my mind. I've seen Ok LJs selling for £1500+ and some KZJs sell for £2000+, so my mind thought if I can buy a non-runner for £700 and swap in a better-than-standard diesel for the same or less money it would be a good idea. From what's been said here though it doesn't seem too likely.

One idea I did have (and be ready to cast shame on me here), how about swapping in a complete diesel engine/gearbox/transfer case from something else. Easily available, cheap and reliable in the UK would a Landrover Tdi, or a Daihatsu 2.8 turbo, both of which have the correct outputs on the transfer case. Has anybody done something similar?

No comments on doing a landrover swap.

However the diahatsu is a different story. Diahatsu is owned or in some sort of partnership with Toyota.

That diahatsu 2.8 turbo is quite a powerful and bullet proof engine. If they are in ample stock and priced reasonable...why not? They are more expensive than a 1kz in Malaysia.

FYI I used a 1kz half cut, best thing I did. No major dramas to date and if the head does ever go...cheap enough for a replacement..haha.

 

[Birder]

Landrover Tdi, or a Daihatsu 2.8 turbo,

Wash your mouth out with soap and water

Just wait, the perfect one will come along, just like women, just dont be to fussy what they look like

rrrrrrrrrrr
ttttttt
yy
uuuuuuuuuuu
iiiiiiiiii

sorry about that, the wife hit me

Now she says I have to add i was talking about the 70 series that is...

 

[BobBJ74]

hi plasticbadger, The LJ 70 from '94 onwards had the 3lt engine. Milner off-road sell the head for the 2.4LT for £200 quid and £400 for the 3lt head. BJ 70's are heavy duty, 9.5 inch diffs, 3B & 13B-T industrial engine and H55F cast-iron gear box. I think the LJ 70's engine bay is shorter and you could have problems getting a 6 cyl in there. Gotoy idea sounds good, plenty of Daihatsu four-traks in the U.K.

 

[crushers]

why would anyone change a POS engine with another (although newer) POS engine is beyond me.

give your head a shake and rethink the whole process.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

why would anyone change a POS engine with another (although newer) POS engine is beyond me.

give your head a shake and rethink the whole process.

I have to assume that POS is not an abbreviation for POSitively great in this case.
......1978HJ45

 

[crushers]

abbreviation for
POSitively a POS...
yes you are correct.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

abbreviation for
POSitively a POS...
yes you are correct.

I am afraid you are still not seeing the glass "half full" young grasshopper.
........1978HJ45

 

[coldtaco]

If you go with a six cylinder you will need the longer front end of a heavy duty 70, firewall forward. Not too hard, just need some welding/fabricating and donor parts. You will also need new engine mounts, maybe radiator? Probably will need stronger springs in the front. Don't know what will bolt up to the stock LJ transmission. Some have been done and there are threads on here documenting this.

 

[Spallet]

use the 1kzte, add an intercooler and you will be fine.

 

[crushers]

you will be fine ...











































and pissed when you get to do it all over again.:whoops:

 

[plasticbadger]

This just come up on Ebay UK today: 1987 Toyota Landcruiser BJ74 - mid length wheel base on eBay (end time 17-Feb-11 20:01:59 GMT)

It looks perfect, but sadly well out of my price range

I know that the LJ or 1KZ would do the job, but I'm beginning to think from the responses I've had on here that holding out for something like the BJ74 may be a better option.

 

[Petzel]

Its worth it to get a loan to buy this truck than buy a Prado(LJ) and keep fixin them engines or engine swappin......trust Crushers evaluation of the LJ...

Other than having an auto that BJ74 has lockers and a 3B-T! Almost perfect truck.