94 FZJ80 6.2 conversion begins!

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I finally got a chance to check on it today, no surprise, still not finished. They do however have it rebuilt, bolted to the transfer case and sitting on a transmission jack ready to install. They told me I should be able to pick it up Friday. They also said the owner was out sick today so that may change things a bit too. Call me crazy for taking it to these guys, it has almost been a month again! It took me a little over 3 months to do the entire conversion, they have taken 2 months to build the exhaust and transmission! Oh well, I am not sure if I would do it any different again, these guys are really good and honest and I feel like if there are any problems they will stand behind it, the quick shop wanted nothing to do with it. I am having dreams about driving it, it runs great in my dreams, hope I am not dissapointed in real life! Hope to post good news Friday!
Rusty
 
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Wish I had something to post, it has been crazy for me the last 4 days so I haven't had a chance to go check on it. I was planning to go pick it up Friday or today but things just didn't work out. I am not sure it is finished yet, just hoping. I am going to make time tomorrow to go check on it and hopefully get it home!
Will post after I check on it.
Rusty
 
I finally got a chance to check on it at lunch today and it was done! (It had been since Monday) Unfortunately I didn't have a way to get it home so I am going to pick it up in the morning. I did however drive it around the block, no transmission slippage this time so I could really get a feel of the power, initial seat of the pants it seems to accelerate better than the 1FZE. The 1st-2nd shift was really hard, I am going to see if they can soften that up a bit, they said it would loosen up some after some miles were put on it so they might tell me to wait on the adjustment, obviously I don't know a thing about automatics but I am going to start researching I think there is website called 700R4 101 that I probably should have read a long time ago. My plan is to get it home and fix a few other problems. First the crank pulley wobbles, (has frayed the belts and squeeks alot) I am going to try a different pulley and replace the belts. I also need a heavier gauge wire for the alternator and second battery. Hopefully I will get tires and a tachometer going. I also need to figure out the cruise control. There are a couple other things not coming to me right now but my main objective is to get some miles on it!
Can't wait to see how it performs on the road (and off) Interesting thing the guy told me at the transmission shop, he said most of the GM transmissions that come in are torn up by not coming to a complete stop before changing gears (use the brakes to come to a complete stop, then shift). He said it is hard on all transmissions but the GM's are the worst. I didn't realize I didn't come to a complete stop (by using the brakes) until he pointed it out to me after watching me back it out of the shop taking it around the block.
Will post more when I know more.
Rusty
 
Rusty -

Really, really glad to hear the good news. :cheers: I can not wait to hear how it performs on and off road.. ( fuel econ, etc.) Sorry for being a pain in the **s about with my posts. It was hard for me to see a good man get the run-a-round. But it sounds like your patients has paid off. Kudos!!! :beer::beer::beer:

Dave
 
Finally.:clap:
Congrats on the good news.
 
Picked it up about 30 minutes ago and drove it to work, runs great! The power is definitely more than the 1FZE. The trans still shifts hard and seemingly at the wrong times but they want me to put a couple thousand miles on it then bring it back for adjustment, they say it loosens up with some miles on it, hopefully that is true. I could live with it the way it is but I am used to the smooth shifting of a modern electronically controlled transmission. I used to own an 88 Suburban with the 700R4 and I don't remember it shifting hard so maybe there is hope. Just from the few miles I put on it today (total now around 40) I think I am going to like it, it is a bit noisy on acceleration but once off the throttle and cruising it is nice. The noise is from the intake, I routed it into the passenger fender just like the stock set-up and I think it just echoes around and amplifies it a bit. I am going to re-route it towards the radiator in hopes it will quiet the interior noise a bit but it really isn't as bad as a cummins or ford. My father used to have a ford 6.9 diesel that I drove quite a bit and the 6.2 is considerably quieter than that. I also plan to insulate the firewall to see if that helps.
I plan to take off early tomorrow to get it liscensed and play with it a bit, will post more later, may put some miles on it this weekend before I put it in the A/C shop next week, hopefully it will be a quick visit there, again being in a small town there is only one shop in town with the capabilities to make custom hoses so I am at their mercy. I used to get frustrated by these things years ago when I first moved here but there isn't much you can do about it, if you are in hurry you better stay out of the south, the only thing fast around here is their driving, (I won't be doing that anymore going from my Volvo turbo to my diesel Cruiser!)
Rusty
 
Drove it around a bit more yesterday, the belt squeal was just too much so this afternoon I pulled the fan, removed all the belts and took the lower pulley off. After checking it closely it was bent so that explains the problem, now I have to find another one. I am sure there is one at a local salvage yard but it takes hours to get anything there, it is the worst run place I have ever seen, it is sort of like an Ice Cream place where you go in take a number and wait your turn, except no numbers and not that organized. They have about 4 parts pullers so when your turn comes up you go out into the yard with them, find your part and wait for them to pull it. There are usually about 10-15 people waiting in line each Saturday morning so it takes at least 2 hours of standing just to get your turn! We do have a U-Pull it really close to me, they have one 6.2 that has been really picked over but the block is still in it, I just can't remember if the pulley is on it.
Anyway, once that is done I am re-doing the dual battery set-up and hopefully it will time to start driving it.
Will post more later
Rusty
 
Rusty,
You might want to look at getting a new crank pulley and harmonic balancer from GM (everybody hates dealers but sometime you got to do it). From what I've read these 2 parts going bad are one of the main reason these blocks go bad. After all the work you've done you don't want to be destroying that block and starting all over. No expert here, just my opinion.
 
I checked the harmonic balancer and it looks good, there are pictures of what to look for in a failing balancer and mine still appears to be in good shape. I am trying to decide now between the newer pulleys with the rubber in them or an older steel pulley. The good thing about the newer pulley is that it is easier on the belts but the pulley wears out. The steel pulley will never wear out but is hard on the belts. Several people I have spoken to are going back to the steel pulleys even though they have to replace belts every 12-18 months. Either way I am just happy to have it in my driveway with me working on it, at least I know why things aren't getting done now!
Rusty
 
damn just read every post from all 8 pages this was a good read.

as far as your belt issues of a metal pulley once you have a replacement that is not bent up changing the belts once a year isnt that big of a deal (for me anyway) i mean it only takes a few minutes and most gates or gatorback belts come with a 2-3 year warranty anyway so if it wears just take em back.

thanks for the heads up on this thread from dieselplace i never even saw this one
 
Hey CruisinFJ60, glad you and iaintscared69 found it here.
Things are looking up finally! I went to the U-Pull it knowing they had a pretty well stripped 6.2 but wasn't sure it still had the pulley. I thought the way my luck had been running so far on this project it would be gone. Well, I walked up to the old Suburban, the engine is most of the way out, heads off, manifolds off (I took one of them) but the pulley was still there and even better the one I need! I had 2 wrenches with me knowing what size I needed and 5 minutes later I was out of there with a new pulley in hand! It is a steel pulley, I think that is what I wanted, I took it home set it in the blast cabinet to clean it up. Put a fresh coat of paint on it and got to work. It took me most of the day mainly because I modified my fan shroud and installed it as well as re-doing the dual battery set-up. I finally got everything hooked up and fired it up, wow! I can't believe it is actually pretty quiet! You can carry on a conversation without raising your voice standing right next to it, I knew the belts were noisy but I had no idea that much. I took it for a spin and noticed the fuel light was on so I headed to the station for my first fill-up, wow again, $83! This time it didn't bother me since I was so excited about filling it with diesel but I hope the mileage is enough improved to make it worth it. At this rate my WVO plans are now on the front burner!
As far as my transmission, it seems to get a bit better as it warms up, not sure why but again I don't understand automatics at all. I am optimistic about it though, I did a little research last night (as well as a post on DieselPlace) and learned that the governor has springs a weights that can be changed out to adjust the shifting (without too much work), there are many different combinations but I found some pretty good instructions on how to do it so I am feeling a little better about it now. It is a bit trial and error but least I know it can be done and possible without putting it in the shop for another month!
iaintscared69, is the 6.2 80 yours or are you working on it? If not yours who's is it? You mentioned on DieselPlace it was going to Austin? I would love to see it and maybe even drive it to see if the turbo is something I might be interested in. The little I have driven mine I don't think I will be wanting one anytime soon, it seems to have plenty of power for around here (sea level with no hills)
Can't wait to put some miles on it and check the mileage, I am going to get it liscensed Monday so I will be able to drive it all the time then. I still have a trip to the A/C shop to go, I am hoping I can just take it and let them measure the hoses they need to make then take it in to hook it all up. I hate to part with it but it won't be long before it is really needed here!
Will post more later, thanks to everyone for all the encouragement!
Rusty
 
the one he is working on the owner lives in austin.

glad you found what you needed! how does it feel to finally drive the truck again? also i you drive a turbo u will "Need" the turbo just so happens i have the complete set up from a 6.2 manifolds, down pipe turbo ect all just taking up space in my garage... guess if i get me a 6.2 ill have to put it to use
 
The FJ80 w/6.2L diesel is mine. i got it about 1 month ago from someone in South Texas. The 80 is in great shape, but the belt system sucks. So I talked to "The Diesel Depot" and Randy and got all the parts for a Serpentine conversion and the turbo install.

Randy is working on getting it put together.

My intension is to be able to tow with the 80 (Tow an FJ40 on a trailer), so I need the turbo.

Without the turbo, I was getting 14-15mpg. Not as good as I hoped.

You are welcome to test drive, either in Dallas or Austin. How far are you from Austin?

Cheers.
 
I am about 6 hours from Austin, get down there occasionally. I plan to use mine for towing but not much, probably only 3-4 times per year and only a couple hundred miles each time. I hope to get it on the highway next weekend and see how it does.
I am wishing now I had gone with the serpentine belt set-up, it seems much better now that I know a bit about it. I think I might consider changing over to it in a year or so when I have to change belts again. I am guessing I will have to replace all or most of the accessories though?
As far as mileage, I can't imagine an engine this size in a vehicle as heavy as the Land Cruiser to get good mileage but people on the DieselPage claim to be getting low 20's with suburbans so I hope it is possible. I know the earlier 6.2's were less powerful but got better mileage, mine is a military version which I think is about the most powerful so I am not expecting much. The main reason I did this is the ability to run WVO so good mileage is not as big of a deal.
Will post more tomorrow
Rusty
 
lorax said:
The FJ80 w/6.2L diesel is mine. i got it about 1 month ago from someone in South Texas. The 80 is in great shape, but the belt system sucks. So I talked to "The Diesel Depot" and Randy and got all the parts for a Serpentine conversion and the turbo install.

Randy is working on getting it put together.

My intension is to be able to tow with the 80 (Tow an FJ40 on a trailer), so I need the turbo.

Without the turbo, I was getting 14-15mpg. Not as good as I hoped.

You are welcome to test drive, either in Dallas or Austin. How far are you from Austin?

Cheers.
Click to expand...

He posts finally!

I have driven Brian's and it is a nice rig. Cant wait to test it when it comes back after Randy does his magic!
 
I purchased replacement accessories with brackets since I wanted it to work right the 1st time. The crank pulley and water pump have to be replaced. The rest, if you find replacement pulleys, you might be able to keep, but you will need the tensioner, so somewhere you will need a new bracket. I did not want to go through all that.

I also upgraded the water pump to the 130 GPH version to ensure better cooling. This needs a new dual thermostat housing replacement.
 
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