Anyone else been jonesing for that new 2.8 Cummins...

[Cougar Cruising]

I like to drive my 79 in the late spring, summer, early fall but my biggest gripe is it just can't handle the hills where I live. The 2F just lugs up the steep grades on the highway I drive to work on, like it can barely sustain 45mph up the steepest sections. There's a guy near where I live that put that new 2.8 in his 40 and he absolutely loves it. He said it'll cruise all day long at 70+mph at 1800 rpm and he's taken it across the country a few times already. Plus it gets way, way better mpg than a 2F. I'd really like to road trip in my 40 to Moab a few times a year and not worry about being dog slow on the mountain passes as well.


They say it's a nearly complete assembly, but then I'd have to figure out if I want to keep my H41 or maybe go with an H55 or maybe even a GM auto tranny.

Here's Walt's 40:



Here's mine:

The R2.8 seems appealing because it's a complete engine, like you can run it out of the crate with some diesel and a battery. It even comes with the pedal. It's something I think I could tackle by myself with help from some friends, even though I've never done a swap before.

 

[Bripars40]

I wouldn’t do it to that ‘79. Looks to clean to mess it up with a engine swap.

Now my rust bucket is perfect for the job. I’ll trade you straight across

 

[Varty Yo]

Couple threads here already going and it seems to satisfy me for now lol! If ever i was to do a frame off rebuild id consider his an option haha

Now moneywise no dam way!!!

P.S This build is amazing!!!!!

 

[White Stripe]

I would just turn your 2f into a 2fe and a reground camshaft from delta. While you won't quite get quite the diesel gas mileage, it should give you adequate power for highway speeds and yet save you about 15 to 20 grand over a diesel swap. With a 2fe you should get 14 or 15mpg. Upgrading to a 2fe should only cost you 4k at most. Very possibly only will cost you around 2k.

 

[Cougar Cruising]

I would just turn your 2f into a 2fe and a reground camshaft from delta. While you won't quite get quite the diesel gas mileage, it should give you adequate power for highway speeds and yet save you about 15 to 20 grand over a diesel swap. With a 2fe you should get 14 or 15mpg. Upgrading to a 2fe should only cost you 4k at most. Very possibly only will cost you around 2k.

I'll have to research this. My local cruiserhead mechanic recommended the 2FE few years ago and strongly discouraged a SBC swap. That was before the Cummins was announced though.

 

[1911]

I've been a die-hard 2F (and 3FE) fan for a long time, but that Cummins 2.8 just seems like it was made for a 40. Love the torque specs. I'll keep running my 2F until it dies, which I expect to be a long time - but when that day comes, I will seriously consider the 2.8.

 

[brooklyn]

interesting. i never really understood why and FJ40, 2F engine couldn't climb a steep grade an maintain speed. Isn't this the same setup you would find in a FJ60 (engine/trans)? They are bigger and heavier; no? Can they climb a steep grade?

 

[rrv333]

The 2.8 is in my future as well, hopefully no time soon.

 

[1969FJ]

Cummins certainly knows EXACTLY the needs of vehicles like the FJ40 , and they provided it with the 2.8. I also at engine time would love this engine.

 

[Cougar Cruising]

Cummins certainly knows EXACTLY the needs of vehicles like the FJ40 , and they provided it with the 2.8. I also at engine time would love this engine.

Tuners are getting an easy +50 hp and + 60 tq out of the 2.8 Duramax. It’ll be fun to see what they can get out of this Cummins. Perfect engine for a 40 imo.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Yep. I'd love one in my FJ62. But, with it running perfectly and not using oil or coolant, it's hard to justify a swap now. Give it a few years though and maybe a bigger version of the 2.8 will be available, and I'll be a buyer. I can't see spending money on an unsupported 3FE motor long term.

 

[rustyj40]

Does anyone know the latest on the adapter support for the Cummins 2.8? I am about to kick off a 3FE swap into a stock 1969 40 series which will include transplanting an H55 and split transfer case behind it. I would love to have an LC with the 2.8 someday, but my fear is the unknowns at this point. I don’t want to put in an automatic and with the multiple adapters similar to what torfab did with an FJ62 it seems like a long drive train for a 40 series. My plan is to move ahead with the 3FE swap and watch the 2.8 diesel swap information become more well understood. Until it does I fully intend to day dream about it incessantly! Swapping a Cummins 2.8 into an FJ60 with a blown engine might make a good candidate for my next project?

 

[Sheck44]

Couple of us doing R2.8 swaps, and I have all the adapters for the swap on hand already for the R2.8 to and NV4500 and 60 series split case I can tell you its NOT cheap but it will be cool

Cheers
Steve

 

[1911]

interesting. i never really understood why and FJ40, 2F engine couldn't climb a steep grade an maintain speed. Isn't this the same setup you would find in a FJ60 (engine/trans)? They are bigger and heavier; no? Can they climb a steep grade?

No. That's why Toyota de-stroked the 2F and gave it fuel injection (the 3FE) for the FJ62 and FJ80, then kept going with bigger and more powerful motors for the wagons after that. The F-series motors were designed from the beginning for a broad torque curve that started right off idle - perfect for an off-road truck, not so much for modern interstate travel.

 

[Cougar Cruising]

Couple of us doing R2.8 swaps, and I have all the adapters for the swap on hand already for the R2.8 to and NV4500 and 60 series split case I can tell you its NOT cheap but it will be cool

Cheers
Steve

Can't wait to see your build. My biggest worry with this swap is having enough rear driveshaft left after all the adapters. Maybe a dumb question, but why go with the split case instead of an Orion one piece? The 4:1 seems like it would be an awesome upgrade for wheeling.

 

[Cougar Cruising]

Hey this is probably old news for you guys, but did you know they already make a tuner for this engine overseas?

Check out this link: Foton Tunland 2.8L ISF (177 PS / 365 Nm) Diesel Tuning

The mild tune is for 202bhp (not sure the conversion) and 313 ft/lb

The max tune is for 223 bhp and 361! ft/lb

They also promise up to 20% greater fuel economy. My commute features some really steep highway grades, this thing would absolutely fly up it with 350+ ft/lbs of torque.

 

[Sheck44]

Oh no you didn't just do that to me !!
Doh !! $$$$$

Thanks
Steve

 

[Cougar Cruising]

Oh no you didn't just do that to me !!
Doh !! $$$$$

Thanks
Steve

Just read in my 4Wheeler magazine about their Ultimate Adventure 2017. They had two rigs in the group that had the 2.8 including the lead Heep. Apparently after a week of driving over a thousand miles of everything from hardcore rock crawling to pavement the 2.8s used one THIRD the fuel (66% less) than any of the other rigs (mostly v8s). That’s amazing. Can’t wait for your impressions of LS vs the 2.8.

 

[Varty Yo]

But they saved on not having that 15k+ initial coast haha.