Attempting the next best engine swap for 80s IMO (10 Viewers)

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I like the originality and that it's a diesel. The speed of your swapping skills is impressive.
1. How much does the engine/transmission combo weigh (including adapters)?
2. Does yours have an engine brake?
3. Does yours have the stop/start "feature"? If so, can you disable it?
4. Any changes to the engine planned?
5. Will you be adding the new gauges to the dash?
Looking forward to seeing more.
Any updates on any of the above?
 
Amazing. How does the engine fit in the frame compared to the LT1? Is the clearance any better? This thread really needs a video with it starting and running. Very curious to see how it sounds.
I’d say clearance is not as much on the left hand side but the right hand side has tons of room since the turbo is up high. On the left side there is so much coolant crap and oil coolers it’s crazy. My plan is to machine a new thermostat and get rid of all the electrical thermostat stuff
 
Any updates on any of the above?
I never did get a weight on everything I don’t have a scale in my garage but I can tell you it’s probably 400lbs lighter than the 1hdt I pulled out originally
I don’t think the engine brake will work anymore but I actually haven’t tried yet

No start stop crap

I don’t know what you mean by engine plans

And I plan on getting the new Dakota digital gauges probably in a couple weeks but I’m just using my edge monitor at the moment
 
You know what your right here is a little video I put on my channel



Super clean looking cruiser!

Engine swap looks tidy too. I hope it achieves what you want it to

When you said duramax, my brain went to the GM 6.6l V8 Duramax diesel.

I had a lot of fun with my 1hd-t.
No way I would trade a 1hd-t for a 3.0 diesel.
Also no way I'd chooae an auto vs manual trans if i was engine swapping something.
 
And I plan on getting the new Dakota digital gauges probably in a couple weeks but I’m just using my edge monitor at the moment
I assume it's all tied into the CAN-bus system on the LM2, but it seems like if one were so inclined, they could plumb in the extra sensors to play nice with the stock temp and oil pressure gauges.

No way I would trade a 1hd-t for a 3.0 diesel.
Also no way I'd chooae an auto vs manual trans if i was engine swapping something.
I'm with you on the 1HD-t, though I'd take an 8 or 10 speed auto over any manual. The only thing I have with a clutch anymore is motorcycles. That's a big part of what makes this so appealing to me: it's not JUST the engine, it's the engine/trans package.
 
Funny you guys are saying you would take a 1hdt over a 3.0. I’d beg to differ. I drove the 1hdt across country to Moab. And it was miserable and that was just on 33s. It struggled through the mountain passes in Colorado and that was with the boost turned up and more fueling. And it did not get very good fuel mileage. So there wasn’t many upsides. I guess if you’re a purist then I’d respect that. But what I’ve learned is when you’re going down the road no body knows what’s under your hood. And whatever makes a drive more enjoyable is what im after.

I have had a 1fz, 1hdt, LMM duramax, LT1, and now this in a 80 series so I guess I can speak from experience
 
Funny you guys are saying you would take a 1hdt over a 3.0. I’d beg to differ. I drove the 1hdt across country to Moab. And it was miserable and that was just on 33s. It struggled through the mountain passes in Colorado and that was with the boost turned up and more fueling. And it did not get very good fuel mileage. So there wasn’t many upsides. I guess if you’re a purist then I’d respect that. But what I’ve learned is when you’re going down the road no body knows what’s under your hood. And whatever makes a drive more enjoyable is what im after.

I have had a 1fz, 1hdt, LMM duramax, LT1, and now this in a 80 series so I guess I can speak from experience
I do have a long history with Toyota, so you'll have to forgive my prejudices. I wish they had something comparable to this easily available in North America. I feel like that 1hdt might not have been in perfect tune for it to be that disappointing, but I wasn't there. 🤷‍♂️

So, having run all of these in an 80, is it safe to assume you're done swapping?
 
Funny you guys are saying you would take a 1hdt over a 3.0. I’d beg to differ. I drove the 1hdt across country to Moab. And it was miserable and that was just on 33s. It struggled through the mountain passes in Colorado and that was with the boost turned up and more fueling. And it did not get very good fuel mileage. So there wasn’t many upsides. I guess if you’re a purist then I’d respect that. But what I’ve learned is when you’re going down the road no body knows what’s under your hood. And whatever makes a drive more enjoyable is what im after.

I have had a 1fz, 1hdt, LMM duramax, LT1, and now this in a 80 series so I guess I can speak from experience

Welp, I'm definitely not a purist and totally agree, if what you have done makes you happy and you enjoy the vehicle, that's all that matters.

I definitely weeks not describe my 1hd-t as miserable. Driven mostly on 33s, and on 35s, manual. It was fun, and definitely no slouch. Driven for fun, it did about 16mpg.
My experience was mostly near sea level, not in mountains like you have in Colorado, so i cab see there being a difference in experience. I also think the '90s era auto trans are a horrible combo with them.
 
IMHO, as someone who has done a swap (6.0L L96/6L90e) and evaluated all the possible choices, I do think a LS or LM2 are the best choices. There is a reason LS swaps are extremely common...they are stout, powerful and simple.

1990 era Toyota diesels are too underpowered. IMHO, they are not an upgrade for the 1FZ-FE.

5.9L Cummins are too heavy.

The smaller cummins are too underpowered, and are not very refined.

I understand purist who want to stick with Toyota, I just hope they don't mind me blowing by them going up a 8% grade. 😁

I didn't go for the LM2 because neither Torfab's 8/10 speed adapter (pre-production status), nor a LM2 harness/unlocked ECM was available. I was following Mitch's progress though....

I think I was the first person in this community to make use of Mitch's Muscle Car Module. 🥇

IMHO, a L96, which is an iron block without DOD/AFM, will probably outlast a LM2. A L96 is a much simpler engine design. Yea, so I won't be pulling my L96 in favor of LM2. 😉 If I got a second 80 though.....

Also, it is the details that take time....making sure the tach works, all the gauges work, check engine light works, ODB2 port is wired, Brake switch to ECM/TCM, transmission gear lever shifting, park/neutral safety switch, etc... I mean, the new 80 series Dakota Dash really helps solve these many of these details....which also was released after my swap! 😔
 
I understand purist who want to stick with Toyota, I just hope they don't mind me blowing by them going up a 8% grade. 😁

A early 90s diesel is obviously not going to be equal to a 2020ish LS, in many ways.

The 1hd-t in stock form is very conservatively tuned by Mr T. With relatively minor changes, they are capable of surprising increases in torque and power, and will blow by many a modern car in many situations.
 
I do have a long history with Toyota, so you'll have to forgive my prejudices. I wish they had something comparable to this easily available in North America. I feel like that 1hdt might not have been in perfect tune for it to be that disappointing, but I wasn't there. 🤷‍♂️

So, having run all of these in an 80, is it safe to assume you're done swapping?
Done swapping is a vague term lol. But honestly I don’t think there is a better suited engine currently produced. I’ll argue anyone. Lol.
 
1VD-FTV maybe, there have been a few conversions into 80 series but that engine is being phased out. F33A-FTV out of the 300 would be the the current Toyota equivalent to your engine but both not exactly available in the US. Probably also a nightmare to get something like that to run properly without aftermarket support.

Either way, great job on the conversion. Seems to run well judging by that video.
 
1VD-FTV maybe, there have been a few conversions into 80 series but that engine is being phased out. F33A-FTV out of the 300 would be the the current Toyota equivalent to your engine but both not exactly available in the US. Probably also a nightmare to get something like that to run properly without aftermarket support.

Either way, great job on the conversion. Seems to run well judging by that video.
My argument with that is expensive over value. You’re not looking at much power with a 1hdfte for how expensive they are to get in the states. And the 300 series V8 is very expensive and no way to make stand alone. Not many stand alone diesel computers
 
@Drewthecarguy, this is really special. I wanted to do this swap, and am glad to see someone who has done it. It seems to be the perfect swap. Modern inline 6 turbo diesel, and still able to use readily-available swap parts from previous generation adapters. Thanks for sharing!
 

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