Nice. Good to know. Hadn't gotten that far with it yet. Now I guess I need to find a diesel. Will be watching this thread for more advice. Thanks
Best diesel swaps for 80 series? (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter mrjordann
- Start date
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I had a 1HD-T Toyota diesel installed in an 80 series I bought for the purpose- a nice, rust free Western truck. I've been driving it about 2-3 years and improving it as I go. I'm very happy with it.
I have a OM
I have a om617 in my ‘82 300td wagon. Any info on that motor put into an 80? That would be a cool build.
No. Its slow.
Agreed. They don’t move w123s well. Let alone an 80
No doubt lol. They run forever though.
True that. They are dog slow but good little engines.
Super good little engines! I have a w124 with an om603 and it’s not nearly as bulletproof as your motor
Jim,
Just out of curiosity, how much did you have to pay for your 1HD-T? What all was involved with changing out wiring, etc. Does it mate up with the existing auto trans bellhousing? Have you had any issues finding somebody to work on it (since they were never sold in the US)?
No such thing as an easy or cheap swap. It all depends on how loud your wallet is allowed to scream 
The OM617 / OM606 MB engines seem like they *might* barely be able to move a bloated 7k pig like the 80. What am I missing here? My 1990 300E gasser engine has more HP (less torque) than either of these two diesel engines and you want to put them in a Landcruiser? How much can you "turn" up the fuel on the diesel engines to actually break the 250+ hp/300 FT-LB of torque to justify the effort and expense of swapping into a landcruiser?
M103 petrol
OM617
OM606
The OM617 / OM606 MB engines seem like they *might* barely be able to move a bloated 7k pig like the 80. What am I missing here? My 1990 300E gasser engine has more HP (less torque) than either of these two diesel engines and you want to put them in a Landcruiser? How much can you "turn" up the fuel on the diesel engines to actually break the 250+ hp/300 FT-LB of torque to justify the effort and expense of swapping into a landcruiser?
M103 petrol
OM617
OM606
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I'm happy with the performance of my Series 80 with the 1HD-T engine and automatic transmission in it. The fuel mileage is good, especially for a large heavy vehicle which is not aerodynamic. I think the swap using a Toyota diesel makes the most sense, but maybe the new compact Cummins engines are a good fit, too- I don't know as I didn't consider it. I've owned several Mercedes with the iron block diesels, the 4 and 5 cylinder ones. They would be inferior to the 1HD-T in my opinion- not enough torque. But that's just an opinion, not based on actually driving one.No such thing as an easy or cheap swap. It all depends on how loud your wallet is allowed to scream
The OM617 / OM606 MB engines seem like they *might* barely be able to move a bloated 7k pig like the 80. What am I missing here? My 1990 300E gasser engine has more HP (less torque) than either of these two diesel engines and you want to put them in a Landcruiser? How much can you "turn" up the fuel on the diesel engines to actually break the 250+ hp/300 FT-LB of torque to justify the effort and expense of swapping into a landcruiser?
W124 chassis, 300E
View attachment 3222890
OM617
View attachment 3222888
OM606
View attachment 3222885
The OM606 at least has similar power output to a stock 1HD-T/FT which get around just fine. Still - with the factory diesel engines able to be sourced relatively easily I'm not sure why someone would go for a Mercedes engine unless they really have an affinity for them. I would always be concerned about having proprietary adapters, etc involved if the plan is to keep and use a vehicle for many years/miles.No such thing as an easy or cheap swap. It all depends on how loud your wallet is allowed to scream
The OM617 / OM606 MB engines seem like they *might* barely be able to move a bloated 7k pig like the 80. What am I missing here? My 1990 300E gasser engine has more HP (less torque) than either of these two diesel engines and you want to put them in a Landcruiser? How much can you "turn" up the fuel on the diesel engines to actually break the 250+ hp/300 FT-LB of torque to justify the effort and expense of swapping into a landcruiser?
W124 chassis, 300E
View attachment 3222890
OM617
View attachment 3222888
OM606
View attachment 3222885
Any additional info about this truck?
You should look into OM606 a bit deeper before you rule it out as a viable candidate.No such thing as an easy or cheap swap. It all depends on how loud your wallet is allowed to scream
The OM617 / OM606 MB engines seem like they *might* barely be able to move a bloated 7k pig like the 80. What am I missing here? My 1990 300E gasser engine has more HP (less torque) than either of these two diesel engines and you want to put them in a Landcruiser? How much can you "turn" up the fuel on the diesel engines to actually break the 250+ hp/300 FT-LB of torque to justify the effort and expense of swapping into a landcruiser?
W124 chassis, 300E
View attachment 3222890
OM617
View attachment 3222888
OM606
View attachment 3222885
With an upgraded injector pump ( 7.5mm ) and a larger turbo it can produce close to 500hp and more than enough torque to move the 80s LC
and still get way better gas mileage than any gas engine.
Just my $.02
This is good info and I didn't rule MB engines out. I did ask if it's possible to crank up the fuel to get a bloated landcruiser moving nicely. Sounds like a larger turbo and a bigger lift pump will make an OM engine produce some real #s. Then again, same mods can be done to a Toyota 1HD-xx engines as well to achieve higher hp/torque values.
The answer to the OP's question in terms of the "best diesel" conversion for an 80 simply boils down to how much $$$ he has to spend on a conversion.
Duramax conversion in 80 series
It might be helpful for the OP (and for other inquiring minds like mine) if we shared some potential prices for each engine option (including turbos and lift pump upgrades). I'm sure any of us could do start from scratch and figure it out, but if you guys have info that you're willing to share I'm sure I wouldn't be the only person that would appreciate it. Thanks
I have 0 affiliation or previous knowledge but it does look like someone does offer an adapter to use the stock trans on an om606
Interesting what you say about the radiator. The shop which did the Toyota diesel swap oin my Series 80 left the original radiator for the truck in place. (my Series 80 began life as a USA-spec gas engined Cruiser) The radiator cools too well. In winter I have to block it off so the engine will come up to temp. The right thermostat is in it. I wonder if Toyota fitted a smaller radiator to Series 80 diesels in Japan and ROW; diesels produce less waste heat than do gasoline engines, I think, and the gas radiator may be too large. I also rercently fitted an oil pan heater, so that it's warmer when it starts up.
@LA Z would have to weigh in to be sure, but he could have gone with it partially because of the water inlet/outlet locations?
