BJ73 Engine Swap (1 Viewer)

[KRoy]

Need advice. New to forum and new to land cruisers. Seriously considering purchase of a 1987 BJ73 in great condition. 150k miles. Retirement project. I've read plenty about the low power of the 3b engine, not made for highway speeds, etc, etc. I'm also looking to the future with parts availability becoming an issue. So what's the best and easiest engine swap to improve power, performance, etc. and not have worries over parts availability?

 

[coldtaco]

depending on your skills, a 1HD-FT or 1HD-FTE. or the cummins 2.8 crate motor.

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

In terms of drop-in engines, the later B engines are all candidates; 14B, 14B-T, 15B-F, 15B-FT. The turbo versions are fairly rare, but the 14B and some gas (LPG or natural gas, not 'gasoline') fueled versions of the 15B-F are still produced today, so parts availability (outside the US perhaps) is not an issue. a 14B would be a decent improvement in power and torque and does not have the weakness of pre-combustion chambers but may still feel a bit slow.

If you are prepared to get bespoke parts made, move engine mounts and crossmembers, change transmission etc then the choice of engine swap candidates is only limited by your budget/skills.

 

[bottombracket]

I just helped (mostly watched) @AlbertoSD drop a 15BFT into a formerly 3B BJ42. There is no question in my mind that the 15Bx platform is the way to go. Same footprint, MONSTER STRONG bottom end....this is the future for a 4 cylinder B series.

If you want 6 cylinder, the 1Hx is the obvious choice. But you're set up to drop a short, fat, torquey B series right into its place and run it.