Calling all Diesel Guru's

[Ghetto Fireman]

Hello All:

Some of you may recognize my 1980 HJ-45 Troopy as shown below. I have pulled the plug and decided not to sell my clean LHD Troopy, instead, it's time for a change. I am tired of getting the "your # 1 middle finger salute" from road raged Californians always in a hurry drivers. I'm repowering!!! It currently has the infamous "H" diesel, 24 volt, 4-speed. What would be your pick, keeping budget in mind. Thinking 12HT, H55? What if it were your rig? I use it as a surf rig and can see trips to Baja in the future.


Thank You

Mike

 

[ForealBoreal]

1HZ with a turbo.

1HD-T

1HD-FT

 

[gerg]

If I hadnt rebuilt my 3b, id be looking at a the isuzu 3.9 DI 4bd1t. The only pesky thing is that the exhaust comes aout the left side which makes it a little tight with the brake booster. It is a very efficient, strong motor that can be turned up for alot of power. Can be had for cheaper than a Toy motor as well.

 

[AJAEbj42]

You'll get lots of opinions of course. Which is best; I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. A 12HT is an old engine (i.e. all 12HT's are getting older); if you want a newer option, then a 1HZ, 1HD-T.

Turbo is a given if you want acceleration rather than just gather speed.

Let's assume for the moment you want to stay Toyota....

 

[wrongway around]

The right thing 1 hdt, or a 1hz with a turbo ,then there is trany dollar issues . You could vortex that thing quick simple cheap and wave all your fingers at them on the freeway . And still be kind of olds kool.

 

[1tontoy]

1HZ and a turbo and H55 and split transfer case (all parts still available from Toyota. The 2013 HZJ76 has a 1HZ). I'm swapping this into my troopy right now in the 45 section.

If you are looking for a bolt in option, then 12HT (parts are no longer available from Toyota). The transmission would have had a cradle instead of hanging off the bellhousing like the H. Whether or not you need the cradle is debated. If I went with a 12HT or 1HZ in your rig, I'd source the OEM transmission brackets and cradle from a later model 40/42/45/47 series, like 1982-84.

Glad you're keeping your troopy!!

 

[ukaviator]

When you say budget .... are we assuming your going to be doing the swap yourself or paying a shop to do it?

I am a HUGE diesel fan myself, however the Toyota Diesel engines are becoming harder to find and thus the prices a skyrocketing.

Right now Spector has a 1HDT half cut for $13,300! A year ago they were $12,500

Like others have said a Vortec conversion may suit your needs better. Plenty of power, new crate motors available, parts readily available, and any competent mechanic can work on it.

Is you rig a weekend car or daily driver? How long can you afford for it to be down while the swap is being done?
Reason I ask is, if you opt out of a half cut and just find a motor, you may spend more time and money sourcing the little parts that were missing like brackets, clips, mounts, hoses, relays, wiring harness etc etc

BTW that is a gorgeous Troopy!

 

[gerg]

Heck why not source new pistons with steel reinforced ringlands, do an inframe rebuild and turbo it and max your fuel pump out. Keep the 4spd and go with 3.73 gears and 35s. Your hwy cruise rpms would be about 2300rpm at 65mph. The only thing would be that 1st gear would be a little tall (if you have the h41), but a well matched turbo would boost well for you in the low rpms which would not be that hard to figure out in all honesty since your displacement is almost identical to my 3B. 373 gears are cheap as well in Can here as all bj60 came with them.

You could even just do turbo and gears now and do the pistons later, but you would need to do them as the stock pistons will not handle much abuse.

Im not sure, but assumed you are running 33 tires with 4.1 gears and the h42 tranny? The low 1st gear h42 tranny is also quite common in Can for pretty cheap as well. Would drop 1st gear revs by about 200rpm at 5mph for starts and 4x4ing vs the h41.

Just to let you know the gears and tires I recommended would put you almost exactly at stock gearing for a 5spd BJ60 in 5th (lower actually) even with a lower 1st gear as well. Could work out well for speed and cost.

 

[daboheme]

What is the H worth in your neck of the woods? If not too much, I'd slap a turbocharger on that puppy. Have heard of issues with head bolts needing upgrade though. It might just give you what you need, since it doesn't seem like your looking for major power. Chances are it will sh*t itself, but then again it might not...

 

[crushers]

3.70 diff gear swap, 33" tires, turbo the H for now and add a H55F.
then when you have a ton of money ship it to me and i will make it move.

 

[blis]

I would go for 12HT and h55 but then again, my opinion is bit biased

 

[BEE-JAY42]

1HZ, run it and see what you think of the power (it will be an amazing difference after the old H). If you still think it needs more kick after that then add a turbo.

 

[cody c]

13BT with the fuel up a bit and a H55f for my vote.

 

[doug720]

Nice Troopy!

First - I would consider an engine OH, add a turbo and an H55 to the 2H. Keeps it mostly stock and she should run pretty well. Keep all the stock parts for a collector down the road!

Second choice - a 1H? something. Modern engines and parts, but $$$$

Third - An Isuzu. I might be biased, but a damm good good engine, easy and fairly cheap parts, fit well in a LC and have really good performance.

Looks good no matter what you do to her.

Doug

PS - I'm close by if you want to see an Isuzu

 

[roscoFJ73]

I would go with the 1HZ.See if you like it as it is ,if not add a turbo down the track.
Think about ease of parts,resale value and a nice quiet engine that purrs at highway speed.
Having a 5sp will be icing on the cake with the engine doing 2700rpm at 110kph.

 

[ForealBoreal]

I would go with the 1HZ.See if you like it as it is ,if not add a turbo down the track.
Think about ease of parts,resale value and a nice quiet engine that purrs at highway speed.
Having a 5sp will be icing on the cake with the engine doing 2700rpm at 110kph.

2200 rpm with 33s 5th gear....

 

[crushers]

thing is, how tired is the original engine? compression test done recently? if the compression is tight then slap a turbo on and enjoy. it is the cheapest and easiest to accomplish.
IF you end up not happy then yank that engine and turbo and sell to a fellow Yank to stick into his gasser 40. cheap diesel for him.
then install the newer engine
but
i would suggest start cheap and work up.

 

[Ghetto Fireman]

thing is, how tired is the original engine? compression test done recently? if the compression is tight then slap a turbo on and enjoy. it is the cheapest and easiest to accomplish.
IF you end up not happy then yank that engine and turbo and sell to a fellow Yank to stick into his gasser 40. cheap diesel for him.
then install the newer engine
but
i would suggest start cheap and work up.

The "H" runs great, has 145,000 original Kilometers on it. I followed "RufustheDufus" "H" turbo build here on the forum, he couldn't keep from blowing head gaskets, and finally pulled the motor. I have not had a compression test.

 

[blis]

With so little km's on it I see no reason not to just turbo it and crank up the fuel if highway speed is the only thing you're looking for, maybe slap in a 5 gear box in it...

 

[crushers]

keep the boost down and you won't have an issue. crank the boost and you will have concerns.
8 psi will make the truck much more drivable.
12 psi and you MIGHT have issues but doubtful
over that and is a crapshoot.