Conversion Dilema

[chicago]

I flop back and forth between maintaining the 3fe and swapping the 350 too...The biggest fear I have is with the 350 is the wiring.
Actually, I was going for the Vortec 5.3/ 4L60, but I understand that getting the wiring RIGHT is really difficult.
I sware this Landcruiser s*** is gonna Bankrupt me one of these days

It SCARES ME!!! But Id love to have more power!

Chicago

 

[brownbear]

Cummins 4bt.

I know v8's are fun to drive, but I like the torque of a diesel. And if money is no object Toyota 1hd-t.

But I know your talking gas guzzlers......

 

[incogrhino]

Do like I did, get 3 cruisers. I'm keep 1 40 stock, the other 40 SOA small block treatment and the 60 will get a diesel some day.A long time from now. $$$

 

[Tinker]

Chi-town -
The Painless harness makes it pretty easy. Only difficult (vs. time-consuming) part is fabbing a crossmember/tcase mount. You can get good instructions from Downey http://www.downeyoff-road.com/EngineComponents/index.htm.

I didn't have the time & couldn't afford another unending project, so I had a reputable 4x4 shop do mine. They knew what worked (E.g. used all the O2 sensors vs. some whizbang resistor). However, due to problems mostly caused by an idiotic former employee, I've become very familiar with the setup.

 

[tonkota]

I was at the same crossroads, but money and time for the swap was a big issue. The effing adapters add up. I like my 2F-E. It isn't the most powerful thing out there, but it doesn't struggle either. It was really very easy, and to make the accessory adapters was cheap and simple. Rebuilding the 2F short block was cheaper than the 3F too.

The only thing I don't care for is the way that my trans soakes up ponies. In time I may talk with Rodney to get it to perform better.

You'd probably see the same fuel mileage either way. If you do a SBC, may as well find a 350. Maybe a Chevy 302, but good luck on finding one of those

 

[chicago]

Chi-town -
The Painless harness makes it pretty easy. Only difficult (vs. time-consuming) part is fabbing a crossmember/tcase mount. You can get good instructions from Downey http://www.downeyoff-road.com/EngineComponents/index.htm.

I didn't have the time & couldn't afford another unending project, so I had a reputable 4x4 shop do mine. They knew what worked (E.g. used all the O2 sensors vs. some whizbang resistor). However, due to problems mostly caused by an idiotic former employee, I've become very familiar with the setup.

Hey Tinker,
Thanks for the link. I actually called a local Off road shop around here to see what they'd charge....With that being said, I was reading an articl (either on Mud, or Toyota trails mag) that talked about Proffitts 4BT conversion running around 10G's...I figured a chevy swap would be much less....from the local shop....NNOOOPPEE!!!! they wanted around 11K for the turn key gasser .
For that much, I WOULD run the princess down to CO. and have them stick in the diesel.
The guy at said shop said that the wiring is pretty tough for the tranny, and I think that is what scared me off the most!
I think I might pick up a copy of that downy's manual!

Chicago

 

[PeteH]

305 Sbc

Gotta throw in my .02 here. I would go with a 305-TBI if possible but 4bbl is good too. Have bought two 305 powered vehicles new, both still running strong w/tons of miles. 350s get crummy mileage and it seems like they wear themselves out. My 1500 Chevy pickup w/305 TBI,NV3500,3.42 gear always got 17 city,21 HWY and used a quart of oil every 2k mi from the day it was new to 185k mi. No reason a Cruiser shouldnt be able to equal that being a smaller lighter vehicle. Dont worry about wiring the auto tranny,go with NV4500.

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Cruisers are NOT lighter vehicles than Chevy 1500 pickups. Minor point: Cruisers didn't come with a gear any higher than 3.73 (and most seem to want at least 4.11's) so mileage is not likely to be better than the pickup. As for 350 vs 305 wearing out first: I've heard both ways. 305's somehow got a rep for chewing up cams. I can see a 350 getting a little wear from the leadfoot driver thinkin' he's got the hot motor too. I think regular servicing has more to do with it than anything else. Most every car in the family fleet (mostly domestic brands) goes well over 200K with little more than that.

YMMV,
Nick

 

[chicago]

I thought 62's all had 4.11 gears stock...Am I mistaken?

Chicago

 

[zebrabeefj40]

I thought 62's all had 4.11 gears stock...Am I mistaken?

Chicago

You are correct. And FJ60's had 3.73's both of which are lower gears than the 3.42's in the Chevy PeteH mentioned.



Nick

 

[Tinker]

The new GM engines (GenIII?) get better mileage & are smaller & lighter than the 350, but 350s are probably the most plentifyl small block around. I got mine from a recycler who guaranteed it (& came through when a leakdown showed 2 bad cylinders).

There are all kinds of GM crate motors (check Jeg's or Summit) from the lowly 200hp 70s replacement 350s to 427s that would rip everything up, including your wallet. I went with a 5.7 Vortec for the stock fuel injection (live & play at altitude) for reliability & maintainability. Had it 2 years now & still like it. It does have too much torque for snow, however. Just more justification for lockers.

I'd wait a bit on the diesel until the new federally-mandated low-sulphur fuel hits. I have a sneaking suspicion that the price will put it at miles-per-dollar parity with gas.

 

[browser5031]

The GenIII engines look difficult to install with the exhaust manifold location. I know TLC in California is installing them for $$. Has anyone done a garage install on the 5.3?

 

[nikos8]

From what I see so far, the consensus (spelling?) is a V8 swap with a 350. Does anyone have an approximate price for what a SBC 350 should go for? Also should I get the 2 bolt main or 4 bolt main?

 

[zebrabeefj40]

2 or 4 bolt main isn't an issue at the power levels you're dealing with IMHO. Price can be free to whatever your bank account allows.

Check www.car-part.com for an idea of prices from some salvage yards.

Nick

 

[Shinichi]

My 1500 4x4 is 6600lbs, isn't a 60/62 about 4000+.

I towed a 60 over a mountain pass the other day, judging from that I would about 10,000lbs. I guess altitude doesn't help.

 

[Cruisergreg]

My 1500 4x4 is 6600lbs, isn't a 60/62 about 4000+.

I towed a 60 over a mountain pass the other day, judging from that I would about 10,000lbs. I guess altitude doesn't help.

A well-armored 60 is around 6,000 lbs.

A TBI 350 swap in a 60 is REALLY easy and shouldn't cost $10 - 11K from a shop unless they are ripping you off. The Marks adapater makes it easier still.

If you intend to keep the truck for a while, dive in with both feet, learn the details, and don't look back. A V8 60 series is much more usable overall than anything with a stock Toy motor.

 

[mikruiser]

my vote would be a GM 6.2l diesel, uses the 350 motor mounts and adapter, and with a banks sidewinder kit would be a lot of fun with great gas mileage.

 

[nikos8]

I would love a diesel engine, but the cost is definetely an issue. I got my first baby on the way so the wify doesn't let me touch our savings. I'm funding this swap by parting out my 60 and whatever I don't need off the 62.

 

[FJKai]

Gotta add my .02 cents here. I was in the same situation. Had a tired, old, very, very leaky 2f. Liked the way it ran as far as reliability, quiet, etc. But, I really did want more power, not just for off roading sake, but for my own drive-ability sake in terms of being able to run at freeway speeds, pulling hills, pulling a trailer, pulling a trailer up a hill, pulling a trailer up a hill with 33's and heavy bumpers and winch, and camping gear, actually being able to use 4 Hi for a change, the list goes on. These concerns really added up to my personal need for a V8. Therefore, I went with a V8 but opted for the Mark's adapter and kept the stock 4 speed (unfair advantage here since I already had a Farey Overdrive therefore the Mark's kit was a no brainer). So far I love it and have no regrets and would do it all over again. Easy conversion, adapater kit really made it quick and easy, some minor mod's, but nothing major needed to make it all work. In the long run, maybe someday I'll regret it when I'm old and grumpy, but for now it meets my personal needs and suits my lifestyle well. Personally, I think it all comes down to what you want and expect from your cruiser. Once you really figure that out, then the choice will be easy. And gas mileage? What gas mileage? Gas mileage never evened factored into the question, I mean lets face it, these things were never built for gas mileage purposes. If you can get better gas mileage great, but really who cares in the long run. If your vehicle can't get you where you want to go painlessly, what good does a few extra miles to the gallon do? Good luck.

 

[tonkota]

My 1500 4x4 is 6600lbs, isn't a 60/62 about 4000+.

I towed a 60 over a mountain pass the other day, judging from that I would about 10,000lbs. I guess altitude doesn't help.

Wow, your 1500 weighs 1100# more than my 78 K20. The wagons scale weight is 4480# +/- A heep XJ is 3150#