Well, here goes. This thread could just as easily be called the "Poor boy's route to a diesel cruiser".
I have been lusting after diesel cruisers for over a decade and unfortunately have never had the money to buy one, so I decided to build my own.
I really wanted to stay all Toyota but $5500 to $7500 for a used Toyota diesel was just not going to happen. So I started looking at other options and settled on the Isuzu 4bd1t. It is a great engine with a great history and parts are everywhere for them and adapters are available for this swap.
I started looking around and found a great deal on an engine (so I thought!) on ebay with only 89k on it and the owner really talked it up on the phone before I purchased it. It took him 4 weeks to get the motor shipped and when I received it, I was so excited to get going on this. I got it unloaded off the truck and started to see what kind of condition it was in, only to realize it wouldn't turn over one complete turn! I learned a very valuable lesson on this one. Never buy an engine sight unseen! I started pulling pans and manifolds off and things only got worse.
I have been lusting after diesel cruisers for over a decade and unfortunately have never had the money to buy one, so I decided to build my own.
I really wanted to stay all Toyota but $5500 to $7500 for a used Toyota diesel was just not going to happen. So I started looking at other options and settled on the Isuzu 4bd1t. It is a great engine with a great history and parts are everywhere for them and adapters are available for this swap.
I started looking around and found a great deal on an engine (so I thought!) on ebay with only 89k on it and the owner really talked it up on the phone before I purchased it. It took him 4 weeks to get the motor shipped and when I received it, I was so excited to get going on this. I got it unloaded off the truck and started to see what kind of condition it was in, only to realize it wouldn't turn over one complete turn! I learned a very valuable lesson on this one. Never buy an engine sight unseen! I started pulling pans and manifolds off and things only got worse.