Diesel engine into FJ80...questions

[avocadofarmer]

Hi

I am new here and have my eye on a project. I want to put a diesel engine (with decent power) into a 1991+ Landcruiser. I have been reading a lot on the 4btswaps site and have some Landcruiser specific questions for anyone that knows about this stuff.

First off....why does there seem to be more people swapping in the Cummins (4BT) engine over the Isuzu (4BD) engine? From what I can see, the Cummins is louder, taller (requires a 4" lift) and less refined. They are priced similarly and produce similar power.

It would be nice to not have to lift 4" just to get the engine in there.....at least initially.

Lots of other questions, but that's the biggest one right now...

Thanks!

 

[Tapage]

Hello .. lots of info here .. use the search.

Thought the 4BT instead of Isuzu due stock in parts and price.. and more important adapters to tranny and t-case ..

There is nothing wrong with the Isuzu .. just thought are more complicated .. maybe as much as get a Toyota engine to the swap ..

 

[avocadofarmer]

Ya, the search tool is awesome. Spent a lot of time bookmarking stuff....

I just never really found a good answer to that question.

Also wondering if anyone thinks it possible to ditch the auto and just use a manual trans. Seems like that would help a lot with mileage concerns and be a lot simpler/cheaper. Would have to add clutch pedal and hydraulics though? No cable actuated clutches?

 

[roscoFJ73]

Using a Toyota diesel is not cheap ,but solves a lot of problems and the end cost is probably going to be the same.
I think the resale value will be better with Toyota diesel

IMO the truck diesels are too crude in a landcruiser,but this depends on your expectations.

 

[Stone]

My 12H-T in the 80 sounds like an older Cummins...LOL.

 

[Tapage]

I swap out my A442F and use instead a wonderfull H150F with 300mm clutch in Marilu .. hydraulick clutch and almost factory look ( I said )

 

[rtarh2o]

I hate to keep bringing this up, but the easiest, cheapest swap is going to be a GM 6.2 diesel. I debated long and hard, then ended up researching a bunch on that engine before I finally decided to swap it into my 94.
First, military take-outs are everywhere and are cheap, ($500-700 should get you good one) The are incredibly easy to work on, fit in an 80 like it was made for it, they aren't very heavy (about 700 lbs) get decent mileage (about 19-20 on the highway) you can get parts everywhere, doesn't require a lift and the power is much better than a stock 80, add the turbo and it is really good.
A lot of people think this engine is junk (based on the previous 5.7 diesel which was) but it really is a good, long lasting reliable engine. Go to some of the 6.2 forums and ask around, that is what I did, people love those engines, I loved mine for the short time I owned it.
The other great thing about the 6.2 and your 92 is the fact that your transmission will bolt up to the 6.2 via an adapter and the ratio on the A440 is about as good as you are going to get (very close to the GM 7000R4 I used)
I considered all the options before going with the 6.2, the Toyota's are too hard to find and too expensive, the Cummins are too loud and require more lift than I wanted to do, the Isuzu was too hard to find, too expensive and too expensive to rebuild.
I tried to purchase a core Isuzu but gave up waiting on the guy to pull it from his truck, during this time I was reading my local paper and found some military take-out 6.2's which I never even considered up to that point. I went to look at them, test drove a truck with one in it and was sold! He had several of them there, fired several of them up and let me choose which one I wanted.
The only bad thing about going the military route is the fact it doesn't have any accessories on it, the good news is that they are the most powerful and newest version of that engine and you can usually find a good one that won't need any work so it really is a bit of a trade-off.

Just my 2¢, good luck with whatever route you decide to take.

Rusty

 

[roscoFJ73]

This is the route I would take if obtaining a Toyota diesel was too much trouble.
Is the 6.5 a better engine?

 

[handcannon]

This is the route I would take if obtaining a Toyota diesel was too much trouble.
Is the 6.5 a better engine?

The 6.5 is basically the same block. There are some differences depending on the year of manufacture. The first year or two were NA, all the rest were turboed. Some of the later years had piston skirt cooler/oilers. There are other things to know about them but I am new enough to them and diesels in general and still have a lot to learn yet. I would suggest going to some web sites and doing some reading ---- dieselplace.com and thedieselpage.com ---- to start with. The first one is where I have been going most of the time as it seems to have the most activity, ultimately giving the most info.

Don

 

[avocadofarmer]

Rusty......I have read a lot of your posts lately!!! I have thought a lot about the 6.2 and 6.5, but I keep reading that those engines are just not as good as a Cummins or Isuzu. Maybe the newer ones are up to snuff, but from what I've seen, they are every bit as expensive as the other options. I have a Duramax now, and I think think that engine (at least the LB7) is troubled, and it has a significantly better rep than the 6.2 and 6.5...

I really wish I could do it, but I think I would find it underpowered as well, because I live in Ca and intend to make a lot of trips to UT and Colorado with this LC (if I ever get one) and possibly towing. If Im going to the hassle of building this thing, I would rather go ahead and just throw in an extra grand or two and get an engine that is as bulletproof as possible.

I am still on the fence as whether or not to do this whole thing....it would really help if I could listen to one of these trucks or drive one. I want decent power, and I'm not sure the 4BD/4BT will be able to come up with it.

I would also go with a manual trans (NV4500 most likely) and I have not found anyone with that combo in a LC. I asked Proffit, and he claims it is possible, but it would help a lot to be able to find someone with it in use...

 

[avocadofarmer]

Anyone know of someone with a Cummins or Isuzu diesel and a manual trans in a FJ80?

 

[MrMoMo]

I have seen a 3B in an 80 - it was very well done. Not sure if the guy is on mud or not, but I can get you connected if you are interested in going that route. Performed extremely well off road!

 

[Lost]

hey dude,

with so many factors to consider: size/fit, cost, weight, acceleration, max speed, just to start...

heres an informative comparison from a similar perspective as yours.
CIS Auto Web's Diesel Land Cruisers

dont expect to be going fast...no matter which which diesel motor

I have seen a 3B in an 80 - it was very well done. Not sure if the guy is on mud or not, but I can get you connected if you are interested in going that route. Performed extremely well off road!

^^hes not on mud.
he put a turbo since.
pics @ https://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-trailers-sale-wanted/269537-80series-3b-5speed-ontario.html

 

[Grizzard]

If he would stick a Cummins 6bt in he would be going fast atleast from 0-100 then he would hit the governor. I was looking into a 12valve 6bt and from what I read you can take them up to 400hp/800tq for free with just pump mods! But I don't mind slow and reliable especially after driving my 3fe FJ80 so I am going with the 6.2 which can be bought for free-1000 bucks running in good condition even low miliage military take outs. Marks makes an adapter to mate it to either a 440 or 442 auto trans and also makes the motormounts and everything you need to bolt it in for 1500 bucks, hell the stock radiator hoses will probally work. So if you can do your own work you can have a running deisel cruiser for around 3 grand. Plus the 6.2's are IDI so they will run on anything almost+++ and are known to go 500K miles before they die and are maybe 100 pounds heavier then the 3fe.

 

[Dougal]

I've heard the Isuzu 6BD1T fits into an 80 series, but I've not actually seen one. That's the 6 cylinder version of the 4BD1T which is mentioned many times on this board.
The 6 is 5.7 litres and most have an SAE bellhousing.

 

[cruiser concepts]

The 6bt is by fare a better motor then the Chevy.
As for putting a 6bt in an 80 series the 4" lift it is not necessary.
With the "basic" 6bt "tune up" using the
first gen cummins (VE PUMP non inter-cooled) platform.
one can yield
200-250 hp = roughly 400-450 ft lbs of torque with little investment "tweaking the pump" Governor spring, fuel pin.
with these mods you will want to install an exhaust gas temperature Gauge. A boost and fuel pressure Gauge will help you with "tuning"

 

[Grizzard]

I agree the 6bt is a way better motor, but the 6.2 is a simpler swap Marks sells the parts to bolt it in then all you need to do is run a fuel line to the mechanical lift pump and acouple wires to this and that. The 6.2 with a turbo will make 200-250hp and the 6.2 is also a way cheaper swap, you can almost buy the motor and trans adapter for the price of a used 6bt alone then you also have to look at the cost of adapters you would have to run a 4l80 or a 700r4 behind it to mate it to a stock tcase so you can run offset diffs so you would have to buy a tranny plus the gm auto to 6bt adapter which is around 1200 bucks. I am pretty sure you couldnt use the stock trans cause there is no adpapter built to mate it to an offset case? I am saying for the price the 6.2 can't be beat and add a turbo kit and you are up around 6bt power levels. You also get to keep all the stock toyota drivetrain even that auto trans that will go 300,000 miles before it needs rebuilt!! Paired with the 6.2 that will go 500,000 miles you got a wining combo.

 

[Dougal]

Paired with the 6.2 that will go 500,000 miles you got a wining combo.

500,000 miles from a 6.2

 

[roscoFJ73]

The weight difference between a 6bt and a chev diesel would be enough to steer me towards the chev.

 

[Tapage]

but you can get good powa out from a 4BT with intercooler to psuh nice on the HW your 80 ..