Diesel options compared?

[woytovich]

A Mercedes turbo diesel (from a 1982 300 Turbo Diesel ) potential FJ40 swap donor has appeared on my radar - and I've spoken with Luke about the 4x4labs adapter stuff...

I have only been paying the SLIGHTEST attention to diesel swap options and was wondering if there was a definitive resource comparing the practical options. I've seen info in a number of threads but was wondering if anyone has pulled it all together. (a chart?)

Interesting points would be:
anticipated mileage
torque at RPM number
horsepower at RPM number
typical acquisition cost
typical conversion cost
conversion issues
maybe more...

Thoughts?
Mark

 

[roscoFJ73]

No chart,you just have to read the 10 thousand threads on this.
Most of its based on personal preferences+individual budgets+location
Location is the dark horse as prices vary wildly depending if you re from a Toyota diesel country or not.

If you are in the US,parts availabilty is another consideration.

 

[woytovich]

Yes, I was meaning US swaps (as you HAVE diesels you can buy in all of the good parts of the world)

It is the 10k posts that made me ask the question as a matter of fact. Some of this is fixed within a range. If one were to say that a 3B is available in the US "typically" for between $1000 and $1500 and that they were no available in new vehicles here then that is a good starting point compared to the 6.2l GM diesels that WERE available here and are therefore easier/cheaper to source.

Pros/cons of each would be nice too...

 

[cody c]

there is a lot of these threads to be found already.

 

[woytovich]

There is a lot of what I want here:

TLC FAQ - 5.4 Engine Specifications

I would like to add the non-Toyota options and then some info regarding the swap issues and costs...

 

[roscoFJ73]

There is a lot of what I want here:

TLC FAQ - 5.4 Engine Specifications

I would like to add the non-Toyota options and then some info regarding the swap issues and costs...

Think up a name of a diesel and search for it here. I dont think there is much more that can be said about diesel swaps that is new,unless its a brand new diesel we havent seen before.
Prices of diesel engines probably has 900 threads

 

[woytovich]

"Prices of diesel engines probably has 900 threads"

EXACTLY why I was looking for some SINGLE place where the info had been consolidated. Just because the info exists scattered all over the place is no reason to not look...

 

[roscoFJ73]

"Prices of diesel engines probably has 900 threads"

EXACTLY why I was looking for some SINGLE place where the info had been consolidated. Just because the info exists scattered all over the place is no reason to not look...

Maybe you could be the one to get it all together and define whats worth keeping and whats not

 

[rtarh2o]

I love the Mercedes OM617 engine, am considering it in my 40 if I ever get a chance to work on it.
I would love to drive one, not sure if I would be happy with the way it drives, lack of torque, but it does like to rev like a gas engine and is pretty quiet so I think it would be at the top of my list.
I have seen a Cummins 4BT swap in a 40, followed the guy for about 3 miles so I could get a chance to look at it and talk to him, it was so loud I could hardly even stand following him so I know I would not want that engine.
The GM 6.2 I have done in an 80 series, loved it in that car but not sure if I would like it as much in the 40? Don't know why, would really love to drive one of each. The greatest thing about the 6.2 is you can get almost every part at any corner parts store.

I mentioned something about this a few years ago but it would be really nice if we could get together a yearly meeting of diesel conversions so potential swappers could get a chance to look at, drive and discuss all of the options with the owners.
Rusty

 

[Toyodieselfan]

i have a 1hz w/h55 trans in my fj40. ive had it about 2 mo and love it long time.. quiet, good power similar to 2f hp but more torque. engine/trans/transfer case combo about 7500 ish. not including all the odds and ends and install. are you mechanic handy or hire it out. call phroffitts cruisers. they did mine and they did it right looks and runs amazing. great investment.

 

[longbow]

Just to muddy the waters My vote is for the Isuzu 4BD1T because of parts availability, durability, and easy to work on. Adapters are now coming online for just about any of the cruisers with auto and manual trannys (see 69rambler here on mud or 4btswaps.com in the Isuzu section and Dieseltim for NV4500 adapters) Two years ago when I did mine there was hardly anything in the way of adapters, but the popularity of this engine has caused machine shops to begin building them.

I love my engine and I am working on engine #2 to put in my 40 right now. 23-25 MPGs in my 60, can't wait to see what kind of mileage I am going to get in the 40!

There are a bunch of threads out there that compare these engines. Just do a search for "best diesel for conversion" or similar.

Don

 

[rtarh2o]

The Isuzu was my first choice, I located one a few hours away, it was still in the truck, owner said he would remove it, waited, waited and waited. Several months passed, I was reading the paper one day and there was a guy selling military take-out 6.2's about 30 minutes away, even had one in a truck I could drive.
I agree to an extent, the Isuzu is easier to find than a Toyota but no where near as easy as the GM 6.2.
I would like to hear more about it though, how is it noise wise?
I could never do a Cummins conversion simply because of the noise, the 6.2 is fairly quiet, the Mercedes is like a gas engine though.
Rusty

 

[Toyodieselfan]

I checked out the isuzu thread holy smokes that looks way less expensive than the rout I took with the 1hz instal. Ok so it's got good power, easy to find parts, but is it noisy ???? My 1hz Perrrrs super quiet with the top off my fj40 it's great how does the isuzu compare??

 

[esh]

From the motors I have been around, noise rank is (louder) 4BT > 4BD1T > 3B > 12H-T/2H > OM617 > 1HD-T/1HZ > anything gas (quieter). It would be interesting to put sound meters on each.

At cruising speeds, the noise levels even out.

 

[longbow]

I agree with ESH as to the noise levels except that there needs to be a huge gap between the 4BT and everything else in that list. The 4BT is the loudest diesel I have ever been around and I drive a firetruck every day at work! I was headed towards the 4BT until I found a guy in town with one in a jeep and I really couldn't believe how loud it was. It was even louder than a 6BT !!!!. I would put the 4BD1T about the same as a 3B and 2H. At least mine is that quiet, but it has new injectors and I rebuilt it before installation. It really is not much louder than the Chevy 350 that I removed to put it in.

Don

 

[doug720]

Got to agree with longbow on the the diesel engine noise order. Those 4BT's are much louder than any other diesel you would use in a 60 and are kind of obnoxious!

My Isuzu 4BD2 is very quiet in my opinion. At idle you hear the diesel clatter a little, but once moving it's really not any louder than my old 2f. About the same as a 2h. I did not add any extra sound proofing, just the stock Toyota stuff and I listen to music all the time. Wind is louder than the engine.

Isuzu have good power and mileage, easy on price with great parts availability, tough and dependable. Remember, these 4 bangers were pushing cube trucks that weighed up 17,000 pounds! Our 5-7,000 pound LandCrushers are easy on them.

Doug

 

[rtarh2o]

If the 1HD-T/1HZ is quieter than the Mercedes OM617 it is pretty quiet! I am currently driving a 97 Mercedes E300D with the OM606, it is a naturally aspirated 3.0 turbo, extremely quiet, as quiet as a gas engine, amazing really and decent power for a non turbo. They also make it in a turbo which would be over 160 hp, I am pretty sure you can swap in a mechanical IP (mine might even be mechanical)
This engine would be a great choice but it is a different bellhousing than the OM617!
The GM 6.2 is a bit noisey at idle and acceleration but cruising speed is really quiet, even at acceleration it isn't too bad, not sure where it would rank on the list but it is still a great choice.
Rusty

 

[longbow]

The Mercedes are pretty quiet compared to most other diesels I've heard. If the HZ/HD engines are quieter than that, then that would be extremely quiet for a diesel.
As far as the GM 6.2, we need FLCruiser to chime in because he had one in his 60 for a while and then put an Isuzu in his other 60. He had them both at the same time so he would be the best one to give a comparison for performance. I would have to say that it didn't measure up in the end because he has an Isuzu in both of his 60s now.

One of the reasons I like the Isuzu is that it is an industrial strength engine with no timing chains or belts, only large, heavy duty gears to drive everything.

Don

 

[ToyRoverlander]

If the 1HD-T/1HZ is quieter than the Mercedes OM617 it is pretty quiet! I am currently driving a 97 Mercedes E300D with the OM606, it is a naturally aspirated 3.0 turbo, extremely quiet, as quiet as a gas engine, amazing really and decent power for a non turbo. They also make it in a turbo which would be over 160 hp, I am pretty sure you can swap in a mechanical IP (mine might even be mechanical)

Yes, a mechanical pump can be swapped in. A guy I know has just done that, fitted a mech pump with larger plungers. It's getting a huge intercooler and a large Hollset HX55 (or 35, cant remember) turbo. Should be good for 450hp and 800nm. Those engines are quite amazing!
It's stuffed inside an old, 1986 or so, Volkswagen Jetta.

 

[northernrighty]

If the 1HD-T/1HZ is quieter than the Mercedes OM617 it is pretty quiet! I am currently driving a 97 Mercedes E300D with the OM606, it is a naturally aspirated 3.0 turbo,

What is a naturally asperated TURBO?