Hey All,
I realize I'm opening a can of worms here but I find myself at a somewhat unusual crossroads and I wanted to know what the MUD hive-mind thought. I am building my 1995 FZJ80 into what will be a fairly fat fully built overlander. Overlander as in full time traveling and living in it. The plan is to eventually add a pop-top as well. I've been living on the road in North America for the majority of the last 3yrs in a 1st Gen Tacoma, so I have pretty good idea of what I'm looking for as far as livability/upgrading my current set-up.
TL/DR: OM606 vs 1HD-T Which would you do?
Frame is currently off getting a clean up & paint as well as a few other things. I had planned on installing a Mercedes OM606 with moderate upgrade (~275hp manual pump & hybrid turbo from DPUK) and mating it to a Chevy 6spd automatic (6L80). This set up should give great reliability (on the engine at least), enough power to push the fat pig around decently, and very good MPG. The main components are already in my possession (built engine ready to go, transmission, adapters) but quite a few things still to work out (engine/trans mounts, electrics, intercooler, interface/plumbing parts like power steering lines/AC lines/throttle, transmission controller, etc).
The problem is that a RHD 1HD-T with H151 just landed in my lap. The body/frame is too rusty for my taste as build a platform, but it's all there . I would want to upgrade the engine a bit before swapping it over (was thinking along the lines of a modest set up with upgraded pump/turbo/intercooler from GTurbo in the ~200hp range).
Main Goals: Reliability, Parts Availability, Ease of Repair, Enough Power for the Weight, Good (obviously not spectacular) MPGs.
My Quandry in Pros/Cons:
OM606 Build Pros:
-More Power
-Better Fuel Efficiency
-Easy Parts Availability (relatively speaking)
-Prefer Auto Trans for Offroad
OM606 Cons:
-Electronic 6L80 is likely the least reliable part of the build
-Computer set-up/tuning for the 6L80
-Custom plumbing/mounting PITA
1HD-T Pros:
-Semi-Bullet-Proof H151
-Easier bolt up/drop-in (again, relatively speaking)
-Resale value (even if current plan is never selling it)
1HD-T Cons:
-Lack of Parts Availability in the US when traveling
-Less HP/Worse MPGs
-Auto-to-Manual/RHD to LHD transmission swap PITA.
Please refrain from "don't do it" and/or "stick with the 1FZ". The truck came without a motor and the plan was always to go diesel.
I actually have both engines in my possession right now. That was never the plan but sh*t tends to find me and here we are. I do my own wrenching and am semi-competent. Well, depending on who you talk to...
Cost of either set up for me is going to be comparable. The OM606 donor came very cheap but some of the conversion parts have been expensive (adapters, rear sump, etc). The 1HD-T had a higher initial cost but needs less adapters/custom work. So it should all be pretty similar all in.
Opinions? Admonishments? Advice? Curses? Thoughts? Prayers?
I realize I'm opening a can of worms here but I find myself at a somewhat unusual crossroads and I wanted to know what the MUD hive-mind thought. I am building my 1995 FZJ80 into what will be a fairly fat fully built overlander. Overlander as in full time traveling and living in it. The plan is to eventually add a pop-top as well. I've been living on the road in North America for the majority of the last 3yrs in a 1st Gen Tacoma, so I have pretty good idea of what I'm looking for as far as livability/upgrading my current set-up.
TL/DR: OM606 vs 1HD-T Which would you do?
Frame is currently off getting a clean up & paint as well as a few other things. I had planned on installing a Mercedes OM606 with moderate upgrade (~275hp manual pump & hybrid turbo from DPUK) and mating it to a Chevy 6spd automatic (6L80). This set up should give great reliability (on the engine at least), enough power to push the fat pig around decently, and very good MPG. The main components are already in my possession (built engine ready to go, transmission, adapters) but quite a few things still to work out (engine/trans mounts, electrics, intercooler, interface/plumbing parts like power steering lines/AC lines/throttle, transmission controller, etc).
The problem is that a RHD 1HD-T with H151 just landed in my lap. The body/frame is too rusty for my taste as build a platform, but it's all there . I would want to upgrade the engine a bit before swapping it over (was thinking along the lines of a modest set up with upgraded pump/turbo/intercooler from GTurbo in the ~200hp range).
Main Goals: Reliability, Parts Availability, Ease of Repair, Enough Power for the Weight, Good (obviously not spectacular) MPGs.
My Quandry in Pros/Cons:
OM606 Build Pros:
-More Power
-Better Fuel Efficiency
-Easy Parts Availability (relatively speaking)
-Prefer Auto Trans for Offroad
OM606 Cons:
-Electronic 6L80 is likely the least reliable part of the build
-Computer set-up/tuning for the 6L80
-Custom plumbing/mounting PITA
1HD-T Pros:
-Semi-Bullet-Proof H151
-Easier bolt up/drop-in (again, relatively speaking)
-Resale value (even if current plan is never selling it)
1HD-T Cons:
-Lack of Parts Availability in the US when traveling
-Less HP/Worse MPGs
-Auto-to-Manual/RHD to LHD transmission swap PITA.
Please refrain from "don't do it" and/or "stick with the 1FZ". The truck came without a motor and the plan was always to go diesel.
I actually have both engines in my possession right now. That was never the plan but sh*t tends to find me and here we are. I do my own wrenching and am semi-competent. Well, depending on who you talk to...
Cost of either set up for me is going to be comparable. The OM606 donor came very cheap but some of the conversion parts have been expensive (adapters, rear sump, etc). The 1HD-T had a higher initial cost but needs less adapters/custom work. So it should all be pretty similar all in.
Opinions? Admonishments? Advice? Curses? Thoughts? Prayers?
