diesel to a gasser?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

TxEddie1111

TxEddie1111

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Sep 19, 2009
Threads
28
Messages
111
Location
Houston, Texas and Colorado every July.
I have an HJ45 that is awesome....at low altitudes. It's a H with a 5 speed.
Here's the problem, we spend all of July in Colorado and at 10000', it smokes very badly and with the cargo (~2000# of people and camping gear), I can't get much more than 25 mph on the pavement when going up hill. (On the trails that's no big deal but getting to the trails...that is).

So, I had planned, since last year, to swap in a 1hd-t. Weeeell, work has been demanding and now I have 2 months to figure this out.

You might have guessed that locating the turbo diesel is a bit tough (better said, I can't locate one in time...)and then having time to do the swap...looks bleak.

so, since miles per gallon is not an issue (we only go about 75 miles each mountain camping trip), I thought about a gasser.
What's your opinion(s) of the cheapest, fastest, high altitude engine swap I could do with my 5 speed?

(I'd surely miss the low end torque and awesomeness on the diesel but, procrastination has it's price...)

I'd like a swap that does not require butchering the engine compartment.

Am I screwed or what?!
Fire away...
Cheers!



Eddie
CIMG0105.webp
CIMG0101.webp
 
Don't do it!

Get a Tundra or something if you want to carry stuff and maintain speed up in the mountains. A diesel Land Cruiser is a rare beast in the states and would fetch a lot of money in an unmolested condition. Besides, swapping from diesel to gas is not easy. Read dmaddox's thread in the diesel section about the BJ42 he got that had that swap half-thought-out and half-completed and he's trying to take it back. There's a lot to it!

It would be easier to find an FJ45 that already has a 2F or something in it than to do the swap you're thinking of!
 
Turbo.




And don't go to gas.






Edit: I'm not sure if an H can handle a turbo, but I had an old cummins 3.4L 6AT that was really only limited in the hills by the exhaust temperatures rather than a lack of power.... And it'll be much more fun to drive!
 
It depends on alot of factors...Are you hung up with diesels...there is always V8 twice the power 300lbs lighter. Turbo-ing the H?? You would love the differance...but unsure of them at altitude... 12HT or 1HZT ?? myn suggestion depending on condition of your motor, would be to turbo it, and if still unhappy sell the drive train to help fund other ________

I
 
Last edited:
I'm with these guys. Turbo your H. If the turbo kills the H, then replace with a 2H or 12HT. Both will bolt in place of your H, and with a turbo the 2H isn't bad at all, and the 12HT is turbo'ed from the factory.

Rufusthedufus has a turbo on his H, and has been through Colorado recently, so perhaps he can tell you how it did.

But don't butcher that nice HJ-45 with a gas engine, especially since you are contemplating tossing the H anyway, grab a cheap turbo, make a manifold, and see how that suits you.

Dan
 
AND if you do decide to replace that H....put me first in line
 
DanS HJ-45 said:
I'm with these guys. Turbo your H. If the turbo kills the H, then replace with a 2H or 12HT. Both will bolt in place of your H, and with a turbo the 2H isn't bad at all, and the 12HT is turbo'ed from the factory.

Rufusthedufus has a turbo on his H, and has been through Colorado recently, so perhaps he can tell you how it did.

But don't butcher that nice HJ-45 with a gas engine, especially since you are contemplating tossing the H anyway, grab a cheap turbo, make a manifold, and see how that suits you.

Dan
Click to expand...

^This.

In your position, I would do everything at my disposal to keep that white unicorn HJ45 as unmolested as possible.

If your H is strong, and you turbo it - take the time to intercool, install a pyro and boost gauge, and change your oil religiously; finally, if none of this works: the 12HT is a direct bolt-in swap, and is probably my havorite of the H engines.
 
A turbo on an H is only going to give a very marginal bump in power at 10k. ie a turbo you'll only be going 35 up hills instead of 25.

You're in a vintage cruiser at altitude. Just accept the fact that your going to go slow unless you put a more modern engine in it with lots of power. Or just buy a 100 series to blast around as fast as you can like the rest of the gapers out here ;)
 
D'Animal said:
Can you get the pump rebuilt for high altitude? I know in some big rigs like fire engines they actually make different injector pumps for high altitude. It is actually the same pump just built differently.
Click to expand...

Dan, I imagine what you're talking about is something a high altitude compensator type thing only backwards. We all know that a turbo adds air but sometimes with the added air you can add fuel and get an even bigger boost hence a device to boost fuel delivery to match the increased air delivery.

Most folks just adjust the fuel up so that in most cases they are already receiving that boost in fuel delivery.
 
I may be thinking of that.
cruiser_guy said:
Dan, I imagine what you're talking about is something a high altitude compensator type thing only backwards. We all know that a turbo adds air but sometimes with the added air you can add fuel and get an even bigger boost hence a device to boost fuel delivery to match the increased air delivery.

Most folks just adjust the fuel up so that in most cases they are already receiving that boost in fuel delivery.
Click to expand...

25 years ago I was a technician assistant at a Semi-Diesel shop and two of the technicians would have these "Secret" part numbers for high altitude pump for fire and rescue personel use only. I was just an assitant so I washed parts and bolted the stuff on they handed me. When you install a clutch in a MACK truck in under 16 hours, you have really earned your paycheck. LOL

I was hoping there was one for the H diesel. I would hate to see this rig get a V-8.
 
rick_d said:
2F should bolt right in and try to find an 8/80 or later FJ60 type (a little better parts support).
Click to expand...

a 2F will NOT bolt right in...!

2F and H/2H/12HT's the motor mounts are in different locations. The diesels have a staggered mount pattern
 
Last edited:
I turbo-charged my 2H in my HJ47, and it had a 5 speed and 3:73 gears. I lived at 7,000', and it was never very powerful, no matter how high I turned up the boost. Bottom line is that it is an indirect injected diesel which dates from the mid 70s. Technology has really moved ahead by leaps and bounds since then.

After struggling with parts availability for years, I finally put a brand new Vortec 350 in front of my H55, and I LOVE it. I would nevr, ever go back. I get similar fuel economy with the Vortec (unless I really cane the poor thing, in which case I can stir up dust in the fuel guage), I can maintain 65 MPH up Vail Pass, I can cruise comfortably at 80 MPH and it is as quiet as most newer cars.

If you can afford a newer direct injected Toyota diesel, then go for it. However, you will still struggle with parts availablity in the US; god help you if you need a water pump on Ophir Pass... Otherwise, I'd consider Proffitt's Cummins swap. However, the cheapest will likely be the Vortec, and it will take a lot of miles to justify the Cummins (or the 12ht/1hd-t) in fuel savings.

Granted the resale may not be as good with my Vortec, but if I wanted an investment I would buy shares or bonds, not be putting the money into a car. Build the car for you, and if you love it then someone else will too when it comes time to sell it.

I really liked driving my diesel Cruiser, but I LOVE driving my Vortec Cruiser.

Cheers,

Josh
 
Last edited:
you cranked the boost but did you crank the fuel?
no added fuel, then no matter how high you crank the boost nothing changes.

original poster, seriously, sell the HJ45 to someone that will appreciate it and go buy a gasser. the cruiser gods will piss on your grave for all eternity if you butcher a rare beast such as that one by sticking a POS gas engine in.

turbo, crank the fuel and there is a strong chance you will be happy. make sure you install a pyro.

<centuries of god piss, man that would stink>
 
wow

ok guys, i suspected I'd get the responses I did.

I'm NOT going to go to a gasser.

A guy from Canada emailed me with a 1hd-t :cheers: so, I'll pursue that.

I LOVE the diesel and really did want to keep it "pure". So, regardless, I'll figure it out (maybe just rent something for this year while I regroup <if the Canada turbo doesnt work out>)

Thanks for keeping me from making a big mistake.

(HJ47, I thought about your exact swap and even contacted Proffits awhile back, I just didnt want to mess this up. BUT, I'm glad you are happy and it works great; good info to know)

I'm assuming the 1hd-t just "bolts" in with a few odd and end needs. Since I have the 5 speed is there anything i need to know concerning that assebbly (motor to tranny?)

Seriously guys, thanks.

Cheers,

Eddie
 
TxEddie1111 said:
ok guys, i suspected I'd get the responses I did.

I'm NOT going to go to a gasser.

A guy from Canada emailed me with a 1hd-t :cheers: so, I'll pursue that.

I LOVE the diesel and really did want to keep it "pure". So, regardless, I'll figure it out (maybe just rent something for this year while I regroup <if the Canada turbo doesnt work out>)

Thanks for keeping me from making a big mistake.

(HJ47, I thought about your exact swap and even contacted Proffits awhile back, I just didnt want to mess this up. BUT, I'm glad you are happy and it works great; good info to know)

I'm assuming the 1hd-t just "bolts" in with a few odd and end needs. Since I have the 5 speed is there anything i need to know concerning that assebbly (motor to tranny?)

Seriously guys, thanks.

Cheers,

Eddie
Click to expand...

1hd-t is far from a bolt up. You will need a different input shaft in your gear box, and the motor mounts are different. 12ht is more a 'bolt up' than the 1hd-t will be.

There is a 1hd-t available here at a local wreckers. There was a guy in Denver who wanted it, but that has fallen through. let me know if you are interested and I'll post the wrecker's number.

Cheers,

Josh
 
...so what is the most logical diesel to pursue? A 12ht? (Considering ease of swap and high altitude <noticeably> power?

In your opinion, based on the swap-ease and the high altitude power, what are the best choices is order of expectation-meeting? ...guess I should add availability as a criteria too.

Thanks!

Edie
 
depends, what is your budget?

do you want to invest in a dated engine that you will be having problems getting parts for?
do you want to invest in a newer engine but that is going to cost you twice what you paid for the truck, if not more?
do you want to stay Toyota or go domestic?
what kind of tranny do you want to run?
do you want to end up changing engine, tranny and t/case and then the rear diff as well?
how far do you want to go?

you need to think this through completely before heading down this road. i do custom diesel swaps for a living and they are NOT cheap done right.

answer the questions above and lets proceed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom