Engine swap - motor recommendations

[dhavis]

Hello everyone... I have a ZZ4 motor in my FJ40 currently and have blown a piston/ring/cylinder in it and it runs now on 7 cylinders. Great!!! Anyway, I am tasked with either pulling the engine and fixing it and putting it back or swapping for a newer Vortec style engine or LS1/LS2.. Does anyone have any recommendations on which avenue I should take? I am aware the ZZ4 isn't really the best motor for off=-roading due to heating/cooling issues, REALLY high compression and the problems that can cause you, aka a blown cylinder... I currently have the engine mated to a gear splitter/SM420/Toyota Transfer case...

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[dhavis]

Thanks for the quick reply! I am looking at an LQ9 on e-bay for $2900 guaranteed for 6 months with all accessories, harness, cpu programmed to my taste etc... this is the higher compression version of the LQ4, would I want to avoid that engine??? This shop also has some transmissions available for it... I think the 4L60E 4wd transmission with it for another $500 or so. Not a bad deal, any thoughts?

 

[craptabulous]

personally 4l60e's are crap look for a 4l80e .

the higher compression engine will be fine but do you really need it ? i would look for a lq4 personally . keep it simple stupid .

i have seen a old worn carbed stock sbc in a cruiser light up the tires in 1st second and third . there will be no shortage of power with the lq4 .

 

[dhavis]

So it sounds like the LQ4 with a 4L80E trans is it... It's cheaper than an LS1/2 or LQ9 any way. What kind of mileage can I get on a lifted FJ with 35"'s? Maybe 15 mpg?

 

[butchaxe]

what would be better a Chevy 350 small block or a 2F toyota engine.? In terma of power,fuel consumption,parts. To be used for daily driver and sometimes off road

 

[fireflyr]

Since you have the adapters already, how about the GM 6.5L Turbo Diesel? I hear you can get good mileage with them.

For my next cruiser, I'm going to look for one with a SBC and convert it to a diesel.

 

[dhavis]

Well, I have changed my mind. The engine swap started getting real expensive. I found a guy, runs a shop her in Dallas, who claims my problem is really in the fact that my ZZ4 has a distributor on it that's set up for a vehicle with an EGR running to the intake manifold. My timing is incorrect and without modifying the distributor (and carb) it will never run right. This is causing my detonation and pinging under load. Obviously bad for the pistons!!! He says one piston has a small hole (best guess) in it but is still adding to the overall power of the engine. He claims he can fine tune the distributor and carb to make it run great as it is. If I am then satisfied with his performance tuning he recommends pulling the engine and replacing the pistons with a new set of lower compression units as high compression and 4wheeling will tend to overheat the engine. This option will still cost a lot of $$$$$$ but a lot less than an engine swap. Any thoughts on that???

 

[Mark W]

He says one piston has a small hole (best guess) in it but is still adding to the overall power of the engine. He claims he can fine tune the distributor and carb to make it run great as it is.

Run an engine with a hole burned in one of the pistons? really? seriously?

Am I misunderstanding what you are saying?


Mark...

 

[dhavis]

No you're not, I'm not convinced that's the case. Maybe a little ring damage though. It runs pretty good generally, especially on the highway, it just seems to miss at lower RPM. I've never been able to work that out. He claims he can.