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I love it when owners are happy with conversions!
FJ60 diesel conversion (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter jakerudy
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #62
During a road trip today we stopped at gas station in the middle of nowhere in southern Missouri. Just parked and the wife and kid get out to go in and when I turn around a guy approaches me. "Is that a 4BT?" I said it's a 6BT and of course he wants to see it. Nice guy and takes pictures, asks questions, etc. He is in an off-road club and is all over it.
I couldn't be happier with the swap. If you are considering it just be ready for the attention, and I live in the sticks of Missouri.
I couldn't be happier with the swap. If you are considering it just be ready for the attention, and I live in the sticks of Missouri.
- Thread starter
- #63
Lowered the tire pressure from 40 psi to 32 psi and mpg dropped from 20 to 15.5. Didn't expect that much difference. Ride was a little better but not worth the extra fuel.
U need some bigger meats on there. Looking good!!
- Thread starter
- #65
Thanks. These are about 33" and I like the gearing. 37" will fit but not sure I want to go that tall.
- Thread starter
- #66
Another new experience today at a local service station. Old time style shop where they still pump gas (not diesel), tires, check your oil, etc. While waiting to pay for fuel one of the guys that works there (that I know from the shop only) takes a customer out to show my Cruiser to him. They pop the hood and look it over. I stood inside talking to some old friends while these guys have their way with my Cruiser. Obviously I didn't mind but never had that happen.
Checked mpg with the tires back at 40 psi and it was just under 22 with mixed driving on country roads and small highways.
Checked mpg with the tires back at 40 psi and it was just under 22 with mixed driving on country roads and small highways.
Take it as a sign of admiration.
- Thread starter
- #68
You are right. The guy showing it even told me he isn't a fan of diesels but likes this one. I'd get a diesel chain saw if I could find one.
- Thread starter
- #69
What kind of deal you get on the seats? On my list of things to do.
- Thread starter
- #71
$150 for the set. They are in nice shape. Hoping to get started installing them in the next week or so.
This is an very interesting thread for me. Can we get an update on performance and how did the seat install went ?
Thanks, Dog_River
Thanks, Dog_River
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I remember when i was first driving my Mitsubishi diesel swap. Bitten by the diesel bug.
It's a snow ball effect, I imagine by now you've been researching some fuel upgrades. I'm assuming you have the p7100 pump in which case is the holy grail of Cummins engines. The sky is the limit.
My mitsu pump is maxed out, but i still enjoy passing cars on the highway, people staring "WTH was that?!"
Nice cruiser, looks good. Please don't turn into one of those that decides to sell after all the hard work. I don't understand why I read that so often.
It's a snow ball effect, I imagine by now you've been researching some fuel upgrades. I'm assuming you have the p7100 pump in which case is the holy grail of Cummins engines. The sky is the limit.
My mitsu pump is maxed out, but i still enjoy passing cars on the highway, people staring "WTH was that?!"
Nice cruiser, looks good. Please don't turn into one of those that decides to sell after all the hard work. I don't understand why I read that so often.
I have had diesels for many, many years and even had an old Blazer that had a "diesel". I have had a dozen pick-ups with diesels and I a Wanderlodge bus with a 8V92 Detroit c/w straight pipe. I want to put a 6bt into a 60 Series so I am in the market for a solid project then they can use it for my coffin when I go
Great thread and build !!
Great thread and build !!
- Thread starter
- #75
Haven't gotten around to the seats yet - they are still in the basement.
The power is amazing. Off the line performance isn't spectacular but is better than the '91 Dodge donor truck was due to less weight and the turbo upgrade. Once rolling and on the boost around 1500 rpm it will stick you to the seats in any gear. Makes me giggle every time I pass someone. It has to be pushed hard to get exhaust gas temp up to 1000 degrees.
Off road it will lug up anything I've got the nerve to climb. Drove it on some snow recently and it seemed to handle the same as it did prior to the conversion.
It has the rotary injection pump which can be turned up but I haven't felt the need to do it.
Daily driving on a mix of back roads and highway it gets right around 22 mpg so it is easy to get 350 miles or so out of the stock fuel tank.
I didn't do the swap for ROI and it won't be for sale. In my opinion the 12V Cummins is the best engine ever put in a light duty truck and since I had a good one in a truck that was falling apart it got me wondering if it was possible. I'm sure the new Cummins engines make a great swap and are more civilized than mine but I don't want the complication of a new diesel in my 60 or my pickup.
It is obviously louder than stock but I've had worse ('78 CJ5 with the 304 running headers and glass packs was way worse). Ride is stiffer due to the extra springs and D rated tires. The lift seems to make it a little choppier than before but if ultimate comfort was my primary concern the FJ60 wouldn't be a top choice.
One concern I had prior was vibration but it hasn't amounted to much of anything.
My 2F had a lot of life left in it, 152k miles and good compression but had CA emissions and age had caught up to the vacuum lines and switches so keeping it running correctly was a constant battle.
Overall I couldn't be happier with the result and would recommend it to anyone who is familiar with and / or likes diesels. The rattle of a 12V isn't for everyone but mine is staying.
I used to live in CO and Classic Cruisers was an awesome place. I bought my 78 fj55 from them to do the same swap you had done. Life changes have kept me from starting the swap, but I have everything gathered. Planning on narrowing a set of Dana 60/70 with 3:54 ratios. Mine will essentially be a first gen Dodge drivetrain under the iron pig. Your ride looks fantastic. Glad it turned out so well.
- Thread starter
- #77
Sounds like that will be an awesome rig. My 60 has a double layer of carpeting to help with noise but it is loud by modern standards. The mud tires don't help noise any but once in that deep I figured why not?
Brandon seems to be running Classic Cruisers right. Honest and first class work as far as I can tell. Last I knew Micah had 3 6BT swaps in line with one of them being a 40. His personal Cruiser is a 6BT FJ80 but after doing mine he liked it so much he bought a 62 for another swap and planned to sell his 80.
I haven’t met Brandon yet. Merle owned it when I was living there. Got a set of 79 FJ40 steering arms from them for my disc conversion using fj60 knuckles. Their price was very reasonable. Maybe we can meet sometime to talk cruisers. Between my 2 sons and I we have 8.It’s an addiction.
- Thread starter
- #79
Brandon & Micah treated me right through the entire project and Micah has given me advice since with a couple of minor bugs. They moved to a different location a few miles away this year and Micah said the shop is a major step up from the old one.
I get to Jeff City & Columbia a couple of times a year due to my daughter's activities so might be able to arrange something. Or if you ever get to Springfield it is about 1.5 hours for me to get to Bass Pro.
I get to Jeff City & Columbia a couple of times a year due to my daughter's activities so might be able to arrange something. Or if you ever get to Springfield it is about 1.5 hours for me to get to Bass Pro.
As far as the off road performance weight wise ? how do you feel it performs ? Does the front end feel heavy or bottom out at all ?
