I am going to build a 80 for expo. I will use this truck in US and a little in Mexico. I am going modify the truck alot and I want to add HP.
As far as I can see the options for Engins are Diesel swap, SC the ZJ, or V8 swap.
I am leaning away from the diesel.
Why? Well, honestly the gas is actually easier for access regardless of price, and I've family who's had issues with the PEMEX diesel the past couple of years.
Stateside fuel reliability's one thing Central and South America are totally different.
Then again, there's the argurment with either that they pay less per barrel, currently..
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if you do go diesel you'll be able to travel alot further without stopping for fuel. you can rig it so if you battery dies your not stranded in the middle of no where. just my 2 cents.
if you do go diesel you'll be able to travel alot further without stopping for fuel. you can rig it so if you battery dies your not stranded in the middle of no where. just my 2 cents.
The diesel being able to go a lot further on its tank is a good point.
Its also safer refilling on the trail
Dollarwise, a long range tank is way cheaper though.
Just how far can you get from a gas station in the USA?
Depends on your overall budget, too. Diesel conversion (done right) is usually a lot more expensive than building a gasser, since by default you'll be starting with a gasser 80.
Realistically, for a US-based expedition rig that will see most of its trips in North America, gasoline is a better option. Once you really start talking about Central America and even further south, diesel becomes a viable option.
So If I stay gas then should I go V8 or SC the the stock engine. I Like the fack that SC is kinda cool and all toyota, But I think the V8 would be a better choice becouse it is a very common engine in the US and I will have better mpg and have more power then stock.
I am of the opinion that stock is best. If your range will only be the US and Mexico then I might consider a Chevy V8 only because the Toyota engine is not easy to find parts for in Mexico.
Having said all that, my trucks all have the Toyota 3B diesel with turbo chargers and I drive all over the US and Mexico as well as Canada and Central America and I wouldn't have any other truck or engine!!
if you can afford it- the diesel motor is better suited for expedition-style travel.
1) better mileage. diesel just has more power per gallon, you can go further. especially at idle or near-idle, the diesel will outperform the gasser.
2) safer. Diesel has less explosion risk, less risk of fume intoxication.
3) alternative fuels: In a real pinch, you can dump a gallon of cooking oil into an almost empty tank. As long as the temps are high enough not to gel, you'll gain 20 miles or more of range. That can be a big help.
Having said all of that... if you are really going to do 90% of your miles in the USA, a chevy v8 is going to have far more access to parts and mechanics who know how to work on it. Every Napa in the country probably carries plugs, wires, etc for a Chevy 350.
And for a lot less $$ you can get a lot more HP out of the Chevy V8 than you can from a Toyota diesel.
Finally: in very cold weather, gas motor start up a little easier
for north american travel i dont think it makes much difference, both fuels are plentiful and easy to obtain so its really a toss up. the plus to diesel is mileage so you dont need to carry as much fuel, but gas is never too far away so,,,
With 49 gallons of gas on board, that is what I used to think. A couple hundred miles in Central Nevada at 8mpg because of low speed work and gas can get very scarce, considering there are no gas stations out there period. You have to plan on leaving enough to get back to town to fill up, so you can head back out.
I would hold out and find a built 80 that someone has already done a diesel conversion to. You will spend a fortune converting one (gas or diesel) unless you do all of the work yourself. They do come up for sale. People build them and then need cash, get bored with them, or find it isn't their cup of tea.
As much as I like my 80, if I were in your shoes I might just look for a Slee'd 100 series. You get more power, more comfort, and all of the capability for everything except maybe rock crawling.
I would hold out and find a built 80 that someone has already done a diesel conversion to. You will spend a fortune converting one (gas or diesel) unless you do all of the work yourself. They do come up for sale. People build them and then need cash, get bored with them, or find it isn't their cup of tea.
As much as I like my 80, if I were in your shoes I might just look for a Slee'd 100 series. You get more power, more comfort, and all of the capability for everything except maybe rock crawling.
I plan on getting a 100 for my personal mall crawler and camping rig. But I have a lot of "body work" i want to do for this project and given the relativly low buy in with the 80 I will not feel to bad cutting it up.
ya make a good point, there are still plenty of open spaces and if you spent enough time driving around in those spaces,,,,,, planning is key.
when i take the tacoma i plan more about fuel, its a relatively small tank. when i'm in the pig i dont worry at all, its got about a 800 mile range mixed street/dirt.
if you do go diesel you'll be able to travel alot further without stopping for fuel. you can rig it so if you battery dies your not stranded in the middle of no where. just my 2 cents.
Jump start with large gage jumper cables. I ran my BJ60 for three days with a battery so bad that it wouldn't even crank after refueling even though it had been running for hours immediately before refueling.
If the truck you are talking about is the one in your sig line, here is what I would do:
NOTHING
It's ready to go as is. The crazy money you would spend on a conversion, and the time spent on same would be better to just spend on a trip. You can build your dream truck, but then you will have missed your opportunity to travel to mexico or through the Maze district of Canyonlands.
Spend your money on a subtank to extend your range, then leave immediately.
If you just have to have more power, then a supercharger would be the cost effective alternative, by far. A well built SBC is a fine motor, but it doesn't have the good Carma (mis-spelling intentional) of a Land Cruiser straight 6. BTW-on a true expedition, more power is the least of your concerns. SO is lift, huge tires, etc. Stay close to stock for less breakage, and more availblitiy of spares.
If you have unlimited money, spend it on a diesel someone else has converted or import an exotic Cruiser from over the ocean. Or fly to Africa, buy a diesel Cruiser there and start your adventure.
Panama has some pretty cool Land Cruisers. They got my favorite 70 series-the 4 door wagon version. Maybe fly there, buy one and travel through Mexico.
ROFL..That's three up and three down for keeping it gas. Sounds like the end of an inning, next question up to bat? 
Here I was wondering if someone I respect would call me out as an idiot or something, gotta love Mud. 
