Help or advice on how to proceed with my land cruiser

[Pura Vida]

I am kind of lost on what to do with my Land Cruiser right now. I just want to get it drivable but this engine is making me go crazy and nobody knows how to help me fix it

For some background, I bought this car in Costa Rica, brought it here and had the engine rebuilt. It has a B engine. The only thing is, the mechanics who had it forgot how to put all the parts back and they lost some parts too. These parts are like unobtainium and it is hard to even find them on Japanese or Australian websites.

I have a rebuilt engine so I would like to get it repaired, but it might just be worth swapping in a newer or American spec engine instead.

I work like 60+ hours a week so unfortunately I don’t have the time or knowledge to do an entire engine swap in a reasonable amount of time, but I already know swapping an engine is gonna cost an arm and a leg and then some on top. I’m okay with spending a lot of money but I just don’t even know what shop to call that would specialize in something like that

 

[lt1fire]

You'll need more information.
What model land cruiser is this?
Which B engine is itm
What parts are missing?

 

[Pura Vida]

You'll need more information.
What model land cruiser is this?
Which B engine is itm
What parts are missing?

1977 BJ40 with first generation B engine

I have no clue what is missing on it, that is part of my issue but it is random stuff like brackets and certain coolant lines and stuff

 

[JohnVee]

I bought this car in Costa Rica, brought it here and had the engine rebuilt.

So it was rebuilt before the current mechanic lost parts? Or it was rebuilt before getting to the current mechanic?

 

[Pura Vida]

So it was rebuilt before the current mechanic lost parts? Or it was rebuilt before getting to the current mechanic?

It was rebuilt at a separate engine shop and when the mechanic was putting the block back into the car they lost some other parts because the lead mechanic that was originally working on it and took the engine out got sick and couldn’t put the engine back in himself

 

[angerhater]

2uz swap . Parts are easy to get

 

[desmocruiser]

I would just find a good running 2F and convert it to what 1000’s of US 40 series are running.

 

[Pura Vida]

I would just find a good running 2F and convert it to what 1000’s of US 40 series are running.

That’s what I was thinking, seems pretty straight forward except I have a BJ40 frame so I would need new engine mounts and stuff on the frame, and I would have to find someone to do the work for me, which I don’t know what shops would do something like that

2uz swap . Parts are easy to get

That would be awesome, I would love that, but same problem where I need to get someone to do the swap for me


Any recommendations would be awesome on a good shop or something that would take on a project like that

 

[NCFJ]

If you are going to go to all the work to swap in a UZ you may as well just go with the LS swap.

 

[Pura Vida]

If you are going to go to all the work to swap in a UZ you may as well just go with the LS swap.

I would prefer to keep it Toyota, but it definitely seems easier and cheaper to make it manual with an LS.

My number one engine choice is a 1HDT, but I know what is horribly impractical and very expensive and just not a good idea right now, but a 2F or 2UZ or even an LS aren’t bad ideas

 

[NCFJ]

I can tell you that my favorite truck to date is a 140 series with 6.0L Tremec 4050 5 speed manual to a split case. That truck was a blast to drive. Talk with Ramon about an LS swapped 40

 

[lt1fire]

Talk to Marshall at trollhole cruisers, take it by see if he can figure out what you are missing. What is making it undriveable? My guess is he is the most knowledgable guy in the Carolinas on B series engines.

Swaps are cool but if you just spent coin to have this engine rebuilt try to figure it out first.

 

[Pura Vida]

Talk to Marshall at trollhole cruisers, take it by see if he can figure out what you are missing. What is making it undriveable? My guess is he is the most knowledgable guy in the Carolinas on B series engines.

Swaps are cool but if you just spent coin to have this engine rebuilt try to figure it out first.

honestly thinking about it some more, im kind of done with this engine. It has given me a bunch of problems, nobody knows what it is or how to work on it, its probably just worth getting a more recognizable engine just for some practicality. Also my engine can barely hold 45-55 mph and that sucks because people drive like 60 on every road around me

i might go down the LS route for now

@NCFJ how do I get in contact with Ramon?

 

[mtweller]

I can tell you that my favorite truck to date is a 140 series with 6.0L Tremec 4050 5 speed manual to a split case. That truck was a blast to drive. Talk with Ramon about an LS swapped 40

Yeah, I don't hate it

 

[NCFJ]

He's Ramon

 

[lt1fire]

honestly thinking about it some more, im kind of done with this engine. It has given me a bunch of problems, nobody knows what it is or how to work on it, its probably just worth getting a more recognizable engine just for some practicality. Also my engine can barely hold 45-55 mph and that sucks because people drive like 60 on every road around me

i might go down the LS route for now

@NCFJ how do I get in contact with Ramon?

If you are doing a junk yard swap LS is still the way to go for doing it on the cheap.
But if buying from someone look for the LT Gen V..... better engine overall the 5.3 is more comparable to the older 6.0 LS variants. Quite often you can get them for cheaper as there isnt as many people building parts for the swaps. That is changing though and prices are going up. The 6.2s are beasts but cost more. I believe any adapter for your trans to the LS will also bolt up to the LT.
The coolest gas 80 i've ever driven is Tor Slinings from torfab. That l86 and 10 speed is magical. Got me thinking of ditching my l84 and 8 speed I have for my swap.
The coolest gas 40 i've driven was @mtweller that LQ4 or was it a LQ9 and the H55 is a damn good combo. A tire may have slightly lifted coming around a corner