Help with build direction/switching to a HDJ81 (1 Viewer)

[bricat]

If you think you are under powered with the 1hdt just up the boost and fuel. Can run 12- 14. Psi without any major problems and the difference in performance is fantastic. I also added water to air inter cooler. I think you need a break down run on your truck before the big trip just tn be sure. And towing my boat at 100 km/h (60 mph) I would get 17ltr per. 100 km. 13.3 mpg. That was prior to extra boost. If you buy the HDJ81 you are putting your trust into the company that is doing all the repairs/maintenance Research them well and good luck Cheers Brian

 

[Tapage]

Image worth 1000 words ..

 

[AussieHJCruza]

@Tapage what size tyres?

 

[Tapage]

@Tapage what size tyres?

At that time 285 IIRC ..

 

[jurassic cruiser]

I am now on my second cruiser and it is an hdj81. it is true that stock the fuel one is faster off the line and can pass other cars easier. The difference for me is that my hdj81 never feels like it is struggling. Even at 100 mph on stock tires a week after getting it from LCD. I got pulled over the other day I had no idea I was doing 90mph. I would have never been comfortably cruising along in a gasser without noticing the engine was screaming. It seems if I up the boost and fuel the engine will be as "fast" as my gasser but still have gas mileage that is far superior. I got about 10mpg on my last one fully built with huge roof rack and 35's regeared. The diesel is not faster but much more torque. that being said the hdj81 still cant go uphill stock as fast as a gasser. but the gasser feels like it is going to explode imop.

 

[gofast]

A motor refresh is 5500, maintenance on the rest of your drive line another 4000. the left over 10500 buys a lot of petrol.

Look at the economy numbers - the diesel is only slightly better at 15 mpg over the standard 12 mpg of a built, geared and heavy 80 gasser and if you do research you'll find that the 1fze and 1hdt have very similar torque numbers

My 1fze is my first gas cruiser and I've had three factory diesel cruisers (two axt turbo charged). I get to pass traffic in my gasser in the mountains we have here something I could not do with the diesels. Toyota diesels work well in Aus as average elevation in Australia is about 1100ft.

For the gasser Parts are cheaper, can be bought local, and plentiful in after market. This in my opinion offsets the higher fuel consumption of the gasser as you'll spend more on maintenance for the JDM - I was happy to off load mine.

Yes you do suffer a mileage penalty in low range. The diesel sips fuel off road and there is significant difference. I burn a quarter tank more with the 1fz on the same trail I took my 1hz.

I'd not go back, the 1fze even has a similar longevity as the diesel.

If I really wanted power and economy, I'd dump an all aluminum chev v8 in and get 400 horse, and get 19-22 mpg. Can all be done for far less than the 20k for the 80 and better economy and power to boot.

Then there's the inconvenience of RHD on NA roads. I drove one for 5 years. Glad that's over.

 

[canman]

A motor refresh is 5500, maintenance on the rest of your drive line another 4000. the left over 10500 buys a lot of petrol.

Look at the economy numbers - the diesel is only slightly better at 15 mpg over the standard 12 mpg of a built, geared and heavy 80 gasser and if you do research you'll find that the 1fze and 1hdt have very similar torque numbers

My 1fze is my first gas cruiser and I've had three factory diesel cruisers (two axt turbo charged). I get to pass traffic in my gasser in the mountains we have here something I could not do with the diesels. Toyota diesels work well in Aus as average elevation in Australia is about 1100ft.

For the gasser Parts are cheaper, can be bought local, and plentiful in after market. This in my opinion offsets the higher fuel consumption of the gasser as you'll spend more on maintenance for the JDM - I was happy to off load mine.

Yes you do suffer a mileage penalty in low range. The diesel sips fuel off road and there is significant difference. I burn a quarter tank more with the 1fz on the same trail I took my 1hz.

I'd not go back, the 1fze even has a similar longevity as the diesel.

If I really wanted power and economy, I'd dump an all aluminum chev v8 in and get 400 horse, and get 19-22 mpg. Can all be done for far less than the 20k for the 80 and better economy and power to boot.

Then there's the inconvenience of RHD on NA roads. I drove one for 5 years. Glad that's over.

Thanks for the info. Been debating the need for a diesel, as most of the guys I wheel with in our club are driving Toyota diesel powered rigs, except one which was a transplant. RHD is a non-starter for me as it seems insurance companies and the provinces are continuously making it harder (temporary ban in Quebec unless previously plated). Also, there is no way my wife would drive a RHD, and I myself am not too keen. If I do keep my LX, and the time comes, I'm now convinced to do a LS1 swap. I do have a 170L tank that I will swap in the spring that will help with the limited range when I average 22L/100 km.

 

[gofast]

If I do keep my LX, and the time comes, I'm now convinced to do a LS1 swap.

That's my plan too when the 1fze tires out. Out of the box with no motor mods returns impressive outputs which also means longevity and ease of maintenance

 

[shocktower]

I have a question, why not a Cummins swap, mileage is way up power, the motor weighs, 200# more than a gas pig, I have driven 3 other Cummins powered and gas I really enjoy the Cummins powered FJ80, it is the cherry on top the sundae, diesel swaps are probably the same as a LS swap maybe less. I know the price on a Cummins is $1500-$2000 for 6bt Diesel adapter kit $5000, other things another $500 at most, then you have about 30-45 hours of labor to do the diesel swap , I have worked on 4 swaps . The LS I have no idea what it cost but probably the same if not more, and a mechanical pump diesel power plan eliminates extra electronics for a fuel injection and a Cummings burns any diesel fuels . This is JMHO I am pro diesel so

 

[sailor]

Disclaimer- this is my opinion alone- ymmv

After 9 years of HDJ81 ownership in North America I would counsel you to do an LS swap. I don't care how brilliant your importer is there will likely be expensive pitfalls with the new truck unless you are very lucky.

You are buying a very overpriced used vehicle from another country which has no legal requirement to be in any way honest about any aspect of the history of the vehicle and you have no recourse. Importers are Used Car Salesmen....

The LS will pull hard all day long, be cheap to repair, run rings around the hdj in terms of performance, towing, drivability.. The HDJ will sound really cool and stink of diesel and produce smoke haze from both ends. Ask a north american HDJ owner what they see in the glare of headlights from behind in the mirror while idling at a stop light at night? Smoke haze. Now ask said owner how they honestly feel about that?

The HDJ will travel further on a tank of fuel. Quite a bit further when off road. Hell I did the Kokopelli (3 days) and had more than 1/4 left in the factory tank.

Right hand drive. It is no issue for me in terms of operating the vehicle. Living with it in North America can be inconvenient Depends on you. I would honestly prefer LHD after all.

With the HDT tuned up a bit you become a religious zealot in terms of monitoring your gauges when climbing hills on the highway. Makes you feel real cool like you are an airline pilot or Mr. Scott on the Enterprise right? No actually it makes you a stressed out weirdo. We have a big long highway hill here and I have actually developed a "Climb Profile" to get up it without heating up my EGT too much or cooking my transmission etc. Cool huh? With an LS i would simply drive up the hill with performance in reserve whilst crotching my ice cold Budweiser and arrive at my destination sooner and more relaxed.

And the smell. This is an old technology mechanical diesel. It cannot ever be expected to completely burn all the fuel effectively that is injected. it will smoke and smell. Some days it will smoke/smell/tick/click more than other days. This will likely bother you for a while but you will likely stop caring about the sounds. The smell of diesel on your clothes will cause you to forget.

I really love my HDJ. Would I do it again? not likely.
Best of luck!

 

[jurassic cruiser]

I was getting about 10 mpg on highway usually cost me $20 an hour to drive the gasser (my truck was one of the most built/heavily loaded I have ever seen). at the end of the day I would have never switched but I rolled my gas cruiser in washington and could not go thru building up another cruiser that was exactly the same as my previous one. diesel seemed fun and different and could get better mpg with a few mods possibly more power. now that I got it hdj81 I ended up not even using a lot of parts from my old on (regear not needed, front factory winch, factory rear swingout) when you consider those costs and the fact that you can have a rear swingout without an extra 700 lb bumper or a front winch without an arb front bumper. gas for short distances is not a big difference but if you like doing long overlanding trips it will add up quick. I remember at one point to drive form so cal to alaska with high fuel prices was going to be thousands in fuel costs. When fuel proices go up the gas saving will add up if you drive enough. personally i wanted something stock. I had an fj80 with all armor drawers roof rack aux water tanks dual batteries and drove very very well loaded with three dogs and 2 people. I got tired of my truck almost overheating anytime it got hot and even with a regear I would never have tried to pass someone uphill as the motor felt like it was working too hard or revving to high or just didnt have hte power. RHD I actually like driving RHD after having LHD for 15 years. I would say there are pros and cons to both for sure. If I had a solid gasser I wouldnt sell it to get a diesel. But if I was just starting out and RHD wasnt an issue I would go JDM due to factory features and lack of head gasket issues. i also wouldnt want to drive antyhting that was not a engine designed to work in the truck. I spent thousands in maintanance on my gasser just in replacing engine seals at 200k miles.

 

[jurassic cruiser]

for your situation when you already have a truck you are going to lose a bunch of money selling I would say keep the gasser and just dial it in like tapage says. The process of redoing things you already spent hours on ie electrical, stereo, suspension is a little crazy making to say the least. I have two gas cruisers now fj80 and 1 hdj81 so I love them all unless you are just bored with gas and want to start messing with turbo boost I always wanted a diesel and now that I have one would not look back...

 

[shocktower]

Ok I ran my google foo and holy crap, the cost of a LS VS Cummins are crazy, and you have to search a whole bunch, of parts where as a Diesel Adapters is a complete kit except for a few hoses filters a 6BT and time to do the swap, I would rather do the Cummins. I am doing mine next week

 

[Douglas S]

I love my HDJ and my long-term plans still involve putting the drivetrain into a NA Market 95-97 truck at some point in the future, but like @sailor if I had to do it all again it would be a tough decision between the HD-T and the LS.

 

[shocktower]

I love my HDJ and my long-term plans still involve putting the drivetrain into a NA Market 95-97 truck at some point in the future, but like @sailor if I had to do it all again it would be a tough decision between the HD-T and the LS.

I would never do an LS, the cost is nearly 3x a Cummins, and I love diesel, I could probably do 2 LC's for the price of a LS swap

 

[sailor]

lol - since when has financial sanity ever entered into the 'Mud constellation?

 

[CycloSteve]

1HD-FT converted FZJ80 here...not cheap or simple, but definitely unique and better fuel consumption. My previous motor had the TRD s/c, so lots of power. The diesel has much more torque, and more seems to get to the road with the manual trans. I would not go back to a gasser!

 

[jurassic cruiser]

I also think once I get my boost up and intercooler on I will have much more power than my gasser ever did with a better mpg

 

[KingKong]

Ok I ran my google foo and holy crap, the cost of a LS VS Cummins are crazy, and you have to search a whole bunch, of parts where as a Diesel Adapters is a complete kit except for a few hoses filters a 6BT and time to do the swap, I would rather do the Cummins. I am doing mine next week

While I love the Cummins diesel (my other truck is a 97 12 valve Ram with a 215 pump and some goodies ), it wouldn't be my first choice for an engine swap into an 80 unless I was replacing everything down the drivetrain with 1 ton components. Unless you keep the engine stays stock and you drive like a grandma (both of which I'm incapable of doing), the torque from the Cummins will grenade the transfercase and axles. Pesos for pesos, an LS swap (L92 out of an Escalade is a good one) makes more sense

 

[shocktower]

While I love the Cummins diesel (my other truck is a 97 12 valve Ram with a 215 pump and some goodies ), it wouldn't be my first choice for an engine swap into an 80 unless I was replacing everything down the drivetrain with 1 ton components. Unless you keep the engine stays stock and you drive like a grandma (both of which I'm incapable of doing), the torque from the Cummins will grenade the transfercase and axles. Pesos for pesos, an LS swap (L92 out of an Escalade is a good one) makes more sense

That is odd, I have yet to see, one grenade a drive train, yes it could happen, if you turn it up way beyond what, it is intended for, its a SUV for off road expeditions not hot rod driving