How Realistic is this Swap? 1991 FJ80 - Cummins 6bt

[Sagorski]

I know there is quite a few folks who have made the swap (BTW this is the wifey here so forgive my ignorance about common stuff. ) to a 6bt, and that a 4bt is much preferred, but we just got a great deal on a 6bt so that is what we have to work with.

What all do we HAVE to do to get this up and running, is it even logical for me to ask my hubby to make this swap for me when we could be selling my much beloved FJ80 and buying a disgusting little 80's Mercedes Benz that is pretty much biodiesel ready, and make a profit?

This is MY daily driver, but I don't drive much. But I love it, and REALLY don't want to get a Benz. And... we live in Alaska, and maybe someday soon in the boonies where the fj80 is in it's element, and unless it has 4wd the Benz will be be a pain.

At the same time though, I want to be logical, and is it really worth the money to make this change?? I know my hubby will try his absolute hardest to do whatever I want... But is what I want logical? Thanks!

 

[Sagorski]

If it makes any difference this is more detail of what 6bt it is. 95 175hp 5.9l Cummins.

 

[warpdriv]

It's doable but it is quite a bit of work. What's wrong with the 3fe that is in it? Are y'all going to do the swap or have a shop do it? If you did the swap, it will cost you a little over $4k in parts and adapters and a lift kit. I have not see one without a 3" body lift too.

 

[Sagorski]

We have unlimited Biofuel available for .5 cents a gallon. So Hubby wants me to have a vehicle that can use the biofuel, because the 'cruiser only gets 12mpg on a good day. We pay a lot for gas up here.

Hubby could do it, but only this winter and if we had a friend with a heated garage. So we plan on having it done by someone, if it doesn't turn out to be too costly. We need to shop around and get some quotes.

So I need a 3" lift to do it?

Reading through some of the swap threads it seems like everyone also swaps trannies? Do I need to do that or is that just something they do to better suit what they want?

 

[mr jits]

Do it. This is one of the very rare cases where the swap truly will pay for itself.
You've got a laundry list of things needed to make this work. But its been done before and is well covered in a couple of build threads.

 

[Sagorski]

Is there any threads that aren't full of super custom things like super axles, the water breather thingy mabobbers, and huge tires? I'm slowly reading through all of them, but I'm having trouble figuring out what is necessary and what is someones custom mod for their needs. I'm sure my husband can figure it all out, but the more homework I do, the more of his "spare" time can be spent on other important things.

 

[warpdriv]

Also, if you do an advanced search for swap only in the title, it will help you find threads on engine swaps to give you a better idea of what you are getting into.

 

[IanB]

User "cody c" has a '92 w/ 6bt, he might be able to help you figure out what is needed, and what is extra.

 

[cody c]

User "cody c" has a '92 w/ 6bt, he might be able to help you figure out what is needed, and what is extra.

that'd be me.

Its pretty hard to sum things up in a paragraph or two.

Ill send you a PM and see if I can answer any questions on the phone if that works better, I think ive already typed out my input a few times for others.

Edit: I should just try a short video and youtube it to cover the details, maybe Ian G (iggi on mud can help shoot one).

 

[davegonz]

You won't need a body lift like someone mentioned earlier, just a suspension lift enough to clear the front axle. I'm running OME heavies with 2" Metal Tech spacers.

A buddy of mine owns a 6BT powered 80 with a body lift hack job. It would have been cleaner (they chopped up the rear crossmember and shifted it up 3") and easier to just do a suspension lift. The truck is really nice to drive with the NV4500 5 speed.

 

[cody c]

You won't need a body lift like someone mentioned earlier, just a suspension lift enough to clear the front axle. I'm running OME heavies with 2" Metal Tech spacers.

A buddy of mine owns a 6BT powered 80 with a body lift hack job. It would have been cleaner (they chopped up the rear crossmember and shifted it up 3") and easier to just do a suspension lift. The truck is really nice to drive with the NV4500 5 speed.

Ya I have the 5 speed as well. I like the 5 speed but it is a little low geared for stockish tires. Im on 37's with factory diff gearsets and its just about right. 31's would be way too little in the way of gearing.

I believe after 97 they changed first gear from granny low to a little bit higher of a gear, which would be a bit better suited to a daily driver.

Whichever way you go Id reccomend using the transmission that came off of a cummins (wether that be an auto or manual- but maybe not the early getrag auto trans). Advanced adaptors does make an adaptor for the NV4500 (HD) 5 speed to the toyota transfer case (or more specifically the split case off of a 60 series, which arent too hard to come by).

 

[davegonz]

I have also heard that the newer NV4500's have a better shift tower with shorter shifts. I haven't seen this first hand yet, but my buddy is getting his upgraded to the newer shifter assembly.

 

[kirkm76]

It doesn't sound like you are wholly committed to this swap which I feel if you are going to go through with, you must be. If I lived in Alaska and just had to have a Diesel Cruiser I believe I'd sell the 80 and make the trip over to Canada and grab a diesel 60 or maybe even a 70 series I could import. I think this would be cheaper than the swap and probably less of a headache. A Cummins cruiser would be awesome, but a diesel 70 would be pretty sweet too.

 

[cruiser concepts]

A body lift needs to be installed to properly fit the
Motor in. J springs up front will make it level. A susp lift other than j springs is not needed the j springs help with handling and gives the vehicle a level stance. The stock trans cross member can be used with the nv4500 however a custom trans Mount needs to be made,This can be made from the stock dodge trans mount.
The newer nv4500 (I believe 98 and newer) is the trans to use as it has been updated so it wont drop 5th gear as easy and the shift tower is nicer and fits better in the cruiser.
Good luck.

X2 on the gearing. fj60 axles offer a higher gear ratio.