I need an engine

[deanfj40]

Hey all, so I have a '78 with no engine and the og 4 speed. I'm mechanically inclined but don't know much about engines swaps.
So my question to you guys is what engine can I put into my cruiser that isn't too expensive, parts readily available, and no to little fabrication needed. Diesels are on top of my list. Just don't know which one.
I know a 350 is probably the answer but since it only offers 10mpg and I like traveling it might be out of the question. Availble to reach Highway speeds are needed also.
I also wouldn't want to spend more than $2000-2500 on an engine.
Thanks!

 

[coonassjohn]

Where did you get the idea a 350 only gives you 10mpg. I have a 350 in mine and get 0ver 20mpg all day long. Not a very hard conversion to do.

 

[deanfj40]

Where did you get the idea a 350 only gives you 10mpg. I have a 350 in mine and get 0ver 20mpg all day long. Not a very hard conversion to do.

Is yours carbureted or fuel injection?

 

[coonassjohn]

Holley 650 cfm

 

[oregon fj]

“no to little fabrication needed”

Why not just pick up a used 2F and keep it mostly stock? Any swap WILL require some fabrication of some sort. No swap will be as simple as reinstalling the original type motor.

 

[deanfj40]

What kind of engine do you have there?
This is where I got my 10 mpg info from
V8 Conversion MPG Average

 

[coonassjohn]

350 Chevy goodwrench replacement engine w/ Edelbrock manifold and cam. It drives a NV4500 5 speed trans w/ overdrive. I don't drive like I have something to prove and I get better gas mileage than I did with the old 2F. If you drive hard or offroad your mileage will go down. I don't.

 

[reddingcruiser]

You're in California? You do know that the engine swap will have to go through the referees at the BAR and $2500 is not likely to get you a smog legal motor.

 

[BrianSanDiego]

Hey all, so I have a '78 with no engine and the og 4 speed. I'm mechanically inclined but don't know much about engines swaps.
So my question to you guys is what engine can I put into my cruiser that isn't too expensive, parts readily available, and no to little fabrication needed. Diesels are on top of my list. Just don't know which one.
I know a 350 is probably the answer but since it only offers 10mpg and I like traveling it might be out of the question. Availble to reach Highway speeds are needed also.
I also wouldn't want to spend more than $2000-2500 on an engine.
Thanks!

With the California smog laws, unless it was a '75 or older smog exempt, I'd just stay with the stock motor, unfortunately.

 

[BrianSanDiego]

... 20mpg all day long...

And that is frikkin' amazing. I need a 5-speed. /highjack

 

[reddingcruiser]

A smog legal 6.2L e-rod will only set you back around $8,700 plus the adapters. If you do all the work you could be all-in for around $12,000, give or take a few Hamiltons .

 

[oregon fj]

Whoa. I didn’t even think of the smog implications. I’m going to double down on my earlier 2F recommendation.

 

[reddingcruiser]

Re-powering a '76 or newer FJ40 is possible in California, you just need to go into it with your eyes wide open and FACTS, no urban legend crap.

 

[oregon fj]

Re-powering a '76 or newer FJ40 is possible in California, you just need to go into it with your eyes wide open and FACTS, no urban legend crap.

And a healthy budget. Won’t be cheap.

 

[RAYJON]

4.8 ls motor, nice small v8 with pleanty of power, LKQ and other yards have loads of them cheep, need a harness reworked and a computer flash, 350 chevy was designed 1953, step up 40 years in tech...

Look around at the ls swaps,

cheep route used 2f

 

[coonassjohn]

4.8 ls motor, nice small v8 with pleanty of power, LKQ and other yards have loads of them cheep, need a harness reworked and a computer flash, 350 chevy was designed 1953, step up 40 years in tech...

Look around at the ls swaps,

cheep route used 2f

Nothing wrong with old technology. Carbs are easier and cheaper than fuel injection.

 

[reddingcruiser]

If this is a thread about engine options for a '78 California FJ40, the options are primarily limited to:

• The original 2F, complete with the OEM smog equipment.
• Any engine of the same or newer vintage, as IT came equipped from the manufacturer, or with aftermarket equipment approved by the state for a specific application, including smog equipment.
• A 50 State e-rod motor

 

[Tysano]

X2 stock will be the simplest (cheapest) route.

 

[deanfj40]

Ok, so if I'm looking for a 2f am I only allowed to pick one that's a 78 and from California due to the Cali smog laws?
Also how is it so that on Craigslist i see a bunch of fj40s with diesels and 350s in my area?
Once again I'm new to this engine swap deal, sorry for my ignorance.

 

[RAYJON]

Any 2f will work as it is the same series of motor essentially a stock replacement motor. With the correct 1978 smog equipment (or something that will pass the visual inspection.) You would just get a smog test like normal..

When you swap in another motor other than the 2f is where it gets different. Then you have to go to a smog referee and the motor has to, as reddingcruiser said be newer and improve what comes out the tailpipe. This straight from the carb web page

Engine changes are legal as long as the following requirements are met to ensure that the change does not increase pollution from the vehicle:

• The engine must be the same year or newer than the vehicle.
  
  
  
• The engine must be from the same type of vehicle (passenger car, light-duty truck, heavy-duty truck, etc.) based on gross vehicle weight.
  
  
  
• If the vehicle is a California certified vehicle then the engine must also be a California certified engine.
  
  
  
• All emissions control equipment must remain on the installed engine.

After an engine change, vehicles must first be inspected by a state referee station. The vehicle will be inspected to ensure that all the equipment required is in place, and vehicle will be emissions tested subject to the specifications of the installed engine.