Build Keeping another on the road- My Blue 1986 FJ60 Build

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Interesting on the intake.

The oil pan replacement is without a doubt too on the list.
From my research as I have cathedral heads the LS1 intake will fit fine couple of mods to the bracket for the idler pulley.
The water pump become an issue with this and the Holley solve it.
But you are correct there is no gain, but no loss as well. More of cosmetic.

Either way the Holley May happen as depending on the Radiator I use.

Still need to clean it and nothing is in stone, well except the oil pan. That has to be changed as I have no plan later the current one.
 
Willard said:
The water pump become an issue with this and the Holley solve it.
Click to expand...

$200 Holley water pump is a waste of time and money.
You can use the stock truck water pump with the car intake, you just have to stick a rod in the upper outlet and twist it 1/4". It twists in the water pump body pretty easily. Mine is setup like this, I have an LS6 intake on my 5.3.


Willard said:
but no loss as well.
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This is not true though. With the shorter runners on the car intake you will loose power at lower RPM's, and move it to higher RPM's, good for a car, not a truck.
With all this being said if you are dead set on a car intake the LS6 is the better choice then LS1. I have the part numbers saved with the belt and idler pulley bracket I used to make it work. I still think the Gen 4 truck intake would be a much better use of your time and funds, and I would do that if I were doing mine again.
 
Anyone who said an LS Swap is cheap, has never priced one out.

Looks like I will be in for about 6K give or take. This is including replacing all accessories, radiator and rebuilding my AC for a 2nd time to convert to R134a. The list is not that long just $$$, stand alone harness, computer reprogram, Injector cleaning (or replace), exhaust, etc etc.


I am deciding on an intank pump, vs frame mounted pump. I have a LRA tank and which is working very well now and I would hate to drain and cut and drill

When others did their swaps did you use an intank fuel pump or?

Also the Vapor canister purge tank, any one install this or did you leave it out?
 
It’s ony expensive if you spend money on stuff like this:

Willard said:
replacing all accessories, radiator, stand alone harness, Injector cleaning (or replace)
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Do the harness yourself, and reuse the accessories and injectors. Reuse your stock radiator. There, that’s probably $1000-1500 of your initial cost.

I spent about $3000 on my swap and spent double what I should have for my engine purchase, and could easily shave a lot of cost off with less fancy fuel and power steering lines and some other stuff.
 
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Willard said:
Anyone who said an LS Swap is cheap, has never priced one out.

Looks like I will be in for about 6K give or take. This is including replacing all accessories, radiator and rebuilding my AC for a 2nd time to convert to R134a. The list is not that long just $$$, stand alone harness, computer reprogram, Injector cleaning (or replace), exhaust, etc etc.


I am deciding on an intank pump, vs frame mounted pump. I have a LRA tank and which is working very well now and I would hate to drain and cut and drill

When others did their swaps did you use an intank fuel pump or?

Also the Vapor canister purge tank, any one install this or did you leave it out?
Click to expand...

Intank pump for the win.
You can relocate and reuse your stock charcoal canister, or a generic GM one (what I have). No need for any of the EVAP solenoid, etc unless your state has emissions.
 
cruisermatt said:
Intank pump for the win.
You can relocate and reuse your stock charcoal canister, or a generic GM one (what I have). No need for any of the EVAP solenoid, etc unless your state has emissions.
Click to expand...
I am leaning that way for simplicity for sure, plus it would give me an excuse to do the C-Channels. I still have to ponder this (not the c-channels)

I already did the GM charcoal canister so that is not an issue.
VA 25yo emissions exempt. So I am good there.
 
cruisermatt said:
It’s ony expensive if you spend money on stuff like this:



Do the harness yourself, and reuse the accessories and injectors. Reuse your stock radiator. There, that’s probably $1000-1500 of your initial cost.

I spent about $3000 on my swap and spent double what I should have for my engine purchase, and could easily shave a lot of cost off with less fancy fuel and power steering lines and some other stuff.
Click to expand...

So here is the general plan.
Accessories (PS pump, alt, AC, WP) will all be replaced as the old stuff is suspect. While it was working, it is unknown to me and I would be happier knowing it is new or rebuilt, rather than not

Injectors I will send out for cleaning if they look dirty when I pull them tonight, otherwise they go back in.
My Radiator is newer I am still on the fence with this. I am considering an aluminum rad I will NOT run electric fans and will stay with the mechanical fan and fan clutch. Worked for GM just fine in a vehicle heavier than my 60.

Power steering lines I may have made up or from Mosley motors.
AC lines I will have to purchase as I will convert to R134a to match the new compressor.
Fuel lines will be far from fancy, but will be new back to the tank (just rubber EFI)

After pricing out a NV4500, the adapter etc. Even used (with a rebuild) I cannot justify the price over my H55f. My transmission had been rebuilt at some point and I just did the transfercase. Is it ideal, no, will it work for my application, yes and then some.
5th with my setup (32's, 3:70 gears) cruising on a straight away I was pushing right under 2000 RPM. so that works fine. I figure I will not need gearing adjustments as the power of that V8 will compensate.
 
H55F will be good. Can you move it forwards 2” or so without the shifter hitting the dash?
 
You know.......sometime free is not always good.

Drivers side 2 broken bolts on the exhaust manifold. (first two pictures)
Passengers side 1 broken bold that they tried to repair and failed. No I have to decide if I will keep it like that, or fix it right.

It seems to be holding but the stud is short, but holds. Thoughts? FYI none of the bolts on the passenger side were overly tight. As well I am suspecting this was not the original engine in the vehicle. Will never know now.

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Overall once I go the pan off all looked ok.
The oil was as dirty as they come. As in it looked like Diesel oil.

Once removed there sludge and crap (dirt, sludge and just filth) in the pan, but from what I felt no metal. So this is a good sign.
Taking the windage tray off everything while a nice dark brown color it seems well burnt.
Sorry my shop camera rather sucks.

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The exhaust manifold bolts always break just weld them out. That motor looks great inside.

 
cruisermatt said:
The exhaust manifold bolts always break just weld them out. That motor looks great inside.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I literally just drained the oil, removed the pan and then flipped it on the stand, removed the windage tray and this is what I saw.
I am ordering a H3 oil pan tonight.

I was looking at a similar video just now. I guess time to break out the welder.
 
I realized this post is 1/2 rant 1/2 babbling, so read below at your own risk.

So in this thread somewhere it is noted that the cost of this cruiser has hit over 20K. Someone recently reminded me of this and asked why I was doing an engine swap. This made me think as I will pour in about 6K more into the 60. This does not include the other things that it will eventually get, like lockers. I estimate when done (paint etc), I will be into my 60 for damn near close to 30K.
For that price I could pick up a used FJCruiser or a almost new loaded 4Runner.

So the question comes back to why even bother. That is a hell of a question and for the person who asked the answer was quick and simple, It will be something I eventually give to one of my kids and currently is the mascot for a new venture I am working on.

It is more than that. First part of the questions on cost came from my wife's hatred for the 60 and constant complaining on it in general. As it is now the mascot for my new venture, those complaints are dying down.
It really comes to this, I just like it. I bought an 1986 FJ60 because I wanted a manual transmission 4 door Land Cruiser that was far from modern (I am actually thinking of making my LS carbureted to keep it simple......crazy). I am not a fan of auto transmissions and wanted utilitarian.
I really wanted it in blue as that was not only the color of my first car ( a 1978 Austin Mini) but my first Land Cruiser (a 1984 BJ42). I wish I still had both today, but such is life.

As time progressed, I wanted something that my kids could enjoy, actually learn how to change their own oil and remember Dad always having......sappy I know.

I will always keep track of what the 60 has cost me over the years, partly because the past 2 owners kept every single invoice (I have two massive folders full) and because it actually is interesting to see how it became what it is.

So why do a V8 swap? I could regear my rig to death. No it is more simple than that. Pulling up the longer hills loaded the 60 did just OK, not great not bad, just OK.
So with the swap it should give me what I need for the for the corrected speed. More importantly is that I will be pulling a M101a2 trailer (it will have electric brakes) and while it will be at or just under the towing capacity of the 60, with the V8 I will have the power to pull up hill and not be a hazard on the road.

While I would have preferred to stay 100% Toyota, really I doubt they have a swap that is as simple, stay manual trans and and stay gas. Plus the support for the LS is rather impressive.

Back to why not a 4runner or FJCruiser or even a newer Land Cruiser/Lexus LX series. I think I answered that I will add to it.
My wife once asked me what vehicle would I want when I replace my F150 with, which is due for replacement. I have thought about this very hard and at the time I said there is absolutely zero modern vehicle that I like. Most SUV's and cars are all starting to blend in and look the same (my 11 year old even noticed that). This still holds true today.
I was thinking I would build a 60's Mustang or another Chevelle exactly the way I wanted. But then it hit me....I am building my 60 exactly the way I want and there is nothing on that vehicle that has not been well thought out or skimped on. So this is it, I am building the vehicle I want that is a 100% departure for anything modern, yet it will have a more modern powerplant but keep the old school style and suspension( maybe one day coils), something that is so far a departure from the norm.
More importantly I can fix anything on it and teach my kids how to fix these things as well. Something that getting more and more lost these days.

Sorry for the long post...
 
I did my 4BT diesel conversion and SOA because I wanted to build what I wanted. The wife didn’t understand the build but went with it. I have money saved, only have a home loan so I didn’t go in debt building the 60. It’s time consuming when doing it yourself and it’s nice to have a shop with room and tools. Time is the killer. My wife and kids have suffered at times when I was in the thick of the build. Very thankful to be over some hurdles. It has finally came together. Knowing what I know now, I’m not sure I’d have done this then. The wife is glad the 60 is moving again and the kids love it. My 60 still has plenty to work on and I’m not sure if it’ll ever be done playing with. It’s now a constant hobby but it’s fun. I wasn’t a motor head before the swap but my knowledge has grown. It’s like it’s been a 2 year automotive class. Every year more 60s are ending up in salvage yards. I see less on the highway and eventually they’ll be rare. I hope just as you mentioned to pass down something to my kids and grandkids.
 
Exactly!!

Oh ya never go into debt I own outright every part on my 60 and all of the tools I acquired. Yes I sold one of my two motorcycles to help fund all of this, but I had not been on it for 2 years (the other either, however I will never part with it).

It is nice to see I am not the only one.
 
Today with so many going in deeper debt this is the last thing they’d want to dive into. Have a budget and time. I failed to communicate to the wife how much time it would take. Never had done anything like this except rebuild my camper... don’t get me started. I love projects, without one I start to go crazy. I either need a project or to head to the mountains. 🤣
 
Hojack said:
Today with so many going in deeper debt this is the last thing they’d want to dive into. Have a budget and time. I failed to communicate to the wife how much time it would take. Never had done anything like this except rebuild my camper... don’t get me started. I love projects, without one I start to go crazy. I either need a project or to head to the mountains. 🤣
Click to expand...

My wife asked my why I always have a project like this.
I told her simply this.
When I am working on vehicles like this, my only concern is where the hell I put that tool I just placed down.
Work stress, bills, screaming kids, screaming wife barking dog....well you get the picture. Is all gone. It is me and the vehicle I am fixing. Be it 5 minutes in the shop or 5 hours. It is never work and always enjoyable.

That is unless it is her vehicle....then it is not as enjoyable, hence why it goes to a mechanic when it needs something, even an oil change.
 
You and I think a lot alike 🤣
Too bad we are on opposite coasts we could build and have a round of :beer:
 
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