Build Lexus LX450 Cummins 6bt/NV4500 swap

[Wheelingnoob]

He signaled to me to drive on down I went to start the truck and click........did it again click.......s***.....100kms away from a parts store......one more try.......she fired. With that jolt of trepidation I loaded the ferry.......where I had to turn it off again. Got to the other side the ferry opproator wanted to know all about the truck....."that sounds like my dodge ram" he exsclamed. At this stage I was sure he was going to be using that ram to drag my non starting truck off the ferry. Got done talking with him and went to start it......vroom fewf!

With that now in my mind I limited the times I turned it off. We headed back towards the town of Clinton BC now on the 97 hwy. From there I would be able to get back home in about 3 hours of driving. I turned off the truck 3 more times and it only acted up once again. Looks like I need started contacts, this is a AC Delco reman so not even sure if it's serviceable.

The drive back to Hope BC was uneventful. Passed a lot of fellow overlanders on the trek back undoubtedly heading away on vacation to the north. Even saw a few European Land Cruisers with fairly well outfitted campers. Mostly 70 series. No pictures and I was driving. Once I got to hope it was time for fuel, I had noted that my fuel Guage seems to more the same weather I'm on the hwy, off road or city driving. The economy is really not effected much by the driving environment. When I correct for the 10% difference I have with larger tires I'm right at 13L/100kms this tank. With a good 300 kms slow gravel road driving with some very large hills in the way. I did almost this same trip dictance wise and same area with my truck when it had the 1fz and no added weight I got 29L/100kms I am beyond happy with that result.

The rest of the drive home was slow with the last of the long weekend holiday count funneling back into town.

I did a post trip inspection tonight and did not note any issues what so ever. Gave the truck a good wash and had time to take my m12000 appart to make sure it was still good to go so I can bolt it back on Thursday.

 

[Mr Cimarron]

That looks like awesome country to explore. Jealous. Glad your enjoying the truck and everything is working like it should.

 

[Dirty Koala]

This was a great read...that steak looked tasty.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

That looks like awesome country to explore. Jealous. Glad your enjoying the truck and everything is working like it should.

It sure is, I always find myself dreaming of going to moab and other places. Kind of forgetting I live in a part of the world with some incredible exploring untapped for the most part.

I do still want to go to moab and Utah in my truck though. .......

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Tonight I removed the starter, it's a AC Delco reman that came with the engine, looks fairly new actually.

I took the cover off the plunger/contact cover and inspected things. It looks like when the contacts where installed they did not get the totally flat one was raised up 2mm on the one side making the plunger make contact with only one small part of it. The other part was alost not touching at all. I was able to get both perfectly flat so now the plunger makes full contact. Reassembled and tested about a dozen times no issues yet. Will have to use it for a couple day's to see if is acts up again.

Only takes 7min to remove the starter. So that is a bonus.

 

[warezdog]

GD that rib eye looked delicious!!

Fuel consumption sweet too, doubled for sure no doubt with gobs of power and torque to boot.

Can't wait to find a 6bt!

 

[bj70_guy]

Great to see your truck today Jeremy, it looks awesome! Can't get over how at home that 6BT looks in that engine bay. Really nice work.
Sorry to tell you you didn't win any raffle prizes…. neither did I.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Great to see your truck today Jeremy, it looks awesome! Can't get over how at home that 6BT looks in that engine bay. Really nice work.
Sorry to tell you you didn't win any raffle prizes…. neither did I.

Thank you! Was good catching up again.

At least the raffle money goes to a good cause. I have terrible luck with raffles lol.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Yesterday I ordered a set of OME 4" comp springs for the front. They are a 300lb/in springs and quite a few others that have done this swap are running them with out issue. I really did not have a problem with my 4"slee springs till the winch went on even with synthetic line it's still 80ish lbs. They handled everything great up till that point. Now it's kind of a mushy lack of spring rate feel.

I'm also planing to install my old Firestone coil air bags in the rear to give myself a bit of adjustability for fully loaded camping. This will give me time to sort out rear springs.

Truck weight is now 3060kg on the truck scale 1550f/1510r this is with rtt, fridge, tools and recovery equipment plus 3 days camping gear and 3/4 tank of fuel.

 

[Dirty Koala]

I have comp Springs front and rear, it feels good with them. Even with all the extra weight of rack, drawers, tools, fridge, sliders, bumpers, winch, the front still felt a little hard. Now with the Cummins, it feels just right. You will like them.

 

[warezdog]

Now I'm really impressed with MPG considering you're north of 3 tons!

 

[warezdog]

Noob I looked but didn't find in the thread, how did you go about checking blow by on your motor? Everyone I know that has dealt with them says to pull the dipstick, put a hose around it and make sure its tight and drop the other end in a bucket of water.

If the water bubbles a bit you're good and if it looks like a frothing blue lagoon you're looking at rings minimum.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Noob I looked but didn't find in the thread, how did you go about checking blow by on your motor? Everyone I know that has dealt with them says to pull the dipstick, put a hose around it and make sure its tight and drop the other end in a bucket of water.

If the water bubbles a bit you're good and if it looks like a frothing blue lagoon you're looking at rings minimum.

I did not check it to be honest. When I had the head off the cylenders looked great zero vertical markings and good cross hatch still. I get no smoke or misting at all out the draft tube. I do get a drop or two on the driveway from time to time. But nothing to be worried about.

I may try the water bucket idea and see but even if it was bad I would not be fast to get back in there and do everything.

 

[warezdog]

I see people do the "tea kettle" test where they unscrew the oil fill cap and let it sit and see if it bounces up and down. I guess old mercs can run for 100K with lots of blow by and some say the 6bt can do it was well just makes less power the more it blows.

If you do the test make sure the bucket is on the ground, one guy on btswaps somehow got water in the crank case because he used a 2 liter bottle sitting in the engine compartment with a short hose. Not sure how it happened exactly but my guess was he had it set up before it was running and somehow drew a vacuum when he cranked it?

So glad to hear your setup is working out, I'm still hunting for that "cherry" 6bt before I commit to Dustin's adapter. I had thought long and hard about an OM617 as well as a Vortec but your build convinced me to go Cummins.

 

[mistyv6]

if you have a look at jmack in the 55 section he did a blow buy test on his 4bt

 

[Wheelingnoob]

So this weekend was spent getting ready for a trip this coming weekend.

I started by installing the 4" OME comp front springs, gained 2" bit have not driven it yet to see how much they will settle.

Checked full bump with the springs out.



Like a glove!





This test also highlighted that my front shocks are too short. I'm going to make 2" spacers I think to allow full use of the avalaible shock travel. Then later I know I can install eye adapters with out issue.

Next I installed the firestone airbags in the rear Slee 4" med load springs to assist.

Then I installed my Cruisin off road t case skid plate.

My next priority was to look at the sized passenget side e-brake and fix it.......found the issue.



That is all that is left of the bell crank.

So I ordered a bunch of new parts from Toyota and hope to have this working before I leave.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Oh I also pulled out my front radius arm to get a new frame end bushing installed....



Checked my rear drive shaft and I have 1" of compression travel so should be fine, not sure why others have had to shorten there's.

 

[Dirty Koala]

What's the story with the 60 ?

Your whole drivetrain is moved .5" forward, which I believe is enough to not need to modify the rear shaft.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

What's the story with the 60 ?

Your whole drivetrain is moved .5" forward, which I believe is enough to not need to modify the rear shaft.

The 60 is a SOA with a ff rear out of a 80, 37" Pittbulls, Detroit lockers, it's a Canadian model HJ60 the I built a turbo setup for the 2H about 7 years ago and swapped a H55 into it about 5 years ago. Thing is a beast, wish it was not sitting neglected. I built it along with and for my brother so he could get out and enjoy everything this place has to offer. It's been parked for two years now, neglected and unused.

Yes that 1/2" must be the reason my rear shaft is fine. Haply to save $300 driveshaft job right now to be honest.

Truck goes in Thursday for AC lines and a charge.

 

[Dirty Koala]

Thats a shame, it needs to get used.

The extra .5" was a good move on your part. No need for driveshaft mods and easier clearance fro the timing cover, probably helps with bellhousing clearance too.

I am missing my AC, I bet you are also. I received a replacement AC amp, when I get a chance I will put it in and vacuum/charge the AC.