LS3 or Cummins 2.8

[Dave Pugh]

I'm going to be upgrading my FJ62 to either an LS3 or the new Cummins 2.8 Diesel. I've owned my truck for 23 years and love it but the power from the drivetrain is ...well a bummer. I'm a purist and for that reason I've left the truck stock.

I'd love any opinions from the IH8MUD community especially form those of you who've performed the conversion. Know that I'll never sell it as long as I'm alive, so whether it's worth more or less based on this conversion isn't important.

Thx!

Dave

 

[Boss Hog]

Your implied goal sounds like the decision to do a swap is based on (horse)power. Given that, my vote is LS3.

I have a stock 2F that has made me consider those two choices and 2FE. Personally, I’m strongly leaning towards option 3...

 

[White Stripe]

Go drive a Tahoe with a 5.3 and see what u think. Then find someone with a 2.8 swap and see if they will give u a ride. May need to fly a state or two away to find someone for the 2.8. But for a motor swap and all the money n work involved a plane ticket is no big deal.

 

[The Phoenician]

I guess it depends on what you're looking for. Range, reliability, torque and decent mpg or power and speed?

 

[DickM]

^^^
Hard to say without knowing how you intend to use the truck.

 

[Joe T]

Plan to keep forever, i would probably do the Cummins as you can get it new in a crate set up with accessories for fairly cheap:

You Can Now Buy a Cummins Diesel R2.8 Four-Cylinder Crate Engine For Your Project - The Fast Lane Truck


I would usually say LS but those are best sourced used. Good engines but still used, not likely you can log 200k trouble free miles on a used engine.

If the Cummins begins to bore you throw a mild program on it and mild turbo in the future. You probably won’t have to run emissions on it either.

 

[gregnash]

Both will get you down the road. Really you haven't stated much other than the lack of power of the OLD 3FE is a bummer to you. Past that we know very little about how you use or plan to use the vehicle, other than you have kept it completely stock.

Both are domestic engines so parts availability, should you be on a long road trip and breakdown, will be easy to find at just about any store (similar to the guy that I ran across yesterday working on his '56 Bel-Air wagon, not a nomad, with the SBC in it in front of an OReillys) in any town.
The question then becomes what is your flavor and budget? If money is not an option, personally I would go for the 2.8L Cummins to have a newer engine and the slight mpg savings associated with diesel. However, do not base your decision on stuff like that alone. You need to figure out what your main goal and basis for ROI (return on investment) will be for the conversion. If it is nothing more than Smiles Per Gallon, then put both up on a dart board and go at it!!!.

 

[bottombracket]

Drive a 1HZ turbo (or 12HT, or 1HD-T) before making a decision.

 

[Dave Pugh]

Thanks for your input. My plan is to continue to use the truck as a daily driver to work, hauling mountain bikes, dogs and getting groceries. It's never seen off road and I don't plan to use it this way in the future. Maybe a rooftop tent and ARB bumpers at some point but thats about it.

 

[Hojack]

If your planning on keeping it in the family forever and have the money... I’d go for the Cummins diesel. I do like the older diesel motors. Newer motor have so much more wiring and smog emissions that just complicate things and effect the overall performance of the engine.

 

[Willard]

Keep it simple with as simple of a motor as possible. If it were mine, I would go diesel and be done. But after reading on the estimated cost of a shop doing a conversion. I cannot see dropping that cash into my vehicle for this engine.
Cummins R2.8 Turbo Diesel - Proffitt's Resurrection Land Cruisers

I do not doubt that cost will be close if someone does the build for you, it seems the engine is like 8K alone. There are other diesel options and if you do go LS3 that $ will be much less, even after rebuilding the engine.

So keeping it forever or not, the question will be what is your budget?

 

[Robert shields]

Will you be doing the work your self ? I am Doing my FJ40 w cummins R2.8 I have a 40 with V8, and 3 w stock 2f. If you have the money I think R2.8 is the way to go. I can show you how to save some money if you do it your self.

 

[Idaho Savage]

Thanks for your input. My plan is to continue to use the truck as a daily driver to work, hauling mountain bikes, dogs and getting groceries. It's never seen off road and I don't plan to use it this way in the future. Maybe a rooftop tent and ARB bumpers at some point but thats about it.

Grocery getter and vacation mobile? LS3. As someone pointed out, the cost of the conversion is much less and it'll achieve everything you want. As for ROI, lots of variables but I have to think the LS option would be greater due to lower investment while still achieving great mpg. Parts are plentiful, every mechanic knows the LS3 and it hauls ass. LS3's are also known to be extremely reliable motors with long lives (not Cummins long). Of course, I'm biased but I have owned Cummins trucks and Powerstrokes and the sentiment that they're trouble free is most definitely a myth. Great motors but everything has challenges at some point.

 

[Beams37]

Swapping to diesel is not cheap and is not always the best option. A Cummins 2.8 is $9k (without trans). An LS3 (with transmission) is $13k brand new. The LS will be ready to rock right out of the crate. They will both require a lot of little things and time (whether you do it or pay for it), but Diesel is NOT cheap.

I plan to keep mine forever too. I love my LS. I have on-demand power, ease of finding parts, longevity (ask anyone about the lifespan of their Tahoe), and anyone can work on it. I'm not saying you are gonna have issues with Diesel, but for me, they long-term value from and LS swap is well worth it.

 

[tclark]

How about one of these? Most here will dismiss it immediately because it's not a V8, but the specs point to it being a great fit for a 60(at least imo), providing a decent bump in power as well as mpg.

GM 4.3 Liter V6 EcoTec3 LV3 Engine

 

[Robert shields]

I absolutely agree an LS has plenty of power, and will go forever, most people can work on them. Local auto parts store probably has every part in stock for Chevrolet motor, and a lot cheaper to install . But I love diesel motors. I like the power, I think they’re reliable. But they’re not cheap to work on parts are cheap so I think it really just depends on your budget I didn’t buy the new Cummins to save money . I put a new H55f in it, and AC . Don’t let anybody tell you it’s going to be cheap depending on transmission I would say 15 to 22,000. Who knows how much if you let a shop do it If you’re concerned about money really should go with an LS .

 

[Feistl]

Auto or manual?

Are you doing the work or paying a shop?

How much of a perfectionist are you?

If you can wait keep an eye out for a converted truck with the motor you want... buy the whole thing and swap motors around. That way you end up with two running trucks, you can swap parts around to ensure your vehicle has the best of everything and sell the second truck in the end (or keep it as spares). Quite often engine swapped cruisers sell for less than the conversion cost.

Also, conversions tend to cost more than you expect, it's all the little things that add up.

Cheers

 

[Hojack]

Auto or manual?

Are you doing the work or paying a shop?

How much of a perfectionist are you?

If you can wait keep an eye out for a converted truck with the motor you want... buy the whole thing and swap motors around. That way you end up with two running trucks, you can swap parts around to ensure your vehicle has the best of everything and sell the second truck in the end (or keep it as spares). Quite often engine swapped cruisers sell for less than the conversion cost.

Also, conversions tend to cost more than you expect, it's all the little things that add up.

Cheers

That’s what I did. Bought running stepvan. Took the running 4BT, sold stepvan & transmission, sold my running 2F motor and 4speed. It’s now running and amazing. Only left is exhaust, some wiring and SOA.

 

[Beams37]

How about one of these? Most here will dismiss it immediately because it's not a V8, but the specs point to it being a great fit for a 60(at least imo), providing a decent bump in power as well as mpg.

GM 4.3 Liter V6 EcoTec3 LV3 Engine

My Best friend growing up had S-10 blazer with this engine. It's a beast and I would love to have one in my truck. Not 100% sure what the cost vs. power would be, but would love to have one. I think it would have sufficient power, save weight, and provide more space in the engine bay.

 

[tclark]

My Best friend growing up had S-10 blazer with this engine. It's a beast and I would love to have one in my truck. Not 100% sure what the cost vs. power would be, but would love to have one. I think it would have sufficient power, save weight, and provide more space in the engine bay.

The one I linked is actually the newest version--it's basically an LS 5.3 minus 2 cylinders and makes 285hp/305lbs tq. The older ones are basically a 5.7/350 minus 2 cylinders; if built right they seem to make around 250hp/300lbs tq. I know the old ones are good engines, I've logged several hundred thousand trouble free miles on one. The new one has all the new features of the LS engines, is all aluminum, direct injected, etc--with the electronics to go with it(you can buy stripped down harnesses and such though). They're getting mid-20's mpg out of them in full size pickups; my old version topped out in low 20's. I think it'd be a great option for a dd/weekend camping type rig; good mpg and plenty of power for the avg guy(and not enough to worry about taxing the rest of the drivetrain). But you'll be ostracized on here for not going V8!