Need Help with Motor Swap (12 Viewers)

[mgriff67]

Hello all,
I’ve recently got myself a 94’ FJ80 and I’m looking into potential motor swap ideas.

Everyone I see recommends LS this, 1HD that, but unfortunately, I do not have the budget to go all out on a complete motor and transmission change. (Nor do I want to have to deal with cutting, wiring harnesses, fabrication etc.)

However, I have entertained the idea of buying a lower mileage 1fz and throwing a turbo onto it. I feel this would save me time, a little bit of money, and prevent me from possibly getting to far over my head and leaving me with an ls3 and a formerly-functioning LC.

I ask this:
Would a turbo 1fz help me in reaching my goal of gaining more power without possibly leaving me without a vehicle?
Has anyone documented their 1fz turbo build in depth?
Are there any other better options that would meet my criteria?

Any and all input is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Mag71k5]

I think no matter what type of swap you'll want to do, there will always be unknowns and scope creep that increase the cost. I think specifically for a turbo swap the main issue you'll face is OBD1 I believe OBD2 started in 95's. Most kits are designed around OBD2, so you're already looking at having to add piggyback ecu, or complete aftermarket ECU.

I would also be leery of even lower mileage 1FZ's, make sure you check compression if you do find one. My 1fz-fe blew the headgasket out of CYL6 and CYL3. It only has 160,000 miles.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/cruisers-and-company-80-series-turbo.1330870/

Check out these guys, they are local to me and have really pushed turbo 1FZ kits forward.

 

[AussieHJCruza]

Search through the forum, there's been plenty of 1FZ turbo builds done on here from mild boost on stock engines to aftermarket engine management, rods, pistons etc.

One thing to note: your 94 is more difficult to boost from an engine management perspective than a MY95 or newer truck and you'll need some sort of engine management to fuel adequately.

Have sold it now but my turbo 1FZ had been turboed for circa 20 years and ~100,000 km. Similar fuel use to an N/A engine and always reliable.

 

[Dindu Nuffin]

Take the money you'd put towards a low mile 1FZ and use it for a Cometic head gasket and ARP head studs for what you have in there. Thing is, you've got the OBD1 electronics. You'll need a stand alone or at the very least, at bare minimum, a piggy back. You could also go super old school and use a high pressure inline pump with a 12:1 FMU... but you might as well swap in a carburetor at that point.

 

[efjayatee]

Reach out to @Cruisers and Co
OBD1 Turbo is coming to the market. Very close to production!!

 

[Irish Reiver]

I am more interested in the why rather the how. There are no shortage of solutions that will give you more power but my question is why do you think you need it. I ran a '94 for years with front and rear bumpers, sliders and a roof rack and probably only bitched about lack of power half a dozen times. My '96 has just competed 6k miles of trans US with zero issues. The highest altitude i traversed was just over 12,000 ft. Again, I'm not saying a few more HP wouldn't have been appreciated but then again I wasn't in a rush and wasn't racing Ferrari's. Many here run 3FE engines and from hearing their stories I am grateful to have a 1FZ-FE under the bonnet.
So I am interested in what is your "need" for a more powerful engine? Clearly issues like altitude have higher demands and I also know people just want to climb Mt. Everest because its there but Mt. Everest is strewn with the bodies of once highly motivatiated people.