Replacing a 2L-TE with a 3B in a '91 Prado EX5 (1 Viewer)

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My garage is under the impression that the VW turbo diesel is not available as a crate engine ( at least he has never seen) however bare in mind that I live in "podunk-ville" and the engine may be readily available in larger markets like California.
.......1978HJ45
 
Lee777 said:
Ok guys,

You may have seen from my previous thread that I have fallen into the 2LTE money pit. But instead of going further into the pit, I have decided to do an engine swap. I'm proposing swapping in a 3BII and eventually adding a turbo.

I've owned a BJ60 and have come to love the reliability of the 3B, I dont even mind how its a bit of slug on the highway, It slows me down and gives me time to think about stuff. To me a turbo'd 3B in our Prado is a dream truck. But is there an easier way to go. I AM OPEN TO ALL POSSIBILITIES

Anyway i have some experience with cruisers (I maintain a BJ60, and am rebuilding a FJ55), I've installed suspensions, done front axle servicing, brakes, body lifts, body work, however I have never worked on an engine, nor do I have experience with electricals. But Im very methodical and like to take things slow and do my research. I take direction well.

Crushers has proposed a 3BII swap. Now I need your help in breaking down this process. Of course I have a ton of questions that perhaps you may get annoyed about but Im determined to see this through if it seems feasible. I would like to do as much of it on my own as possible.

Here are my annoying questions (please be patient with me:rolleyes:)

1) will the 3BII match the 2L-Te body mounts?
2) will the prado body have to be lifted or will the front clip have to be modified to accept the taller 3BII engine?
3) how will the prado electricals be mated with the 3BII
4) will the prado gearing be appropriate for the 3BII for highway use (since this is normally what it will be driven on).
5) will the 3BII mate with the automatic transmission
6) how will the prado cooling system be mated with the 3BII
7) Can I keep the prado gas cap (LOL to crushers)

Thanks everyone, ANY advice is appreciated.

Fxxx, I love this board.

Lee
Click to expand...

Here are my annoying questions (please be patient with me:rolleyes:)

Here re my annoying answers hahahaha
1) will the 3BII match the 2L-Te body mounts?

Probably not and they will have to be STRONGER the 3BII will weight at least 320kg (oops)
2) will the prado body have to be lifted or will the front clip have to be modified to accept the taller 3BII engine?
possibly

3) how will the prado electricals be mated with the 3BII
carefully - I assume yours has an ECU and you have manual gearbox else you going to have fun.

4) will the prado gearing be appropriate for the 3BII for highway use (since this is normally what it will be driven on).

Nope you will run it out at 3400 revs although it will run to 4000 but man your fuel consumption would suck so would the noise

5) will the 3BII mate with the automatic transmission
like a divorced couple - not very well - so probably a definatite NOPE.
You also need to have the BELLhouse changed to fit the engine to the gearbox :(

6) how will the prado cooling system be mated with the 3BII

a 3BII will run hot so you need the 3BII radiator

7) Can I keep the prado gas cap (LOL to crushers)
Nope you need a DIESEL CAP not a GASSER cap hahaaha

a 1KZ (and crushers hates these is a better option) or my favourite a 1KD

the weight of the 3BII is enormous on the front of the little PRADO and will make it tail light and front heavy requiring strong springs and carefull driving and more so if running a winchy at the front (from experience).

the 2.7 prado gasser is a better option.
 
indeed. and they are hard to find used. like fella was saying, people tend to drive them into the ground, a mid '80s to '91 300sd "donor" would be much easier to find than a jetta tdi. if one was looking to go outside the toyota/hino realm.

i went 'round and 'round trying to find a reasonable replacement for the hilux, and the 3l wound up being the easiest and most cost effective.
 
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It seems that the ACME kit is the one - I thought Kennedy Engineering did an adapter but I can't find it on their site. A google search of "TDI toyota swaps" will lead to all kinds of links with far more info than I can relay. As well, a company in BC called HPA Motorsports is doing a swap into a J**P which might have some relevance. They claim 160hp with a flash upgrade to the ECU. Similar vehicle by usage and weight I would think?

My guess is that it would be a pioneering effort, but if you can find a good donor (like the passat TDI a neighbour found for $1800) it might be worthwhile.

I've thought it might be a good swap into the Delica - higher geared than my BJ74 and it could certainly use more power!
 
good info ...
yah, the delica is mildly underpowered but still a cool ass vehicle. i have owned a few now.
 
crushers said:
humm, that might be a perfect engine for the low geared LJ78. they rev well and have a wicked reputation.
do you have any links to these swaps?
Click to expand...

Have these links as a Christmas present guys , hope you have enough computer time at your hands.

4×4 Labs
VW diesel swaps - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board
few more pics of my turbo diesel install - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board
TDI Conversions: Build Threads and Links to Swap Discussions - TDIClub Forums
4Runner TDI swap - TDIClub Forums
 
Here is how you do fast RHD to LHD conversion.:steer:Notice shaft for brake and gas pedal , bonus is after this conversion you can teach people how to drive off road.:doh::hmm:
129112988332833261a.jpg
 
After driving into a headwind for 2 hours was just scary specially up small hills. My EGT ran constantly close to 1000 and up hills... well speed had to drop to 70km/h and on a 110km/h highway. I was a bit of a safety hazard. I think I am at the point where I am either going to swap the headache of an engine or just get a different vehicle.

I was tinkering with the idea of the VW TDI engine but have come to the conclusion that it would not be a good swap. The torque is not very high and to power a heavier vehicle I think is just going to be as bad as the 2LTE

I have though about a KZ130 but finding that may be a pain.

it's really to bad I love the lj78 body but hate that engine.
 
if you love the body but are not happy with the engine then go HZJ77 or PZJ77 and call it a day. the HZ is more luxurious than the PZ, more power and WAY more expensive.
 
for the time, effort and funds it's a little more economical to just sell her and pick up a 80 series
 
Lee777 said:
I had thought about that but i think it would be tough to sell it without it running.

1PZ sounds interesting if I could find one

Lee
Click to expand...

I guess that would be a problem.

I weighed it out for a long while and I think I'm going to go that route and find myself a 97 FZJ80.
 
ive never heard if anyone has put a 22re in there, but that is what I would consider. they are plentiful from similar years of 4runners here. they move a 4runner just fine. they rev nice and ffuel consumption is not that bad.

you should be able to buy a running 4runner for 1500 and then put the two vehicles side by side and do the swap.
 
it has been suggested
and
the 22RE will be better on fuel, better performance and cheaper to fix...
 
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