gilmorneau
SILVER Star
Inquiry sent.
Builds The "Red Rocket" Troopy (2 Viewers)
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Really sorry to hear about your crank man. No matter what you do you have to pull that engine. You might as well get on it.
I think as you dig you will find other damage. High temperatures I don't think would cause a cracked crank due to the fact that it's always splashing in engine oil. I don't think your10 PSI boost is going to cause that either. Unless you got it hot and rent it without oil too, you would have some spun bearings in that case. A little side playing those rod bearings is normal. What you're looking for is Play between the rod and the crank itself as in the bearing is worn out and spun. You may have dropped a tree cup due to it being cracked from heat had that jam between the piston and head causing a crack. I would think that would also been the connecting rod.
3B is also used in forklifts and is a dahatsu engine as well. You may very well be able to find another crankshaft but I think you're going to find other damage in that engine.
You have a very desirable lc. You may find someone on The forum willing to trade a good running but less desirable LC for your troopy as is. I'd consider trading you mine for yours but I don't need another project right now.
I think as you dig you will find other damage. High temperatures I don't think would cause a cracked crank due to the fact that it's always splashing in engine oil. I don't think your10 PSI boost is going to cause that either. Unless you got it hot and rent it without oil too, you would have some spun bearings in that case. A little side playing those rod bearings is normal. What you're looking for is Play between the rod and the crank itself as in the bearing is worn out and spun. You may have dropped a tree cup due to it being cracked from heat had that jam between the piston and head causing a crack. I would think that would also been the connecting rod.
3B is also used in forklifts and is a dahatsu engine as well. You may very well be able to find another crankshaft but I think you're going to find other damage in that engine.
You have a very desirable lc. You may find someone on The forum willing to trade a good running but less desirable LC for your troopy as is. I'd consider trading you mine for yours but I don't need another project right now.
- Thread starter
- #643
Local 3B guy said no, he’s wanting to keep it incase he ever wants to return his cruiser to original. Time for things to get expensive 
Pretty much an expected outcome.
Buy a Corolla while in college.
Buy a Corolla while in college.
3B's are out there , you just have to find them . I had one sitting here for quite some time and sold it only last month to a Mud member in Austin . Just keep your eyes open and something will pop up .......once you have one keep looking for a cheap spare just to male sure you will never need another one.
gilmorneau
SILVER Star
Heard back from the guy I thought might have a 13b-t available, and while he has some, he says he's "not really anxious" to part with any of them. He says he does have "several" running 3B's available, though. I don't have any idea of condition, pricing or delivery time. PM me and I'll put the two of you in touch if you want to pursue it.
He also suggested you might just need a new crank and a good rebuild kit. He has sources for both.
He also suggested you might just need a new crank and a good rebuild kit. He has sources for both.
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2004
- Threads
- 200
- Messages
- 12,479
- Location
- Boise - Idaho
- Website
- www.snlandcruisers.com
Why not just buy a beater? Anything from a Prius to a subaru to an old 4runner?
I personally would not mess with putting a 4cyl diesel back in it. Back burner the truck when you can do a proper engine, trade it for an 80 or 60 or just sell it.
Cheers
I personally would not mess with putting a 4cyl diesel back in it. Back burner the truck when you can do a proper engine, trade it for an 80 or 60 or just sell it.
Cheers
I think the young lad is rather attached to his Troopy which is admirable.
Hell I am attached to that troopy! I wish I had one haha. I also think its awesome he is doing all that work himself. Not to sound like the oldest man ever but when I was that age I was still learning most of the basics. I cut my teeth on a 22re powered 1986 4runner that blew up in a similar fashion and I wish I had kept it too. Very admirable!I think the young lad is rather attached to his Troopy which is admirable.
gilmorneau
SILVER Star
Exactly. Let the man love on his car. That car has given him a lot.
- Thread starter
- #651
I've thought that many times, the car market right now is just absolutely bonkers. an old 4runner would probably be as much as that 1HDft that just came up for sale in the classifieds, or an old subaru i could get for cheaper and then probably pay close to what the 4runner would've been worth in repairs. Prius is a great idea, just still really expensive compared to the prices I'm used to seeing like 2 years ago.
Nailed itI think the young lad is rather attached to his Troopy which is admirable.
Yea I am a bit attached, went all over the country in it and many many other places in between. Not to mention all the great people I've met because of it. That being said, this troopy has quite a fair share of rust in the body, like a lot... that was crappily repaired in France to look great just long enough for some poor sucker to buy it in the states. Now 2 years into ownership its really coming back STRONG. I was planning on showing it off once I got more comfortable with body work/welding but it seems that an engine is now quite a priority now. What I'm getting at is that people are scared by rust, really really scared. I really don't know if anyone would want to trade their 60 for a troopy that has no engine and a fair share of rust.
Basically, if I were to buy a beater I'd rather just buy an engine for that price or throw another grand or 2 into the price of a beater to get a solid engine. I really would like a 14B, I also had the fact of putting BACK in a 3B, absolutely hate it, if that local guy would've been willing to part ways then I would have because it would have been just so easy and I would've still been able to pull off the trip to Montana. Now I have no clue how long it'll take for a 3B to get here for time will tell.
- Thread starter
- #652
In other words I'm taking this engine out ASAP, regardless of when I get an engine. I have everything unbolted and all the electrical undone that needs to be. Just need an engine hoist... and who knows maybe I can just replace the crank, bearings, etc, and be on my way. The head and everything up was redone like 60,000 miles ago by the PO, don't know about pistons or anything but I had good compression last time I did a test and it never has troubles starting.
I think the young lad is rather attached to his Troopy which is admirable.
Hello,
I agree.
He passed that point where sentimental value far exceeds the dollar value.
The 3B was used in Daihatsu trucks. There should be at least one out there for parts.
Time to get a Corolla for college while funds and parts become available for the 3B repair.
I would not sell or swap that Troopy. Sale/swap remorse is painful.
Juan
The story of your adventures with this Troopy will only get better over time. Something tells me that wouldn’t be the case with a Subaru or Prius. 
I would definitely NOT reuse that block unless you get it line-bored to make sure it's straight before you throw another crank into it.
- Thread starter
- #657
Thank you, I am too, gotta figure something out. Agree that a subaru or pris wont do as much for memories but also as for a prius, I could just get a good engine, a subaru (which is about to blow a head gasket) I could just get a good engine. if the car market was the way it was 2 years ago then yea maybe sure but now it doesn't make sense.
I think you
I really think you're going to find more damage in that block once you start taking it apart. Take it as a learning point you got the opportunity to take that engine apart and see what got trashed. Some creative searching on Alibaba and some chatting with a young Chinese girl that doesn't speak much English might land your brand new crank by first week of July for around 500 bucks. I just think you're going to find more wrong in the engine.
I'm going to send you a pm about a cheap used car.
FJBen
SILVER Star
Man, tough one.
I wouldn’t want to slap it back together with a broken crank. Just a knock and spin bearing, yeah but the crank I’m guessing there is a lot more wrong. That’s a machine shop job for sure to make sure everything is right.
At this point, unless you can find a cheap 3b I’d be looking at a different swap. That engine is just so under powered as you know.
The problem you have is you’ve got a B series transmission. So swapping to 1HZ/1hdt will necessitate an input shaft swap at the very least along with motormounts, radiator swap. Swaps will always cost more than you think. Tons of little things.
The easiest is to find another 3b/13bt/14bt or an awesome 15bt. All “bolt in”
Every other swap will need modded to various degrees. I think a 2uz would be amazing in a troopy. That engine rocks in my tundra and they are pretty cheap Becuase well they don’t break down and not a lot of people need them. That said it would take more work than a ls swap.
I wouldn’t ditch the troopy. The prices have any sky rocketed and chances of finding another is really slim. Especially a LHD troopy. I regret cruisers I’ve sold.
As for the commuter, they are out there you just have to find the deals and jump on them. I just picked up a 98 jetta tdi 5 speed for 1200. That’s minimum 45mpg and cheap parts. 14” rims lol.
No headgasket crap.
If you can get a 3b cheap and quick, do it. If not, long term plan what you want that troopy to be. Lots of swaps have been done and and the pitfalls have been well documented.
Now something I would take a serious look at swap wise IF you go down that route, is the Isuzu 4bd1t. Pretty cheap really to find. Strong, reliable Tons of support and parts and I believe still adapters for the h55f. That would be the thing to check into imo.
Good luck, let me know if I can help.
I wouldn’t want to slap it back together with a broken crank. Just a knock and spin bearing, yeah but the crank I’m guessing there is a lot more wrong. That’s a machine shop job for sure to make sure everything is right.
At this point, unless you can find a cheap 3b I’d be looking at a different swap. That engine is just so under powered as you know.
The problem you have is you’ve got a B series transmission. So swapping to 1HZ/1hdt will necessitate an input shaft swap at the very least along with motormounts, radiator swap. Swaps will always cost more than you think. Tons of little things.
The easiest is to find another 3b/13bt/14bt or an awesome 15bt. All “bolt in”
Every other swap will need modded to various degrees. I think a 2uz would be amazing in a troopy. That engine rocks in my tundra and they are pretty cheap Becuase well they don’t break down and not a lot of people need them. That said it would take more work than a ls swap.
I wouldn’t ditch the troopy. The prices have any sky rocketed and chances of finding another is really slim. Especially a LHD troopy. I regret cruisers I’ve sold.
As for the commuter, they are out there you just have to find the deals and jump on them. I just picked up a 98 jetta tdi 5 speed for 1200. That’s minimum 45mpg and cheap parts. 14” rims lol.
No headgasket crap.
If you can get a 3b cheap and quick, do it. If not, long term plan what you want that troopy to be. Lots of swaps have been done and and the pitfalls have been well documented.
Now something I would take a serious look at swap wise IF you go down that route, is the Isuzu 4bd1t. Pretty cheap really to find. Strong, reliable Tons of support and parts and I believe still adapters for the h55f. That would be the thing to check into imo.
Good luck, let me know if I can help.
LuckyDevil
SILVER Star
Oh man! And I thought I was having troubles! I still am!! Just changed the starter cause it died. Let me know if you need my garage. We both may need to pull our engines. We could definitely get a engine hoist. I'll text you later. I did get the diesel purge. But not very helpful now. If we could find me a good engine I'll sell you mine and we could rebuild it.
Last edited:
