Thinking about a diesel

[deanfj40]

So I have a 78 fj40 with no engine. The engine bay is pretty much empty so everything's going to new. I do have the original transmission, bellhousing and transfer case.
I don't have any knowledge on diesel engines so my question to you guys are which engine would be best to fit into my fj40. Im also limited on money so I can't go wild.
How much would/should a decent engine cost along with everything I'll need to get it running.
I do plan on doing the work myself.

Also if I buy a used one what should I look for to make sure it's not a bad engine

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Can't go wrong with a 3B.

 

[ozcrusier]

If I was in your shoes I would be looking at a half cut hj61 with the 12ht engine if that out off your price range try and find a rusty bj40 with good running gear to swap over.
Good luck

 

[AussieHJCruza]

I'd go a 12HT like @ozcrusier suggested or maybe a 13BT, 14B# or 15B#

 

[roscoFJ73]

. Im also limited on money so I can't go wild.
How much would/should a decent engine cost along with everything I'll need to get it running.
I do plan on doing the work myself.

You will need a budget. What do you expect out of a diesel swap?

 

[Vossie]

12HT all the way. just put on in my 45. EPIC. in my opinion, best diesel swap for an fj40.

it fits right in. if you can find 2H engine mounts then you dont have to do ANY cutting/welding. it mates up to the stock transmission, assuming you have an h41/h42. i currently have my h42 (4 speed) still on the back of my 12HT and its great. i will be putting in an H55 but only for the 5th gear for highway cruising.

its a dead easy motor to work on and install and even the electrical systems are very minimal, as in, all you need is a wire to the starter, a wire to the vacuum switching valve which lets the engine run, and thats it! ok, im over simplifying but not by much. it really is very basic electrically.

its also a beast. same power, more torque than a 2F or 1HZ and better fuel economy than both. plus its direct injection so if your in a warmer climate like me you dont even need any preheat. fires right up from cold first time every time.

not sure on market where you are, but i got mine for US$4000, which i am very happy with. i did make a mistake and not check the head for any water damage due to it sitting for years. so i had to have the head redone. $320. other than that, havnt spent another dime on it.

to sum up... 12HT, get it

 

[ozcrusier]

I agree with vossie 100% and if you want to send the truck they can make big Shetland ponies and still get remarkable fuel consumption

 

[deanfj40]

12HT all the way. just put on in my 45. EPIC. in my opinion, best diesel swap for an fj40.

it fits right in. if you can find 2H engine mounts then you dont have to do ANY cutting/welding. it mates up to the stock transmission, assuming you have an h41/h42. i currently have my h42 (4 speed) still on the back of my 12HT and its great. i will be putting in an H55 but only for the 5th gear for highway cruising.

its a dead easy motor to work on and install and even the electrical systems are very minimal, as in, all you need is a wire to the starter, a wire to the vacuum switching valve which lets the engine run, and thats it! ok, im over simplifying but not by much. it really is very basic electrically.

its also a beast. same power, more torque than a 2F or 1HZ and better fuel economy than both. plus its direct injection so if your in a warmer climate like me you dont even need any preheat. fires right up from cold first time every time.

not sure on market where you are, but i got mine for US$4000, which i am very happy with. i did make a mistake and not check the head for any water damage due to it sitting for years. so i had to have the head redone. $320. other than that, havnt spent another dime on it.

to sum up... 12HT, get it

sounds perfect for me then. I dont need the extra hassle and cost of buying a conversion kit. whats your mpg at and size tires? I curently have 31s. My uncle who gave me the 40 said he put highway gears in the diffs. Not sure on what the gearing is and now wondering if the extra power from a diesel engine and "highway gears" would make me high revv while on the highway?

 

[Vossie]

sounds perfect for me then. I dont need the extra hassle and cost of buying a conversion kit. whats your mpg at and size tires? I curently have 31s. My uncle who gave me the 40 said he put highway gears in the diffs. Not sure on what the gearing is and now wondering if the extra power from a diesel engine and "highway gears" would make me high revv while on the highway?

currently running 31s. im currently getting 8.5kms/L which works out to about 19 MPG in americanese. highway gears to me sound like 3.9 ratios. im currently on 4.11s but am going to stick with them for when i get my h55 five speed box. reason being im also planning on going to 33 tyres, and if you add 3.9 gears, 0.845 final drive out the tranny and 33 tyres, then it starts to lose some of the awesome torque down low that the 12HT puts out. currently, i can leave any 70 series and alot of 80 series cruisers for dust at the lights

for more info on the gearing and ratios, i have this thread

one thing i forgot to mention in my earlier post is that you will need the bell housing for the H series engines, ie, 2H, 12HT or 1HZ. you can still mate your original gearbox to it, like i did, but you need the diesel bell housing

what my engine bay looks like now:

 

[roma042987]

. My uncle who gave me the 40 said he put highway gears in the diffs. Not sure on what the gearing is and now wondering if the extra power from a diesel engine and "highway gears" would make me high revv while on the highway?

That statement doesn't make any sense. Highway gears would yield lower rpm.

currently running 31s. im currently getting 8.5kms/L which works out to about 19 MPG in americanese. highway gears to me sound like 3.9 ratios. im currently on 4.11s but am going to stick with them for when i get my h55 five speed box. reason being im also planning on going to 33 tyres, and if you add 3.9 gears, 0.845 final drive out the tranny and 33 tyres, then it starts to lose some of the awesome torque down low that the 12HT puts out. currently, i can leave any 70 series and alot of 80 series cruisers for dust at the lights

for more info on the gearing and ratios, i have this thread

one thing i forgot to mention in my earlier post is that you will need the bell housing for the H series engines, ie, 2H, 12HT or 1HZ. you can still mate your original gearbox to it, like i did, but you need the diesel bell housing

what my engine bay looks like now:
View attachment 1397434

vossie perhaps he has the 3.70 ratio gears which are the other common factory Toyota cruiser gears. I've never seen 3.9 ratios in a land cruiser before. Also the 1hz bellhousing is not common to 2h/12ht engines.

 

[Vossie]

That statement doesn't make any sense. Highway gears would yield lower rpm.



vossie perhaps he has the 3.70 ratio gears which are the other common factory Toyota cruiser gears. I've never seen 3.9 ratios in a land cruiser before. Also the 1hz bellhousing is not common to 2h/12ht engines.

you are correct sir. my bad. looks like a typo i made early on in my gear ratio thread and it stuck in my brain... now im gonna have to go back and correct all my spread sheets but thanks for bringing that up, hate it when i make a mistake.

i was under the impression the bell housing for all H series were the same? havnt had the chance to check it personally, but will when my h55 gets here. it comes out of a hzj70. thanks for that info and correction too

 

[roma042987]

you are correct sir. my bad. looks like a typo i made early on in my gear ratio thread and it stuck in my brain... now im gonna have to go back and correct all my spread sheets but thanks for bringing that up, hate it when i make a mistake.

i was under the impression the bell housing for all H series were the same? havnt had the chance to check it personally, but will when my h55 gets here. it comes out of a hzj70. thanks for that info and correction too

the hz is not in the same family as the 2h/12ht. The hz is the same as an 1hdt though. If you sourced an h55 from an hz it will also have the incorrect splined input shaft for your 12ht.

 

[Vossie]

the hz is not in the same family as the 2h/12ht. The hz is the same as an 1hdt though. If you sourced an h55 from an hz it will also have the incorrect splined input shaft for your 12ht.

ahh, right. but i should be able to use the clutch assembly from the hz? or are the bolt patterns all wrong. im currently using the clutch from my h42 for that exact reason

 

[cruizerbuddy]

obviously your best bet is a toyota diesel, especially on a budget. good luck finding a 12h. you'll be equally satisfied with a good running 3b imho.

 

[roma042987]

obviously your best bet is a toyota diesel, especially on a budget. good luck finding a 12h. you'll be equally satisfied with a good running 3b imho.

seriously!? who are you kidding?

 

[cruizerbuddy]

Explain your weak words please. Lame.

 

[roma042987]

Sorry if i came off a bit rude but "Toyota diesel"and "budget" shouldn't even be used in the same sentence taking the original posters usage of "budget" in context. Budget is a relative word so, if his budget is 4k or 40k it's technically still a budget. I guess we would need to know his actual budget to give a proper recommendation. Secondly a 3b is a far cry from a 12ht. Thats coming from someome thats had seat time in both. 12ht engines are certainly not abundant in the states but, they are certainly available. There is one on eBay that's been posted for nearly a year.

 

[roma042987]

ahh, right. but i should be able to use the clutch assembly from the hz? or are the bolt patterns all wrong. im currently using the clutch from my h42 for that exact reason

Not sure about pressure plate to flywheel bolt patterns but the shafts are certainly different lengths so you won't be able to mix and match those parts. The 2f/2h/12ht input shaft for the h55 is readily available from Toyota and isn't too big of a deal to swap out

 

[Vossie]

Not sure about pressure plate to flywheel bolt patterns but the shafts are certainly different lengths so you won't be able to mix and match those parts. The 2f/2h/12ht input shaft for the h55 is readily available from Toyota and isn't too big of a real to swap out

ja, im not too worried. i actually have a spare h55, the one that came with my 12HT. but it comes out of a coaster bus, so it doesnt have the long out put shaft which would enable me to put my transfer case on it. so worst case scenario is that i take the input shaft from that box and put it in the new h55 with the long output shaft. or vice versa.

do you know, did they lengthen or shorten the input shaft on the 1HZ vs the 12HT? just curious

 

[roma042987]

hz shaft is longer here you go

h55 h55f transmission input shaft swap