hey all, i have been looking into taking an 84-87 toyota pickup and converting it to a diesel engine. It would be the ultimate wheeler with plenty of torque and be able to bed a daily driver and get better mileage than any 22 series engine could. But i am struggling with the choice of engines. I first thought that butting a 2.0L vw TDi engine in it would be perfect, but i heard some people say it would not work because its designed for a car and not the RPM range that i would use it at, and this made me skeptical. I then looked into a D-4D toyota diesel and i read up on them on this forum and most of you weren't too impressed with them it seemed. Someone suggested a 4 cylinder cummins but they only had 104 horse and that seems grossly underpowered to me. SO i want to see what you guys suggest, thanks I appreciate you're help!
toyota diesel conversion
- Thread starter garret593
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The only jetta TDI that I ever laid hands on in a pick-up was cool in the drive way but weak on the street. A 4BT Cummins would be plenty of power for a pick-up, but heavier that a small block & require a total redesign of your truck. I really wanted a toyota diesel until I got one. I thought that maybe I just found someone else's problem so I tried again, and now I can tell you that toyota H engines are an absolute dumpster fire. I know a couple of 3B's around here that seem to be OK.
You should look here:
Diesel Tech and 24 volts Systems
These guys can help, if you think that is a good idea.
You should look here:
Diesel Tech and 24 volts Systems
These guys can help, if you think that is a good idea.
- Thread starter
- #3
ok thanks, and the TDi just didnt have the pep that it has in the cars? might be because of the gearing they put into the cars i guess. what engine did your first Toyota diesel have? was it the 2.4L diesel that Toyota put out? and thanks i like the 3B as a potential candidate. How do the 3B's you see hold up?
1pz .3b,are good engine no lt series lots of probleme,tdi with proper gear should be great but i dont know much about it,mercedes diesel can be good to,good luck.
- Thread starter
- #5
yeah i thought a tdi should be able to handle it with a regearing, but thanks for the info. i appreciate it
Hey I got a 2.4 toyota deisel complet set up was going to put into my 86 toyota custom cab but deside to go 4.3 vortex supercharged. I got the toyota deisel tran and everything you need for the motor. if you name it i got it for the motor to be a easy drop in and go.
I am deployed so my motor and truck sitting at my dads house hes in Northern California. I am lucky to have a cool dad to put it all together for me while i am gone. if you want to see my custom cab go to the rig page.
My cousin has same motor in his two wheel drive yota and loves it.
I am deployed so my motor and truck sitting at my dads house hes in Northern California. I am lucky to have a cool dad to put it all together for me while i am gone. if you want to see my custom cab go to the rig page.
My cousin has same motor in his two wheel drive yota and loves it.
one thing ive heard of people doing (more of w 1/2 ton chevvys) is buying one of the isuzu motors out of the little panel trucks (uhaul and produce moving companies use them), and installing them in smaller vehicles- i know there is a company that specializes in making conversion kits that allow you to mate those motors to the tranny of pretty much any smaller truck or suv. ive heard that those motors in will pull 30mpg when installed in a 1/2 ton truck, but will believe that when i see it in person- either way, when im no longer a broke college kid id like to try it w my 4runner
When I needed to rebuild or replace the 3VZ in my 4Runner, I looked long and hard at doing a Toyota 2LT-E conversion. The only blocks I could find (2L, 2L-T, and 2LT-E) were very high kilometers (400k +) all needed to be rebuilt and the sellers wanted a mint for them. ($4000, though in some cases, they would have included the rebuild kit for the motor).
I decided to stay away from a toyota diesel because of parts availablity in the boonies (read: None).
I think the Cummins 4BT would be a little too tall for a toyota truck especially if it still has the IFS. If you have a SAS'd truck then it might be a bit more manageable.
There is the Cummins B3 3.3 liter that might be easier to fit. Its 85 hp but makes 215 ft/lbs if torque, which is about the same as what the 5VZ-FE makes...
International makes a 2.8 liter 4 cylinder diesel which would be a good candidate, but I have no idea where to source one.
I decided to stay away from a toyota diesel because of parts availablity in the boonies (read: None).
I think the Cummins 4BT would be a little too tall for a toyota truck especially if it still has the IFS. If you have a SAS'd truck then it might be a bit more manageable.
There is the Cummins B3 3.3 liter that might be easier to fit. Its 85 hp but makes 215 ft/lbs if torque, which is about the same as what the 5VZ-FE makes...
International makes a 2.8 liter 4 cylinder diesel which would be a good candidate, but I have no idea where to source one.
I think Luke at 4x4 labs might be who you are thinking of.