What is the most common Toyota diesel engine in Canada?

[IanB]

If this is for a show car where you're looking to have something unique, and kickass, but easily serviceable, I'm gonna say again, stick a big, greasy Cummins in there and go for attention, lol. It's a one wire motor, so all the shop time is spent on motor mounts, driveline fitting, etc.

If you are fine with undersized but highly economical, you could look into doing a VW TDI swap as well, LOTS of room left over in that engine bay, and they can make pretty decent power with some mods. And widely available.

 

[kevinh]

Hi IanB,
Oh no no, not a show car, but I do want to drive to the car shows and see the angry / disgusted faces
Got one guy on the el camino central forums a bit ticked off or confused why I want a diesel in a such a nice car.
But yes, also I want something unique

Do you have a preference between the 4bt and 6bt?
I'm 6bt is sooo heavy, and I'm reading that the 4bt can be modded to have a lot more horsepower (but I don't mind if it has less acceleration then my 2013 dodge caravan)

I am talking to a guy in Montreal who did a cummins swap in his 50's pontiac.
Hopeing to get some information from him or maybe see if he would take on a paid project.

IanB, can you think of anyone who would take on the project in Ontario?
(one of those cummins for sure of the OM617 if I want to mess around with vegetable oil haha - but seriously I don't mind paying for proper diesel fuel at the pump).


Cheers!
Kevin

 

[Douglas S]

I'd be looking at 6.2/6.5, those engines were made as SBC drop in replacements.

 

[handcannon]

I think a diesel in a 69 El Camino would be unique. I have 1994 Chevy K2500 with the 6.5, and I love it. You need to be aware that the 6.2/6.5 indirect injection is a light duty motor, but with the correct set up and modifications it can be a real good motor. However, with all the needed modifications you would be up there cost wise, depending on the original cost of the motor before dumping money for the mods. Either way, NA or Turbo would be good. Another web site for the 6.2/6.5 is The Truck Stop

A really unique motor would be the new Cummins 2.8 direct injection diesel. It is an I-4 motor and has been in use overseas for a few years, but it has just been brought into the States. It is a complete drop in motor with all electronics included, and 50 states compliant (not sure about Canada). You would start with an all new motor. The big problem is that it isn't cheap. I'm not real sure on the price, but it seems like I have heard it to be in the neighborhood of 7-8K (US dollars). I've seen u-tube videos of it put into Jeep CJ's, and was impressed with it.

Don

 

[kevinh]

I'd be looking at 6.2/6.5, those engines were made as SBC drop in replacements.

Thanks Doublas S, for your vote for the 6.2/6.5!
I read GTSSportCoupe's link about the 6.5 and it seems to have relaxed my worry about that engine. It looks like the engine just needs to be take care of and taken to a knowledgeable mechanic

I think a diesel in a 69 El Camino would be unique. I have 1994 Chevy K2500 with the 6.5, and I love it. You need to be aware that the 6.2/6.5 indirect injection is a light duty motor, but with the correct set up and modifications it can be a real good motor. However, with all the needed modifications you would be up there cost wise, depending on the original cost of the motor before dumping money for the mods. Either way, NA or Turbo would be good. Another web site for the 6.2/6.5 is The Truck Stop

A really unique motor would be the new Cummins 2.8 direct injection diesel. It is an I-4 motor and has been in use overseas for a few years, but it has just been brought into the States. It is a complete drop in motor with all electronics included, and 50 states compliant (not sure about Canada). You would start with an all new motor. The big problem is that it isn't cheap. I'm not real sure on the price, but it seems like I have heard it to be in the neighborhood of 7-8K (US dollars). I've seen u-tube videos of it put into Jeep CJ's, and was impressed with it.

Don

Hey handcannon (nice nickname! haha , okay, thanks for telling me about the engines being "light duty," I wonder what a 4bt is considered...hmm.

6.2/6.5's are pretty cheap? I guess I would be better off getting the whole car for the swap.
How do you find maintenance costs? I'm guessing it would be less than a 4bt?

Great, I will look up that link you shared

Oh yes, I saw a video about a engine swap with the cummins R2.8. Good weight and good horsepower! And it would, like you said, be a new engine! I'm not sure on price either, the cummins website said 9K USD I think, but some other online stores said a complete one was 13,700 USD.

(US Engine Production! Manufacture Ford - Cummins - Marine - Cummins Engines)

I think that engine option would make me have to wait and save up for another year
(maybe less).


Thanks for the posts guys! I'm glad I asked the original question on these forums. What an awesome community!

Cheers,
Kevin

 

[handcannon]

The 4BT is a tall motor, same as the Cummins 6 cyl. motors used in the Dodge pickups (both medium duty). Do some very careful checking before planning to use one in the El Camino. I'm sure that you will have to make a new hood, at the least.

1994 started the electronic IP's in the 6.5, so if you go this route get a mechanical IP as it will be MUCH easier swapping in. If you don't mind spending a little more money to get the upgraded block (3-4K) get a military take out 6.5, or a 6.2 with the earlier style block for about half that. Search the website I gave for military take outs. They are generally in good shape. I don't remember the company names, but there are two places that have these motors. One is in Utah, the other I think is in Alabama, or somewhere in the Gulf Coast States. With a military motor you will have to change it to 12V (IP, starter, and alternator).

Don

 

[kevinh]

The 4BT is a tall motor, same as the Cummins 6 cyl. motors used in the Dodge pickups (both medium duty). Do some very careful checking before planning to use one in the El Camino. I'm sure that you will have to make a new hood, at the least.

1994 started the electronic IP's in the 6.5, so if you go this route get a mechanical IP as it will be MUCH easier swapping in. If you don't mind spending a little more money to get the upgraded block (3-4K) get a military take out 6.5, or a 6.2 with the earlier style block for about half that. Search the website I gave for military take outs. They are generally in good shape. I don't remember the company names, but there are two places that have these motors. One is in Utah, the other I think is in Alabama, or somewhere in the Gulf Coast States. With a military motor you will have to change it to 12V (IP, starter, and alternator).

Don

The guy who did the 4bt swap into a 1950's pontiac sent me this blog on a 4bt swap into a camaro..... not sure how a camaro compares to a 1969 El camino....

1969 Pro Touring Chevrolet Camaro - Rockin' Collaboration


Oh also thanks, I went to the link you sent me handcannon and found the company selling 6.2 engines that were used by the usa army.

Boyce Equipment

I'm going to research more how the engines differ (civilian vs military)


Thanks!

 

[kevinh]

Found this recently, a blog on a 6.2 L into a 5th gen/G body El camino

dieselcamino

I need to find out if the engine way is smaller in the older years or newer years.

 

[handcannon]

Thank you for that link to the 1969 Pro Touring Camaro. That really brings back the memories. I had a 1969 Camaro, and the same color as that one. Mine had a black vinyl top, black interior, bucket seats, console and four speed. It had a stock GM 307 cube motor, 2 barrel carb, and didn't have the hood scoop or spoiler on the trunk lid. It had only 13K miles on it when I bought it. It had just the right amount of looks with the right amount of conservative get up and go for this poor kid. I could actually get up to 20 MPG out of it, and I got just around $3 an hour at that time. I feel very fortunate to have been able to own something like that. I just wish I still had it as it was fun to drive. But you know kids, they are only satisfied for a short time, and then have to change things.

Don

 

[handcannon]

I just finished reading the whole blog that was linked about the El Camino. I found it very interesting. Now I know that the 6.2/6.5 with turbo will fit, just barely, and with some modifications. The one thing never really addressed was which head was used, 6.2 or 6.5. The big difference between the two is in the injector angle. The 6.2 head and injectors will just barely fit with the 6.5 exhaust manifold for the turbo set up, with extra gaskets. Whereas the 6.5 heads with a slightly different angle for the injectors is no problem with the 6.5 turbo exhaust manifold.

My pickup currently has a 6.2 block and bottom end with the 6.5 heads. There may be a difference seen if it was put on a dyno, but with the butt dyno I can't tell a difference. I had no choice but to use the hybrid motor if I wanted to continue driving the pickup. The 6.5 was still running, surprisingly, but with a loose wrist pin and some badly scored cylinders I found I had no choice. I found a used 6.2 that I could afford with my current financial situation, combined the older 6.2 and my 6.5 turbo, and I have a running pickup.

Don

 

[kevinh]

Hey handcannon/Don,

I'm so happy you liked those two links!
Wow you owned one cool car!

So you are liking your 6.2?

hmm, I need to do a better google search, I have this bad recall (in memory) that the A body is bigger than the G body that the blog poster used for the diesel engine swap (as I will be using an older El Camino).

 

[handcannon]

Yes, I definitely like my 6.2/6.5 hybrid. I like the 6.2 or 6.5 in general. The motor has it's problems, but if you spend some time learning all about them the aftermarket has fixes for almost everything considered a problem. The biggest thing going for them is that they are probably the cheapest diesel motor to work on, get parts for. Parts are not hard to come by. Also, since they use all the SBC bolt patterns almost every transmission made for the SBC will bolt up to them. Now, it may not be a good idea to try putting some things on a diesel motor because many items were not designed to work with diesel motors. But, the beauty of the motor is that the US military used them, so even some mil surplus parts are out there.

As far as the El Camino goes, I'm not familiar enough with them to know if the older or newer body styles had bigger/smaller engine compartments. The big thing to remember is that if you do use an older body style what the guy in the video went through could easily be totally different.

Don