4.2 diesel questions

[ed604]

This is absolutely wonderful feedback,

Luis, I must have spent 2 hours reading about your wonderful adventures!

I have to say that I certainly have a bad case of wanderlust right now.
how have you found fueling availability in south america?

I am going out to drive a diesel 80 this week end so I hope to have some "seat time" so I can have a feel for what the vehicle(engine) drives like.

thanks again for the feedback.

Ed

 

[esh]

Since it sounds like you're not decided, I'll add a bit more.

I think I see a trend.. everyone wants to go 65mph? There is a dramatic difference between even 57mph vs 63mph. I have been driving a lot near 55 just from the decrease in cabin noise and a feel that the truck is at ease around that speed. Makes trips more relaxing for me. The turbo on an HZ with just factory level boost (7-9psi) seems to help the engine along comfortably. Of course it took at least a year before I stopped wanting to hear the turbo spool and be easier on the go pedal. I think it is natural after having years of underpowered Land Cruisers to have a novelty of actually going as fast as you want, when you want. :smiley_drive:

I am better for knowing and becoming good friends with Kevin @ wagongear.com. We have done a few trips together now and from getting to know his setup and approach, it has been so much better building an interior for sleep and maximizing storage space. Getting weight low and traveling without a rack has been a minor but noticeable help with economy and wind resistance/power response.

Everyone has their parameters for travel and resulting setup, and the smallest needs can mean a lot with how you approach outfitting a truck. My rules are save weight and increase simplicity whenever practical. I'm not giving up my 4x4Labs sliders or rear bumper, but I do want to build a lighter new front bumper and use synth winch cable. I will also be swapping my 22gal tank for a 40gal, and probably will find a FF rear axle to better handle the extra weight.

Start reading the diesel forum on ih8mud. Search for the mileage thread. Get on wikipedia and see the HZ line has been longest in production than any Land Cruiser motor, and thereby enjoys great availability in parts and familiarity. Many parts are available from dealers in N.A, and some cross from the 1FZ. It is nowhere near the motor that the 1HD-T is, and I still wouldn't turn down an HD-T if the situation was right.


Above all, take the anecdotes with a grain of salt. You don't know all the parameters involved in my or anybody else's setup or driving habits.

 

[lostworldexpedition]

I agree with Esh.

Thanks for reading about our trip Ed. I hope that you can follow through with that wanderlust you now have. We really have enjoyed the last 2 years and like I mentioned; the 12HT we swapped into the FJ60 has made a huge difference, gobs of power, I have fallen in love with the sound of the engine and turbo, and we get anywhere from 18 to 20 mpg on a ridiculously loaded FJ60 . With our 40 gallon tank that gives us a lot of freedom of movement. Mind you, it has also been ages since I drove past 60mph, it just isn't safe down here. On some of the roads down here you rarely see the needle go above 40!

As for fuel... It has been readily and easily accessible so far (we've been through Mexico, every country in Central America, but only Colombia and Ecuador in SA). Here in Ecuador diesel is a buck a gallon! Diesel in latin america so far has been as dirty as a mangy dog. We have a redundant filter, a racor water separator with a see through bucket you can purge... You should see the stuff that comes out when we purge it.

I should repeat that I am not saying you must go out and swap a diesel into an 80/60 in order to drive the Americas (Dave Connors had a wonderful trip on a gasser 80). If you do the swap it will cost upwards of 10 grand for a 1HZ, 12ht or a 1HDT.

I would not personally take the venerable 1HZ without a turbo. Maybe in Africa, but not here in SA. We have not driven at less than 10000 feet altitude in 3 to 4 months a naturally aspirated diesel might suffer a bit... I am no expert (obviously).

BTW in the last post I said we've driven 50k miles and I meant 50k km!

Good luck and let us know what you do.

 

[1leglance]

having driven my 1HZ without a turbo in the mountains a couple of times now I would agree that for South America I would want a turbo !!!

 

[esh]

Another good thread for 80 series transplants-

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/365794-diesel-transplanted-80-series-registry.html

 

[ed604]

Well I got some seat time in a 94 4.5 this weekend. I really think this is going to be the right vehicle for my trip. It is a bit of a shock going from a 6.2l raptor to the 4.5l in terms of power, but power is nowhere near my main focus. I was pleased with the truck in the short time of my test drive. Suspension was a little soft because the guy had removed the sway bars. I definetly think that for my trip I will not run a wide tire either, you really feel the ruts with the wider tires, it had been a while scince I last drove 35 X 12.5 (I think I am saying that right) the fuel milage probably goes down as well. Anyways I will post more feedback on the 4.2l this week as I have set up a drive of another 94 but with the diesel.

cheers,
Ed

 

[cweight]

Every single person (5 or 6 now, with his thread) I have met who has driven a 1HZ down in SA says that you should get a turbo. I am curious, is there anyone who disagrees with this? (and who has driven one down there!)

I know the general arguments for/against turboing a 1HZ, but am nevertheless considering one simply because we plan to spend well over a year in SA and I have heard tales of 1HZ engines JUST barely getting over high passes.

I assume that running a 1HZ in those conditions is essentially flogging the engine (can anyone authoritatively confirm/deny that?) - if so, cautiously turboeing and driving gently could actually be better for the engine than sticking with naturally aspirated for this trip. That might just be the excuse I have been looking for for adding a turbo. Does anyone else buy this argument?

 

[Rubiclone]

Just my experiance. I have two landcruisers, one has the 1hz in it. it is perfectly fine for high passes offroad and everything, i just drove it on a 13,000 km roadtrip without any problems. Most of which was over high passes and gravel roads in alaska (to deadhorse). I also have a 1HD-T while the fuel economy is quite a bit better it is expensive. I did the diesel swap so now i have a LHD 80 series with a 1HD-T. Its awsome. I get about 550 KM in town (no highway) and with the 1HZ i was getting about 270 MILES on a tank on the highways. I must add however that the gas one weighed 7,000 lbs whereas the diesel right now is only sitting at about 5,000 lbs. Both vehicles have the exact same tires, and size, lift and everything. If you can get a diesel get it. The swap isnt hard. The electrical work is, but there are guys on the island that will do the electrical for you if you do all the mechanical work (the fun stuff).

 

[1leglance]

you can live without a turbo and do ok...
but as I found recently in New Mexico you might need to learn how to adjust the injection pump timing (easy) in order to get it to start or to keep you from using too much fuel.
Basically you are short on air vs fuel at altitude, a turbo on mild boost makes up for that.
I would not run very much boost and of course the driver and the awareness of the machine makes all the difference

 

[ed604]

Rubiclone,

The left hand drive with the 1hd-t is exactly what I would like to go for. With passing, and the restrictions on the rhd vehicles in SA I would want the left hand drive. but, you have the best of both worlds.

I was surprised to hear that the gas motor weighs more than the diesel. If I can find a motor I would also be open to doing that swap. I think that diesels and turbo charging go hand in hand. I am sure that there are lots of experts on the forum who can make a better case about that than I, but I myself would go for the Turbo for many reasons.

I guess it all works out to how much $

looking forward to driving the 1hd-t

ed

 

[77cruiser77]

interested in hearing what you think. never been behind a hd-t myself. Own a 1HZ now and had a 12HT in my last sixty and loved that engine. With the 12HT I was getting between 25 - 30 mpg

 

[Rubiclone]

Rubiclone,

The left hand drive with the 1hd-t is exactly what I would like to go for. With passing, and the restrictions on the rhd vehicles in SA I would want the left hand drive. but, you have the best of both worlds.

I was surprised to hear that the gas motor weighs more than the diesel. If I can find a motor I would also be open to doing that swap. I think that diesels and turbo charging go hand in hand. I am sure that there are lots of experts on the forum who can make a better case about that than I, but I myself would go for the Turbo for many reasons.

I guess it all works out to how much $

looking forward to driving the 1hd-t

ed

I should have been more specific, it wasnt the engine itself that made the weight difference it was the whole vehicle. One had a rear tire carrier and was weighed with camping gear and onboard water supply. which needs to be taken into consideration with fuel economy. the diesel is awsome to drive though, i have a 3? exhaust coming out the side, and it sounds like a big cummins diesel on take off but quiet on the highway

 

[ed604]

well, I have had a good test drive and I have to say that I much prefer the 1hd-t over the 4.5 gas.

the torque down low makes the throttle response seem much more lively. there is ample power for my needs. the motor itself has a nice sound, not too loud but still a diesel.

I took it on a very steep long hill and I had constant exceleration up the hill with 5 people in the truck. love the sound of the turbo under load.

the fellow who owns it says he is getting about 550km city driving to a tank. I forgot to ask how big the tank is.

I didn't like driving on the right, I didn't think that I would but you have to try for yourself to really know.So, looks like I am going to research motor swaps. I don't know if I could even find a motor or how much $ it is but I will find out. That motor in the 80 seams like a better fit than the gas to me. the 4.5 could not maintain steady acceleration up the steep hill and seemed to struggle to turn the 35 in tires. the 1hd had no trouble with the 35 in at all.

I sure like that motor in this truck. but I do admit to being a "diesel guy" I think that I will do some more resarch into the fuel filter requirements as well.

cheers,
Ed

 

[Laxaholic]

I have a 2001 Land Cruiser with the gas v8. How difficult would it be to swap in a diesel? What motors would every one be on the look out for?

 

[60Dan]

Im currently swapping in a 1996 1HDFT 5 speed into my 80 series LC. I didnt see it covered here so thought I would mention it. Basically the same as the 1HDT but 24valve instead of 12. A little more power, but not that noticeable.
Not to be confused with the 1HDFTE that has electronic fuel injection, the 1HDFT is still mechanical like the 1HDT which I like.

Im doing it mostly because Im a diesel junky and make my own fuel at home :sombrero:

Longevity, easy to work on, better mileage and at a push can run other fuels such as kerosene, Jet fuel, ATF, veggie oil etc etc makes it a truly all purpose, all terrain multi-fuel platform. Dont forget, if its power your wanting, adding an intercooler really wakes these engines up too.

Anyway, thought I would mention the 1HDFT, post up what you decide to go with - oh and we want pictures!!!