It's done! 3.0-liter turbo-diesel FJ60 from TLC

[jingram]

Anymore word out of TLC on this kit? Has it been decided that it will be a one off or is a production product still planned?

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Bman, sorry for the late reply: No, we did not need wheel spacers. The offset was fine for the 60.

On the kit, we don't know and haven't heard anything recently. TLC, as you can imagine, has been dealing with an economy that hit the expensive toy market hard. I will say that the company seems to be concentrating much more heavily on high-horsepower facsimiles of classic 4WD vehicles (first Land Cruisers, now flat-fender Jeeps) than on diesel swaps.

 

[jingram]

Which, in and of itself, seems a bit odd. Their new CJ3B and the various f40 iterations of the icon, while amazing vehicles, are clearly very niche products for those with the means to purchase them. If I remember correctly the CJ3B starts at $79,000.

Clearly it must be profitable or there wouldn't be such a focus on it, but one would think that with a kit hammered out and put into production, the profitability model would be pretty damn high. Especially since so much of the production of motor mounts etc, can be CNC machined.

Oh well... figured I would check on the status. Thanks for the info Jonathan.

 

[day42]

Roseann & Jonathan, your FJ60 is incredible and I want one now, more than ever. Continued fun and good luck in that awesome vehicle, and please keep us updated on the status of that possible kit from TLC. They do some sweet work.

 

[DesertRose]

Roseann & Jonathan, your FJ60 is incredible and I want one now, more than ever. Continued fun and good luck in that awesome vehicle, and please keep us updated on the status of that possible kit from TLC. They do some sweet work.

Thanks! I love the 60 - and the engine, too. Same cost as a new vehicle, but cooler because it's retro. Still having some transmission issues but my nephew is going to pull it and see what's up - it's really really hard to shift into first and third (as in sometimes it takes two hands for me to push it into first) and it's not just "break in."

But it's proven itself in backcountry Mexico already.

 

[jingram]

Sorry to resurect a dead thread, but whatever happened with TLC swap kit. Did TLC decide this wasn't worth their time and it ended up being a one off or are they still working on it? Any ideas?

 

[DesertRose]

Sorry to resurect a dead thread, but whatever happened with TLC swap kit. Did TLC decide this wasn't worth their time and it ended up being a one off or are they still working on it? Any ideas?

Glad you resurrected it! I'll see if TLC is still on the forum here and will put a call in but as far as we know the kit didn't happen unfortunately; bad timing with the economy and all. The install was not easy, either, so maybe they are still working it out. They also came out with other product in their ICON line around the same time and focused on that.

 

[Klierslc]

What ended up being the issue with the engine?

 

[Grease Cruiser]

What ended up being the issue with the engine?

For starters, it's an engine that is not readily available in the US. They were built to order out of Brazil. You had to pay up front for it and then wait 6-8 weeks for the engine to be made.

Another issue is parts. TLC had issues even trying to find maintenance parts like oil filters. Try finding a starter or an alternator or let alone an injection pump for one of these engines. Again....pre order and wait for them to be built.

 

[Klierslc]

For starters, it's an engine that is not readily available in the US. They were built to order out of Brazil. You had to pay up front for it and then wait 6-8 weeks for the engine to be made.

Another issue is parts. TLC had issues even trying to find maintenance parts like oil filters. Try finding a starter or an alternator or let alone an injection pump for one of these engines. Again....pre order and wait for them to be built.

I meant when it got sent back in to TLC for Head gasket issues. Just wondered if they identified the fault.

 

[DesertRose]

For starters, it's an engine that is not readily available in the US. They were built to order out of Brazil. You had to pay up front for it and then wait 6-8 weeks for the engine to be made.

Another issue is parts. TLC had issues even trying to find maintenance parts like oil filters. Try finding a starter or an alternator or let alone an injection pump for one of these engines. Again....pre order and wait for them to be built.

It's a fantastic engine ~ the same engine being put into Ford Rangers worldwide. And TLC may have had issues with getting parts but after a lot of phone calls, I finally found a fantastic source for parts, from an importer in Florida. I can get anything I need for great prices (oil filters, spare pump, etc). Oil filters are only $15 or so. He's an international dealer and diesel expert, called Guerra International (Renee Guerra).

I'll let TLC address the head gasket issue.

 

[jingram]

Thanks for the update... I was a bit sad that this didn't take off more. I know many of us were excited at the thought of this "kit" seeing production in volume. The elusive dream of a 30mpg expedition platform available domestically is still out there, lol.

I know that Proffits and Eco Offroad has been putting the newer cummins 3.3 into a number of things, but not sure how well it would handle the weight of the 60 series. Anyone have any input about this?

FJ45 3.3

Eco Offroad FJ45

 

[lowenbrau]

I never understood TLCs attraction to that particular motor other than the fact that the Rover guys were already retrofitting it. Don't get me wrong, it seems like a fantastic little motor but it was so unsupported in NA that it seemed like a lesser choice to say the Isuzu 4BD1t which came in a gazillion box trucks ( Isuzu, GMC and Chev) and has parts available from dealers in every little town and came bolted up to an automatic transmission (Aisin 450-43le) made by the same manufacturer as the one in the FJ62 thus making the retrofit possible with all factory drive train parts. (ie no adapters).

I'm having serious thoughts about putting one in my engineless HZJ79 minetruck.

 

[Grease Cruiser]

It's a fantastic engine ~ the same engine being put into Ford Rangers worldwide. And TLC may have had issues with getting parts but after a lot of phone calls, I finally found a fantastic source for parts, from an importer in Florida. I can get anything I need for great prices (oil filters, spare pump, etc). Oil filters are only $15 or so. He's an international dealer and diesel expert, called Guerra International (Renee Guerra).

I'll let TLC address the head gasket issue.

Roseann.

I didn't mean to step on anyone's toes. I apologize if I did. You are correct; It is a fantastic engine and actually quite peppy for the small displacement. That's what you get when you go with a modern common rail turbo diesel.

I am glad you were able to find service parts for it. The question I have is: why did YOU have to do the legwork to find the parts? This does not sound right to me.

I am with lowenbrau; I never understood why TLC was so attracted to this engine. I can see their viewpoint that it is a quite powerful engine that would return excellent fuel economy, but the fact that there is not much support for it, would deter some people......myself included.

For what it is worth, Isuzu has come out with a 3.0L common rail diesel. It has been out for a few years now but it is now being sold in the US for marine applications. The word on the street is that it will soon pass (if not already) EPA emissions and will have the EPA stamp of approval. This particular engine is widely supported by Isuzu and it might be an excellent candidate for a conversion. I know of a conversion in the works with this particular engine. We will have to wait and see how well it performs.

 

[bj70_guy]

I'm having serious thoughts about putting one in my engineless HZJ79 minetruck.

I've had thoughts of a 4BD1-T in a cheap 80 since driving my Dad's Tahoe transplant. There's a lot to like about that motor, not the least of which is how cheap they are to buy and (re)build.

Bet it would be great in a mine truck.