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

[DesertRose]

After nearly five months I picked up my 1984 FJ60 from TLC where it got its makeover: a new International 3.0-liter turbo diesel and new Toyota 5-speed transmission with lots of other extras! Here's me with the team at TLC - thanks to everyone, especially Jonathan Ward (second from left) and Joe Villegas (far right):

The beautiful engine:

I wrote up more information on the Overland Journal blog - and the upcoming Fall 2008 Overland Journal will have a nice spread on the upgrades with more pics.

I was really lucky to drive it from LA to Prescott where I audited the first 3 days of the first Overland Training comprehensive Overland Certification course, so I got tons of off-highway trail practice, including some impressive climbs, a rock garden crawl, and a 24-degree side-slope.

In short: it is AWESOME. I am so amazed - it exceeds my expectations to a degree x 10. The power is ridiculous - we were pulling hills in 5th gear on I-10 and still gaining at 70 mph. The torque is plain silly for an FJ60 - sometimes we just grin ear-to-ear!

Mileage will need to be addressed: the gearing is too low (we had it regeared to 411 and it is wrong for this engine - it's running 3000 rpm at 65 - so we're returning to original gearing). But so far the average out of the box mileage is 21 - 22 mpg (with a 650-mile mix of intense highway, low-range, and city) with the wrong gearing. Plus I've been told diesels take a long time to break in and settle to max efficiency.

Some pics from the blog; go to the blog for a bit more info:

Now for the paint (same desert tan, no stripes) and some cargo area lids from WagonGear.

This is really an ultimate truck for me - retro enough to fill that need (I just never could get into my new Tacomas . . . ) but more capable than any available stock diesel in the U.S.

We'll provide some pricing info in an upcoming Overland Journal issue - that's still being worked out. It isn't cheap, but then again we can't get modern (new) TD Land Cruisers here right now anyway . . .

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Very very cool. I can't wait to read more and see it. Congratulations.

 

[desertgirl66]

A most beautiful and very capable Toyota! Very glad to see it's and the driver's capabilities on rough terrain.

Congratulations Roseann & Jonathan for the forward and (retro) thinking engine build of this gorgeous vehicle. I was stoked to see how Roseann drives and how she can "heel/toe" that baby up a super gnarly obstacle!!

On to many Happy Trails!!

 

[cumminscruiser]

Diesel Conversion

Nice job on the install..
How did you connect the IHop engine to the transmission?

 

[Grease Cruiser]

Nice job on the install..
How did you connect the IHop engine to the transmission?

Advance Adapters makes a kit to mate the International to a GM tranny. From there you go to a Toyota tranny.

Nice looking 60 and I bet it drives well too. 21-22mpg is not too bad. It may get a little better and change with driving styles. Look forward to seeing more pictures and the writeup.

 

[lowenbrau]

Very pretty. I'm nearly always a form-follows-function kind of guy but for the few bucks it would take you should swap in a new brake master. That under hood shot should be framed and put up on a wall somewhere.

As far as the gearing goes, it just needs a little more 'rubber overdrive'. 315/75- 16s should do it.

 

[DesertRose]

Very pretty. I'm nearly always a form-follows-function kind of guy but for the few bucks it would take you should swap in a new brake master. That under hood shot should be framed and put up on a wall somewhere.

I knew someone would catch that! It was the first thing I saw, too. Don't worry, that is being replaced as soon as my wallet recovers from the other stuff. And then attention to the other visuals - I wanted to make sure all mechanicals were covered. Like the gearing now . . .

I am a sucker for beautiful engines and this one is really nice to see - TLC did a smashing job on the install, everything is top-notch. This reminds me of the first vehicle I bought myself - a 1974 BMW 2002 that we re-did with over-bored cylinders for a sparkier ride, and a polished-and-crinkle-black valve cover for looks. Lovely!

As far as the gearing goes, it just needs a little more 'rubber overdrive'. 315/75- 16s should do it.

The current tire/wheels are 235/85s with 16s that weigh 19 lbs each. I wanted to keep unsprung weight as low as possible, and didn't want such big tires either.

We'll see how it goes with restoring original gearing. I really don't need that super low gearing.

 

[DesertRose]

Nice job on the install..
How did you connect the IHop engine to the transmission?

TLC fabricated an adaptor plate for the bell housing. We also had a challenge with the throw-out bearing. The Advance Adapters throw-out bearing design (which was for the 2.8-liter) was less than ideal for the 3.0, so TLC opted to machine the components to allow use of a more traditional (and easier serviced) bearing.

All in all, it is a fairly straightforward installation.

Not cheap - anyone who thinks a diesel conversion will be cheap has some hard lessons coming! - but well worth it to get one of the most capable, long-range expedition vehicles out there, with a brand new engine/transmission.

 

[DesertRose]

Advance Adapters makes a kit to mate the International to a GM tranny. From there you go to a Toyota tranny.

Nice looking 60 and I bet it drives well too. 21-22mpg is not too bad. It may get a little better and change with driving styles. Look forward to seeing more pictures and the writeup.

I'm amazed at how well it drives - I love it. I guess maybe playing with all that torque and power probably affected the mileage on our first run. After all, charging up steep long hills on I-10 going 75 and still gaining speed - in an FJ60?? We just couldn't help ourselves. Laughing like lunatics and waving as we passed a Lexus 4x4. Too much fun.

 

[DesertRose]

A most beautiful and very capable Toyota! Very glad to see it's and the driver's capabilities on rough terrain.

Congratulations Roseann & Jonathan for the forward and (retro) thinking engine build of this gorgeous vehicle. I was stoked to see how Roseann drives and how she can "heel/toe" that baby up a super gnarly obstacle!!

On to many Happy Trails!!

Thanks Desert Girl! It was fun to tag along with the "Mighty 80":

Having the 2 classic overland vehicles side by side was fun - two very different but very capable vehicles, both icons of overlanding rigs. Boy that 80 is fantastic, and Kristina's no slouch at the wheel and is a fantastic marshall!

 

[Mercedesrover]

Not cheap - anyone who thinks a diesel conversion will be cheap has some hard lessons coming!

You speak the truth! (Having just finished one myself)

Expect mileage and power to improve after 10-20k. I've got a big Cummins in one truck that didn't start running well until about 60k miles!

What gears did that truck have in it originally? Gearing is a touchy thing and hard to dial in correctly the first time.

Congratulations on a cool truck! I'm sure you'll have fun with it.

 

[Jacket]

It's been fun to watch this story unfold, but man, 21-22 isn't that great (to me). I guess I was hoping for more like 25-27.

 

[FourByLand]

It's been fun to watch this story unfold, but man, 21-22 isn't that great (to me). I guess I was hoping for more like 25-27.

Let the engine break in some and gearing get corrected and some of the excitement wearing off, I bet Rosey is like a High School kid with her first hot rod!

Congrats guys it looks great!

 

[Desertdude]

It's been fun to watch this story unfold, but man, 21-22 isn't that great (to me). I guess I was hoping for more like 25-27.

It kind of is when all we get is 12-14 on highway - 9-10 off highway and up in Alaska ( 4 - 80 series) got 4 mpg in the mud

Nice clean install - congratulations on the fine build.

 

[ujoint]

Awesome! Glad you got it back and took it off road immediately! Sorry I wasn't there to see the sile on your face when you left!!