Would You Spend $6000 for a 1KZ-TE Diesel Motor Swap?

[wrenchtech]

Actually that's $6000 plus about 80 hours of my time. What it would get me is a swap to a Toyota 1KZ-TE 3.0L, 4cyl, diesel out of a 1997-? European or Japanese Land Cruiser or Surf/4runner (Pajaro?) with 130 hp and 205 ft lbs. It might get 30 mpg highway with 33's. Any thoughts?  Oh, and for another $2500 in upgrades I could bump it up to 150hp and 250 ft lbs. Another thing is that these Toyota diesels, unlike a Cummins B6 or a Mercedes, seem to have about a 125k mile life expectency (in stock form). -- Matt

[86turboyota]

If i had that much spare cash and could make my own biodiesel to run it on... then deffienetly.... will that ever happen... not anytime soon... but itd be a sweet set up and i love to watch you do the build up.

[Chad_Romine]

Honestly that is way to much money to be spending on a engine swap.

I have been looking at doing a diesel swap also. The most i plan on spending when the time comes is 3k installed. 

How many miles are on that engine?

Iv found  a few complete diesel engines with wiring harness for 2500 and under with less than 30k. Im trying to find the link right now with no luck. If i find it ill send it to you.

[milla85]

Are the stock diesels that come in the toy pickups any good?

[wrenchtech]

Honestly that is way to much money to be spending on a engine swap.

I have been looking at doing a diesel swap also. The most i plan on spending when the time comes is 3k installed. 

How many miles are on that engine?

Iv found  a few complete diesel engines with wiring harness for 2500 and under with less than 30k. Im trying to find the link right now with no luck. If i find it ill send it to you.

I don't have an engine yet. The best source seems to be to buy a half-cut (the entire front end of a vehicle w/engine, trans, suspension, differential, wiring harnesses, ECU and guage cluster, fenders, hood, ect.) from Japan. The last diesel pickup Toyota sold in the U.S. was in 1985 or so. That would have been the 2L motor, which in my opinion is not worth the trouble. They kept selling diesels in Canada all along, but in very small numbers. The 2L was much improved in the late '80s with the introduction of the 2L-TE but you'd have a heck of a time finding a good one with all the parts, like a bellhousing, that you'd need. In the end the results usually don't justify the effort. If a low powered, small displacement, diesel is what you want it might be better to get an Acme adapter and swap in a VW 1.9 TDI, but at 90hp and 149 ft lbs of torque, along with nightmarish wiring problems (for the good late model engines), it's not very attractive to me. Of course if you look around you can find a Canadian, non-electronic, 1.9TD with 75 HP and 107 ft lbs torque, which really seems like a step backwards.

What kind of engines are you looking at?  Soon the 2.8 CRD from the Jeep Liberty will be finding its way to the junk yards. It might be a good candidate, but I bet it's gonna be a challenge to wire, but at 180hp and 298 ft lbs  it would be worth it. -- Matt

[wrenchtech]

Are the stock diesels that come in the toy pickups any good?

The ones that come in pickups currently sold in Europe, Japan and Austrailia are pretty good. The 4 cylinder 1KD-FTV that you find in Land Cruisers and Hilux pickups puts out 164 hp and 253 ft lbs. That can be upgraded to 197hp and 303 ft lbs with a chip upgrade (and maybe an intercooler?) The earlier stuff that came to the U.S. in the early '80's was pretty low powered and has a mixed record for reliability as far as I can tell, but I need to learn more. -- Matt

[gotrocks]

I'd love to get a diesel but I couldn't justify that much for one

[rickibrat2]

have you seen the new one by Vw
V6 350 hp 500 torg being made of boats and water applications but suppose to bolt to reg VW5 rib cases

[wrenchtech]

have you seen the new one by Vw
V6 350 hp 500 torg being made of boats and water applications but suppose to bolt to reg VW5 rib cases

The VW Touareg SUV has a V-10 diesel with 310 hp and 553 ft lbs of torque. The diesel option bumps the price up $15,000, to $57,000 from $42,600 (for the V-8 gas). I've heard that diesel V-6's are coming, but haven't seen one yet. I'm guessing they probably won't be bigger than about 4.0 liters which could make an engine of about 180 hp and 300 ft lbs.

What's a VW5 rib case? -- Matt

[kneedownnate]

There's a 1kzte on ebay right now for $2500, but it's not a half cut.  One of the best options for a good half cut is jarco, but they're not cheap either.  About $4000 with an automatic or $5000 with a manual.  I've never heard of those engines having such a short lifespan either.

[randito]

Another thing is that these Toyota diesels, unlike a Cummins B6 or a Mercedes, seem to have about a 125k mile life expectency (in stock form)

Also curious about this statement?  If this is true, it's not all that encouraging.

[kneedownnate]

Seriously, in all my time on the toyotadieselmadness forums I've NEVER heard anybody say "oh crap, I just hit 125,000 miles and my diesel took a dump".

[Spulen81]

Just an fyi, you can go mechanical with the newer VW TDI engines.  You can make the same kind of power you just need a custom injection pump. 
I'm just finishing my TDI swap now (97) with full electronics and its really not that bad.  No worse than any other swap of this vintage, IMO.  With very simple mods you can bump the TDI to over 200lb/ft and still be reliable.

[Hottrod81]

For myself, I would never pay that much for a swap even if I had the cash.  That's just me though.  I don't think you could ever use it that much to pay for itself.

[kneedownnate]

If you really like something then the cool factor replaces the excess cost.  People who've swapped in a 1kzte have been very happy with the power and performance, though the mileage is about the same or marginally better than a 22re.  It's really a swap people do because they want to.  If I ever get to do the swap I'll definately be setting up to make my own bio, and at $.70-$1 the savings will add up quite quickly.

[wrenchtech]

Just an fyi, you can go mechanical with the newer VW TDI engines.  You can make the same kind of power you just need a custom injection pump. 
I'm just finishing my TDI swap now (97) with full electronics and its really not that bad.  No worse than any other swap of this vintage, IMO.  With very simple mods you can bump the TDI to over 200lb/ft and still be reliable.

I've read that the TDI motors have an anti theft system built into the ecu that requires you to have matching parts from one donor vehicle including the VW ignition key, the instrument cluster, ecu harness and the ecu. How did you deal with that?

I may be interested in a VW diesel swap, but I'm also looking forward to see if Daimler Chrysler's 2.8 CDR diesel (from the 2005 Liberty) will make a good swap candidate. With 165 hp and 298 ft lbs it would be freaking incredible. And I've already seen them in wrecking yards for a low as $3500. A price that will probably drop as time passes.-- Matt

[Spulen81]

The older cars like 97-98 and early 99s(old body style) Jettas and the Pre '97 Passats do not have any immobilizer stuff to deal with.  These are AHU or 1Z code engines.  You need the ECU and sensors of course but you don't have to mess with the cluster and igntion key.  This goes for pre 99.5 Beeltes and Jetta/Golfs they are more difficult but you don't need to deal with the cluster issues. 
After that you need the ignition key and cluster to match and this is quite a bit more involved.  But its totally doable, people swap them and 1.8Ts, etc all the time. 
My guess is that the CRD engine would be just as difficult electronics wise to install due to it being so new.  It would be awesome though, no doubt about that.  If you want to spend alot VW has a hole line of marine engines with some kick butt power like the 225 HP V6 that makes 450nm at 2000rpm. 

http://www.vwmarine.com/cms/index.php?id=33&no_cache=1&L=1

[wrenchtech]

The older cars like 97-98 and early 99s(old body style) Jettas and the Pre '97 Passats do not have any immobilizer stuff to deal with.  These are AHU or 1Z code engines.  You need the ECU and sensors of course but you don't have to mess with the cluster and igntion key.  This goes for pre 99.5 Beeltes and Jetta/Golfs they are more difficult but you don't need to deal with the cluster issues...  

http://www.vwmarine.com/cms/index.php?id=33&no_cache=1&L=1

The engines you mention above are not USA models. Are they? If you are in the U.S. I think you have to go to Canada to search junkyards for that stuff.

Thanks for the VW Marine link! That 225 hp, 330 ft lb, V6 is awesome! I'm scared to ask how much a new one would cost. It looks like there are six distributors in the U.S. -- Matt

[wrenchtech]

Here is a picture of the VW/Audi 3.0 TDI, V6 diesel that is the basis for the 3.0 marine diesel. It looks like they have been offering these since 2004 in Europe, in the VW Toeureg, the Phaeton and the Audi A6




Of course when six cylinders are not enough there's always the 8 and 10 cylinder VW diesels. Where is America in this automotive diesel horsepower race? -- Matt

[Spulen81]

The models I mentioned are US models.  Canada had some non TDI diesel cars prior to '97 that we didn't get in the US but they are not direct injection diesels. 

I'm sure the prices are scary on the new TDIs.

[mad maud]

$6000 lol, i got the 2.4d in me truck, its done 140k and it hasnt missed a beat  ive been lookin into the 3.0l landcruiser lump and here in the uk i can easly pick one up for bout £500 it might be worth you guys shippin them out there if there well sort after

[84yota4L]

I have a 1984 4WD 5-speed pickup with the 2.4 liter 4L diesel.  It's got 225k miles and gets 18/30mpg.  The injection pump and injectors were rebuilt to restore decent fuel rail pressure.  It burns a little oil but not as badly after two rounds of Revex oil treatment.

[MRHilux87]

I had a 4bt and everything to go in my last toyota.  In the end I just couldn't finish the project.  So much little stuff to figure out and finish.  It sounds easy to get done, but it turns into a nightmare unless you have more time than most people I know and more patience.  Id spend the 6k on other things first.  personally.  And I think Id do a merc diesel first for 1500 then build it with the rest of the money. 

[Toyotahoerunner]

Hate to revive and old post but i could be interested in this

[helipilot77]

I have done it if you have any questions.

[SqWADoosh]

I have done it if you have any questions.

I was waiting for the "been there done that"   

[LittleSteve]

I was waiting for the "been there done that"   

I was gonna do it and changed my mind....