Topic: Toymin8r's 1989 1UZFE Lexus v8 Powered Pickup

[kneedownnate]

Looks like small chunks of aluminum with a hold down the middle, bolt goes through the hold in a chunk, bed is notched for bolt to go through, another chunk on the other side of the sheet metal, then a wing nut snugs up the whole deal.

[Toymin8r [OP]]

can u explain your ingenious section clamps you used to hold the sections together as u welded the seam? looks great Steve!

I wish I could say I invented them but....they are sheetmetal butt welding clamps and the cheapest place to get them is Harbor Freight Tools.  about $6.00 for a 4 pack.

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-butt-welding-clamps-44751.html

[Toymin8r [OP]]

Its turning out pretty good so far.  I did some light filler work and then shot an epoxy primter/sealer over the whole bed.   I still have some skim coat work to do and some dings to fill.   Then 2-3 coats of high build primer. 
 

[89DLX]

That bed bob is rad.

[THK Matt]

WOW you are not going to tell it was cut if you didnt know already... thats FKN CLEAN!

[KDXSR5]

I am assuming you are going to reuse the plastic fender flare/rocker protectors? It looks clean. It will look pretty darn close to factory when done, if not better.

[Toymin8r [OP]]

I am assuming you are going to reuse the plastic fender flare/rocker protectors? It looks clean. It will look pretty darn close to factory when done, if not better.

Yeah I debated filling the holes and not puting them back on but knowing my luck if I don't the first time I take it wheeling I get a big friggin rock chip right where they would have been. 

[KDXSR5]

Yeah. Did you think about using some of the clear film that is used for the same spot on a lot of vehicles? I know you van get it at auto body stores.

[twistedtoy92]

very clean bob!

[Jordan7118]

Great work!

Do you have any videos with the V8? I'm really jealous!

[Toymin8r [OP]]

Great work!

Do you have any videos with the V8? I'm really jealous!

Just one where it was idling in my driveway.   The sound isn't too good because I used my droid phone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whvJbEh5q8o

[NITE KRAWLERS]

Sounds good enough to me dude! Seems to idle smooth and nice!!

[TacoRunner]

Do you have any more engine bay pic's? And do you have any from below so we can see the oil pan clearance.

[Toymin8r [OP]]

Do you have any more engine bay pic's? And do you have any from below so we can see the oil pan clearance.

Ask and yee shall receive.    Everything is covered in layers of paint and bondo dust right now so everything looks dirty in the pics.  Sorry.  



Oil pan clearence is ok but my truck sits a little high.  I have about 1" of bumstop compression before it will hit the pan right now so I may need to raise the bumpstop or make a custom oil pan.  Supposedly a pan from a 2uz 100 series landcruiser will work but they're a little hard to come by.  Also, compared to most other 1uz swaps my engins sits pretty low in the engine bay.   I wanted to keep the cog as low as possible and I have no body lift. 

[BUDDERS]

From what I remember there are 3 different types of oil pans from lexus - front, mid and rear sump between SC400, LS400 and Gs400 - and they all have a #1 and #2 oil pan as well as different pickup tubes. I also know that toyota has at least 2 oil pan setups as well - 1st gen tundra and the 1st gen v8 landcruiser.h  I worked on plenty of all of these, most recently the toyotas and I'm pretty sure the tundra one won't work - it's got a real funky shape.  I would look into a rear sump setup off of a lexus - it's probably a little more low profile than the landcruiser setup.

[Toymin8r [OP]]

 I would look into a rear sump setup off of a lexus - it's probably a little more low profile than the landcruiser setup.

That's what's on there now.  The SC400 uses a rear sump and the LS400 uses a front.  The landcruiser used a mid sump but like you said, it has a funky shape.  I think it was to clear the diff.

[TacoRunner]

Wait,  so that is a rear sump?

[zidaro]

I also have the sc400 rear sump. (not in truck yet, of course), but i wanna say mine looks farther back on the engine than yours?

[BUDDERS]

Well, try the landcruiser setup then.  I know on the Tundras, the lower pan was kinda shaped like a sideways upside down U.  I suggested some different pans to Cebby a while ago and he looked into it.  These are some pics of a rear sump Lexus LX470 pan (same as UZ series landcruiser) on a tundra with SAS that he found - and this is the route he took for his 2nd gen 4runner with IFS.  It should be plenty of room for your SAS.

[Toymin8r [OP]]

Well, try the landcruiser setup then.  I know on the Tundras, the lower pan was kinda shaped like a sideways upside down U.  I suggested some different pans to Cebby a while ago and he looked into it.  These are some pics of a rear sump Lexus LX470 pan (same as UZ series landcruiser) on a tundra with SAS that he found - and this is the route he took for his 2nd gen 4runner with IFS.  It should be plenty of room for your SAS.

Even the "rear sump" doesn't place the sump all the way to the rear of the engine.  


If anything I'll modify what I have to make it work.  The irony on that pic is that the LX470 sump would work perfect on a right side drop axle like mine and the dana 60 in your pic looks like a left side drop.    Cebby was one of the swaps that motivated me to do mine but he started his like 5 years ago and still hat yet to finish it.  

[TacoRunner]

Thats it, I "NEED" either a 1UZ or a 3UZ. The 150hp 3RZ is nice and all, but doubling that is just way to tempting.

[BUDDERS]

Thats it, I "NEED" either a 1UZ or a 3UZ. The 150hp 3RZ is nice and all, but doubling that is just way to tempting.

I completely agree TacoRunner.  I think I actually know more about the UZ series motor since most of my experience is with Lexus, but the main reasons I did my 3rz swap was for fuel economy and I wanted to keep my 5spd trans. I dont have the money or skills to make a custom bellhousing or adaptor and I haven't found anyone in the U.S. who makes them.

[TacoRunner]

That there is an interesting little situation. 

[Toymin8r [OP]]

I wanted to keep my 5spd trans. I dont have the money or skills to make a custom bellhousing or adaptor and I haven't found anyone in the U.S. who makes them.

I got this one from KS racing in Thailand for my next swap.  They sell them for the W and R series transmissions on Ebay so there is some buyer protection there.  It arrived a week after i bought it.  You can get their flywheel for $150.00 more but it uses a clutch from an overseas diesel engine and I thought it would be hard to get one here in the states.   From what I've read you can get the 3vz or the 5vz flywheel re-drilled for the slightly bigger pattern and have it milled to work with the starter.  

[TacoRunner]

I got this one from KS racing in Thailand for my next swap.

Thailand

that makes me nerveous.

[Toymin8r [OP]]

Thailand

that makes me nerveous.

Nah not me.  They are actually made for mating them up to the 2wd versions of the W and R series trannys found in Supra's.  They use them for drift cars.

[Jordan7118]

Steve, I gotta be honest. This is the most tech I've seen on MC in a while. I certainly appreciate your notes and knowledge.

Your efforts are not unnoticed 

[BUDDERS]

Toymin8r, that "looks" like a quality part.  You will have to keep us posted on how it fits when you do your next build.  I wonder if a group of people could do a group buy of say 10 of those and save on shipping and price?

You'r still keeping the auto on this truck though, right?

[Toymin8r [OP]]

You'r still keeping the auto on this truck though, right?

Yes unless I really don't like the auto.  I've never really wheeled with an auto tranny before other than mud stuff with big chevys back in the day.

[TacoRunner]

Yes unless I really don't like the auto.  I've never really wheeled with an auto tranny before other than mud stuff with big chevys back in the day.

Ain't no thing, you'll learn to use both feet at the same time is all.