FJ 70 Cruiser V8 conversion

DaveMoger · Post by **DaveMoger** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:45 am

I've got an '86 FJ70 swb with the 3F motor and am looking at a V8 conversion. The Holden 5.7L V8 looks good - anyone done anything like it before? I've also heard that the Lexus V8 would slip in nicely and has similar power. Anyone got any experience or view on that please?

All other experiences, view or recommendations gratefully received!

Cheers,

Dave

eatenfuller · Post by **eatenfuller** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:20 am

yep done a few.......................350s,lt1s,ls1 and lexus will all fit easy,but its all about the bank account ...........................what did you exactly want to know :?:

(i like you already you havent mentioned that word rover)

DaveMoger · Post by **DaveMoger** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:28 am

Our dog is called buzz!! No rovers here!! Basically I'm after any opionions/advice I can get! I know of a 2002 Holden 5.7 motor that I can get for $3500. Its complete with auto gearbox but without a wiring loom but have got hold of an auto electirian who reckons he can wire it. I can get the transfercase modified for $1000 and I guess that the help I'll need with the mounting will cost me about $500, so all up I'm looking at around $5000.

I've heard that the Lexus V8 would be a great alternative as its lightweight but pretty much the same power output being higher tech than the Holden lump. Also being Toyota it should slip in more easily as Toyota stuff is suppsoed to be more interchangeable. I also hear they're cheaper at around $1500, so could end paying about $3000 all up to get it in.

I'd like any advice on which way to go, which motor will give me better performance off-road, which one is more water resistant (I had a diesel MQ safari before and love playing in rivers too much!), which one will go in easiest, do's and don'ts, tips, etc, etc, etc!!

Hopefully that gives you a clue!!

eatenfuller · Post by **eatenfuller** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 2:37 pm

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm thats a good price for the ls1 mate

,you wana do some homework on those ls1 theres always a few hidden costs with any chev conversion or lexus in that matter.
I know for a fact youd be looking at 2500.00-3k just to get the eng wired but thats taking in to consideration with a loom which you dont have my advice to you would be .............................

:arrow:

painless wirring kit to suit youre engine ,this will give you a whole new eng loom and its tailored to suit youre setup ,ie you will only have about 5 simple wires to hook up to youre vehicles elecs and youre running but this kit also comes with a price

(painlesswiring.com)
:arrow:

theres also link electrosystems in chch they do a ls1 kit for about 2500 (dont quote me)

hope this helps

if this is no help let me know

(GM IS THE WAY) :twisted:

DaveMoger · Post by **DaveMoger** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:02 am

Thanks for the info, very useful to know and I've checked out their website. Has anyone else done the Holden or Lexus V8 conversion for a 70 series cruiser that can add anything? Thanks. Dave

cruiser_beast · Post by **cruiser_beast** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 12:44 pm

hey Dave,

I dont have much advice for your conversion, but are you planning on getting a new cooling system, radiator etc???

Cos my 3f engine needs a new radiator strapped to the front, and i thought, hey, you might have one!

actually what are you doing with the whole engine???and how many kms has it done so far just out of interest:)

Sam

DaveMoger · Post by **DaveMoger** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:25 pm

Hi Sam,

Ah yes, hadn't got as far a thinking about what to do with the current motor!! The odometer reads 278,000 odd but have no idea if its accurate!

The motor runs very well but I haven't made a final decision about converting yet. All this came up because I heard about the Holden V8 being available and have to confess I love the sound of a big V8!! Then as I started to think about that someone mentioned that the Lexus motor was cheaper, lighter and more powerful, hence my interest.

The 3F in there at the moment has plenty of poke, I'm just a sucker for V8s!!

If you're interested let me know. I suppose I would have just put it up on Trademe otherwise!!

Cheers, Dave

DaveMoger · Post by **DaveMoger** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 9:03 am

Well I've taken the plunge and bought the 1UZFE motor and auto box, complete with computer and air flow meter. I've found a guy who can make up an adaptor plate between the back of the gerabox and the transfer case, so I'm taking them over to him to start work on that.

I'll keep you posted on developments!!

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 9:22 am

ooohhhhh i am looking forward to following this build

the silly thing is he will spend more money putting this motor in that i have spent on my entire vehicle

eatenfuller · Post by **eatenfuller** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:05 am

and its onlt 4 litres

DaveMoger · Post by **DaveMoger** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:51 am

We'll see!!

As for being only 4l.....what can I say...fuel economy, power, weight!!!

Anyone else done this conversion? I'm keen to see any pitfalls before I fall into them!!

Thanks, Dave

eatenfuller · Post by **eatenfuller** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 3:04 pm

i had a 1uz im my kiwikraft(jetboat)its now been removed for the simple lack of POWER .

ive always had the idea of sticking it into the mrs surf, :roll:

the late shape (kzn185)just to be different :roll:

so i did it and it wasent an issue mounting it .it does go good for a every day driver for the mrs but it dosent like the hills like the deisel :shock:

and regarding power to weight well a 1uz dosent have the torque to make a 2tonne fj feel fast anyway :?:

if you want a powerfull v8 that will give you power to weight then go for a E9M mack engine

cruiser_beast · Post by **cruiser_beast** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:27 pm

is your 3f radiator surplus dave???

DaveMoger · Post by **DaveMoger** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:58 am

No, I'm going to use the exisiting cooling system and add in a second electric fan...well that's the plan at this stage anyway!

Also going to see if I can use the AC pump on the new motor to run an air tank for a rear locker....anyone know if that's possible?

cruiser_beast · Post by **cruiser_beast** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 11:16 am

Well i have an old electric fan off some radiator sitting in my garage, ive never had it going, it came with my cruiser when i bought it.

The last guy was going to use it to replace the belt driven fan on the cruiser currently, but i dont think im ever gonna get round to that.

So if you cant find one, i might have one:)

Sam

eatenfuller · Post by **eatenfuller** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 1:38 pm

you wont beat a vicous fan for when its comes to moving max air volume,elec fans just wont move the air fast enough specially on those v8 heatsink cruisers they just trap hot air in those engine bays specially in low range crawling WITH NO AIR FLOW :!:

PERIOD

LT1-62 · Post by **LT1-62** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 8:38 pm

Gday Dave, do what I did and get a Taurus fan off ebay. They supposedly move 4000 cfm which is SHITloads of air. About 3 times what the new 12" taiwanese ones move that you'll find on trademe, and prolly double what most viscous fans move. They also fit the 3f radiator nigh on perfectlt. I think I paid about $120 NZD shipped for mine. Also, your all alloy V8 is prob gonna cool easier tham your all steel tractor motor so dont be too worried about what peeps say about being hard to cool, a mate of mine has a 1uz hilux running the stock diesel rad, cools fine and the rad is about 1/3 as thick as the cruiser one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/17-3-8L- ... enameZWDVW

DaveMoger · Post by **DaveMoger** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:41 am

Hey thanks for the offer but I've already got the ones I intend to use. Still waiting for my adaptor plate to be made up though but the engineers are very busy!!

Also playing with the air con pump to see if I can convert it to run an air tank for a rear locker.

It'll be all go once I get my gearbox and transfer case back. In the meantime looking at the rear diff!!

DaveMoger · Post by **DaveMoger** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:45 am

Thanks for the advice on the cooling guys, I'll check out those fans although I've already got the ones I intend to use. They're working brilliantly on a mate's Holden 3.8 V6 conversion and even run under water!!

DaveMoger · Post by **DaveMoger** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:42 am

Hi all,

Just a quick update. Still waiting on the adapter plate which will be January now. I've also sourced a set of rock crawler gears as the transfer case is out seems like a good opportunity. The old motor has been sold now, so there's a big hole waiting for the V8 to go in.

I've also decided on a rear air locker and have sourced a tank. I'm planning on using the aircon pump on the motor to run it so I'll let you know how that goes.

Have a good one.

Dave

DaveMoger · Post by **DaveMoger** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:16 am

Hey, sorry its been a bit quite on the progress front. The latest is that the plate has been made up and the engine now mounted. Basically now its down to the sparky to sort out the wiring!

SupraSurf · Post by **SupraSurf** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:05 pm

PICS PICS PICS

Sounds like a good project but the forum whores need a fix of pics to help us along

callum007 · Post by **callum007** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 8:37 pm

if you want to know how to do the air con compressor idea sucessfully, give me a PM and i'll give you the proper run through.. the way i did mine, a local engineer said he thought i could have it patented...

niblik · Post by **niblik** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:02 pm

SupraSurf wrote:PICS PICS PICS

Sounds like a good project but the forum whores need a fix of pics to help us along

yeah yeah, pics for all us deviates :!:

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 9:05 pm

Yeah ... pics :roll:

FJ 70 Cruiser V8 conversion

FJ 70 Cruiser V8 conversion

radiator

electric fan

A short update

Re: FJ 70 Cruiser V8 conversion