why NOT to put a 1j in a hilux.

[SL666]

This is supposed to be an easy swap, so i think we obviously went about it the wrong way

I forgot to pics of the bits i wanted too.. was too excited about driving it, so i'll try and get them another day soon.



its TIGHT in there.. especially between the pulleys and the back of the radiator - there's about 40mm between the back of the rad support and the front of the pulleys - there's a technique for getting the radiator in and out. - the rad is out of an X2 excel, i had to make some silly mounts to make it sit there.

You could probably fit the engine without cutting the rad support, but not with the trans on.. at least not that we could..

The handbrake has also been removed.. you might be able to fit the engine with a single, and the handbrake but we wanted the twins - at least to begin with. There's now a HQ handbrake next to the drivers seat... its a tight squeeze.



This is the original excel thermo (there's 2 on an excel) it needed a little trimming to fit behind the bonnet catch, is triggered by the switch in the bottom tank.



This is the modded sump and crossmember, i didn't think about it, but we had to mod the oil drain too to miss the engine mounts.



Heat exchanger for the water:air the tank and pumps haven't gone in yet.



Trans cooler waiting for its thermo fan.. try finding a 8" thermo in canberra?



This is the fuel system, LP pump and a 044.

Drove it with a bit of curry last night - testing our trans speed sensor mod circuit, goes quite well even without the water in the cooler, of course, we noticed once we got back there is a slight knock coming from somewhere that might be in the engine.. im hoping its a bracket or something.. but we aren't sure, basicly because the back of the oil cap was pretty crudulous, and the dipstick has a sorta burnt oil look to it.. so it doesn't speak volumes for the engine..


- Thanks to
Dale and braidedlines.com - ally fab and other bits.
Martin "the boffin" - wiring and amusement.
Stuart - most of the bits i didn't want to do (most of the work really)
Rosy - handbrake and engine mounts.

[Dylo]

Hey mate looks awesome!

Looking forward to see it shredding up the streets round here. You didnt explain why NOT to do it! What were the hassles?

Dylo

[SL666]

hehe well its always sold as the 'easy conversion' but just because of the shortness of the engine bay its painful, getting the acutal engine in was easy, but then trying to make everything else fit around it sucked.. and its been a bit rushed at the end, there's a few bits i want to tidy up..

last night we got the original check engine light etc, working, which is a nice touch.. can't get the tacho to work yet.. its expecting to be pulled to ground, and the 1j tacho sig is a volt pulse.. we have the trans shifting okay now, which is nice, but we have to hook up the speed sender so the check engine light doesn't come on, we are thinking we will divide the speed signal in half so we don't hit the speed limiter at like 150..

[myne]

You're mad

I do believe this is one of those times where a 1UZ might have been the easier way, but congrats on doing the hard yards.
I helped a mechanic mate stick a 318 valiant engine in a rodeo once. My finger still bears the scar from when I was maneuvering the air jack and the up button clipped on the chassis.
Engine swaps are fun

[SL666]

1uz would have been much easier.. but it would have been harder to get the end-result i wanted.. i'd like 300rwhp from it eventually, with a 1j its a well worn path, and while it would be easier to fit the 1uz, the turbos or supercharger would have been tricky..

hmm just noticed i should put the clamps on the 044 to hold it in place

[chris davey]

nice work mate. So you have a water to air cooler mounted at the back? (at work, can't look at pics in detail yet)

I know people have said good things about the x2 rad with 4age's but is it good enough for a larger engine like a 1j? If so, might be an option if mine carks it.

[SL666]

the barrel cooler is in the engine bay, and there's a water tank to be mounted just behind the wheel well in the tray, and the heat exchanger mounted under the tray.. with fans

NFI.. only driven it on cold nights so far.. but the temp hasn't budged.. to be honest the only reason it really happened was because at the moment im driving an X2, and we could try the rad in it..

[Skip]

Weren't you planning on towing with the vehicle? I think you are gonna struggle with that radiator, but goodluck anyway

[SL666]

i'd like to, but as it is, the radiator takes up all the frontal space we have, i didn't want to hack it up for no real reason, im planning in the long term to get a bigger custom made jobbie done, and the rad support will get relieved then.. its fine idling, and the limited testing we have done, we haven't had any real issues yet.. i suspect that rad will be fine until summer

[chris davey]

yeah, suppose it helps living in ACT!

[RONA]

yeah, suppose it helps living in ACT!

not in summer

[SL666]

im only worried about how it will go up the clyde or something

[chris davey]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to SL666 again.

Unlucky mate

[iSOARu]

You're gonna love your traction or lack of i should say

[SL666]

chris: i did noticed it had shot up today..

iSOARu: well.. to be honest, traction is WAY better than i thought it would be.. not that ive stalled it up off the lights yet or anything, but its far from a wheelspinning psychomobile.. ive got the lock-rite centre to go in yet..

that said, when it starts spinning a wheel it holds it for a while..