So has anyone on the board actually swapped a 5.9 Cummins into an FJ60? I know they're loud and heavy but I'm picking up a 91 Dodge this weekend (free) with just over 200k on the Cummins/drivetrain. I'd like to swap the entire drivetrain (unless it's a getrag, then NV4500) into an FJ60 I came across but want to know if anyone had done it and how they overcame the weight issue. Extra leaf or two in the front? I'd already planned for SOA/SR and am going to step up to 38's. Seems to me that it'd be a great drivetrain with gears, lockers, and a reduction box.

Ya, I searched and heard mention of it having been done but no real testimony. I'm sure 60seriesguy, Morgan, Sloan, Dog Walker, etc.. will have something to say.

I'm interested in the swap because:
1. The parts are free
2. I can embezel fuel from work (family business)
3. Diesel wheel-a-bility
4. Easy access to a few diesel mechanics.

Thanks guys, I'm sure you'll be blatently honest. :D

Here's my limited experience. It's been done, pictures of a conversion done in El Paso, Texas surfaced a couple of years ago. From what I could see, the engine is so tall that you *must* do a SO conversion to clear the oil pan, and even then it's a tight fit. This guy had to fabricate a custom grille for radiator clearance.

There's another guy in Northern CA (near Susanville, I think) that has a Powerstroke conversion on his FJ60. Last I heard he was going to offer an adapter kit for sale, I don't have his contact info but you might be able to get in touch with him through PMC, I think there are some pictures of his truck on their site. He also had to do a SO conversion for clearance. I know it's not the same engine, but he might be able to point you in the right direction in terms of the conversion.

that cummings is heavy, and loud. i ran across one last year and was planning on turning it into a trail rig and i started thinkig how loud they were. i had a 93 for a couple of years and it was a great truck. but if you stoped to talk to some one you had to shut it off or yell. i think it would be a pain with a spotter yelling at you all the time on the tuff stuff. the torque is awsome, the mpgs are great but it does come with trade offs. and i don't want to be behind you on the trail. just my 2 cents mike

Thanks guys, I know it's loud and heavy and am willing to deal with that. Thanks for the info 60seriesguy, I'll see if I can track him down and get some info.

Keep the thoughts coming guys! I hear a lot about how loud and heavy they are but not very much real info. I know they're loud, we own 3. Thanks

Very heavy,
I would reccomend that you reinforce the frame rails to keep it from tearing the cruiser apart. And they are very long. Measure the dam thing before you stuff it in. You might have to do Firewall/front grill modifications...


Personally I would sell the motor and get a FI V8 instead..


But keep those axles..

There is a guy in Northern California that has a 6B in his FJ60. NV4500 to stock splitcase. SOA. 35's. He runs the stock radiator. I don't think his A/C is hooked up. No intercooler. I saw it at

he has had it in for about 2 years. He is very gentle on it, doesn't wheel it a whole lot. Unless you swapped out to a 205 and a corp 14 rear, you could snap the stock drivetrain at whim.

The 6B is about 1.5" shorter, and 3" taller then a 2F. Give or take. I think the reason the Texas guy had to make a custom grill was to maybe fit the intercooler.

bam:
http://www.birfield.com/~morgan/pmcswap2001/img_0763.jpg

Like she said: yeah, it fits. But you gots to be gentle.

that pic is a 89 to 91 none intercooled 6b they run 20 to 21 lbs of boost with out the intercooler. you can swap the 20 cm. housing on the truck you are getting to a 16 cm. housing and get the boost up from 13 to 21. and dump the inercooler. is the truck you are getting a 91 or a 91 1/2 with intercooler? the tranny will be a gretag unless it has been swapped out. hell do it, if nothing else it would be cool to use as a tow rig. and should have a dana 60 front and a 70 rear. mike

There is a guy from Alaska I believe that pops up here from time to time that is a good source of diesel info. I think he is swapping Cat 4 and 6 cylinders into Landcruisers.:D

It's not gonna have the NV4500 unless it was swapped in. They started comming with them in `94. I've had three cummins powered Dodges. The cummins is a great motor but they are not as trouble free as many would think. All three of mine were familliar with the dealer regarding warranty work. Cummins is a great motor but I was surprised about how much stuff broke. Oil leaks, starters and tons of transmission problems with the Gertrag and even the NV4500. My new truck is gas powered. The costs of ownership never made up for the fuel savings and around here Diesel cost more that super.

Even a NV4500 is not bullet proof behind that much power. Mine started making noise at 80K.

There is some guy doing a Meredes Diesel swap kit in Cali. Crawltec? That is a better sized powerplant that the Cummins. My familly overseas all drive Diesel Cruisers, they make them sound like NOTHING ever goes wrong with them. Seems like since Toyota made a 60 with a diesel that might be the way to go.

You need to talk to Charlie Aarons. He posts on this board and others. He is the Diesel repower guru from hell.

-Stumbaugh

Luke and Alan at 4x4labs (www.4x4labs.com) have a kit for the mercedes benz OM617 5 cyclinder to chevy (sm465/420).

This engine is around 3.5 liters, makes about 135 HP, which is easily pumped up a bit with adjustable wastegate and injection timing/fuel compensation. The motors are nearly bullit proof so says Luke at 4x4labs, he's driven MB 300TD/SD for years.

I didn't buy into the idea too much, but then I picked up an '81 300sd. 230K miles. Kinda beat up. I thought, what the hell, its cheap. Turns out, those are damn sweet motors. The Germans knew what they were doing. Its smooth, quiet, powerful, simple, and gets good MPG (I can cruise at 80MPH all day and get close to 30mpg... 1200 miles on a tank of fuel). And you can FLOG those motors to 5000RPM and they love it.

But it's no 6B. Then again, it weighs less, its smaller, and gets better mileage.

ON the other hand, I have been toying with the idea of setting up a group buy for some Cummins 6A3.4T motors.

on the _other_ hand, one can get a Toyota 12HD-T/H55f/splitcase swapped in for $3000... catch is, you have to drive to Guatemala.

so many diesels, so little time.

Plus, a 12H-T in Guatemala is bound to have been FLOGGED. I investigated the possibility of using the old language skills to score a Toyota turbo diesel engine in Central and/or South America and it turned out to be a major hassle. Not only are they expensive, they're *very* tough to find in good shape and when they come up, they get gobbled up quickly, which means you have to have the money ready and act fast.

Let me ask you a question, how does the Mercedes Benz OM617 compare to the 2F in terms of weight and dimensions? I wouldn't mind a MB diesel conversion into my FJ62, but there's no way I'm giving up a civilized H55F in favor of an SM420, not in a Cruiser that sees daily driver duty.

HC
The 4x4labs.com webpage says that you can use an SM420, SM465, NV4500, H41/42 or H55F. Where is fj junkie so he can pimp his stuff?

Did some checking on the rig and it's a getrag with a 205 behind it. D60 front, D70 rear. Axles are a definate go, I'll just change gears and add lockers as $ becomes available. It's a 91 1/2 so it is intercooled and runs great although it could use a better flowing intake.

I guess the tranny's not worth the time to install so it'll have to be swapped out. NV4500, NV5600 are both options, what else with od will hold up behind the 5.9?

All said and done it's about 1000 lbs. of engine to deal with. It is 38 inches long from the rear of the head to the front of the fan.. Width is 28 inches from the outside of the turbocharger to the outside of the intake manifold..Height is 34 inches from the bottom of the oilpan to the top of the intake manifold inlet (thanks hy_desert)

What do you think 60series, will it physically fit without major firewall modifications?

Sound insulate the injection pump with lead vinyl - that's where all the clacking noise is from.

So you've decided to use the axles from the Dodge? That would be a wise choice as even HJ60s came with a beefier front axle housings than the FJ60s and the Cummins weighs more than a 2H. Definitely have frame work done. Even the Dodges have been prone to cracking frames. At least they are out here, maybe if you drive them down the highway all the time they are OK? I know AA sells some sort of adapter to swap in the NV4500 into a Getrag application Dodge. What is the adapter needed for? This is one of those things that really intrigues me. If only there would have been more information back when I did my TBI swap into my 60. Even then, that was sort of new territory. I made my choice back then and paid for it, now I need to live with it. Now we see big blocks, Vortecs, 6.5s, Cummins, and although I haven't seen them Mercedes and Powerstrokes. YIKES!

You need to talk to Charlie Aarons. He posts on this board and others. He is the Diesel repower guru from hell.

-Stumbaugh [/B][/QUOTE]

LMFAO!!!!!!

I think Charlie is in Isreal visiting his daughter at some fish kibbutz.

Charlie is one crazy MF'er.
He run's diesels and the big Michelin's on everything he owns!
:usa: :vader: :usa:

Yeah, I've got a free front 60 and a free rear 70. You can bet I want to run 'em since I plan on running 38's and I'm not fond of the sound an exploding birfield makes. I plan on boxing at least the first 1/2 of the frame, possibly all of it, SOA/SR; I know I'm gonna have to play with the front packs and try to shed some weight from the front to compensate for the added weight. There's fuel delivery to deal with but not a major hassle, exhaust to deal with, electrical but that should be pretty easy, cross members, drive lines, steering, etc. I understand it's not an easy task nor will it be cheap but I believe that if it will physically fit and the weight issue can be dealt with, it could be a great conversion for my needs.

gifu, great pic., have any more? Anybody for that matter, any cummins into cruiser pictures? Any difinative answer as to the 5.9 fitting into the 60's engine compartment without major firewall remodeling? Thanks. :beer:

sorry for the rambling, long day and far to much :smokin: