FJ73 engine change

[bravo]

Hello all
I am chasing some opinions on this....
I've got a 1986 fj73 with a 3F engine and 5spd in it and its getting on in age this is what i was thinking of doing.
I have a 3.8ltr V6 out of a vr commodore, was going to rebuild it myself, get the heads polished and flowed with bigger valves and stuff. Put a cam in it to match the heads, then rebuild the block with new bearing and all.
Would this be a GOOD idea or will it be to slow and not produce enough torque. I am flowing the head and putting the cam in to get more torque and power from it but i am not sure if this wil be enough.
I was gonna bolt it up to the standard 5spd manual.
Am i wasting my time with this?
What would you guys do?

[Thommo 73]

i would vote wasting your time(money). but it would be different and there's nothing a turbo/supercharger would fix down low....
that said i put a toyota v8 in mine. motors cost about the same but the the v8 is better for power. ..... not putting you off or anything.

[BEE-JAY]

The 3F is better engine for offroad work. The commodore engine is more top end power and any work to get more power from it usually ends up robbing it from down low and adding it to the top end.

Personally I'd save myself ALOT of money and heart ache and rebuild the 3F. It is a thristy bastard but it is well suited to offroad work. You could always work the 3F to get a few more ponies from it.

[hulsty]

commo V6 wont have the balls for a middy, the car is much heavier than a commodore and the torque at low rpm is not quite upto what a 3F does. But if you have gears and can rev the commo v6 right up it might be ok. Or just rebuild your 3F, thats what i'm going to do. Up the compression to around 9.5:1, gas cam, clean head up abit and I should have all the torque I need in low range for spinning my 35's

[Thommo 73]

bugger the boat anchor off! best thing i ever did.....

[bravo]

ok thommo for your 1uze lexus v8 what did you need for the install, i guess a wiring loom, computer (did u use standard soarer computer), engine mounts and bell housing adapter, fuel pump.

Did you need to modify the sump?
Is there any other computer stuff you need beside the engine computer?

[Thommo 73]

computer depends on the motor you get. soarers are harder to get the factory ecu to work (i run a aftermarket ecu>1100).
crown's and the earlyer toy 8's are easy to wire.
only need 'other' computer stuff if you run the toyota/lexus auto.

you will need a adaptor kit>1200(clutch/flywheel blablabla..)

engine mounts are the oem's moved back and swaped sides.

fuel pump is a commodore 5ltr pump. +surge tank with a ticker pump feeding it.

i did mod the sump to hold more oil. if you can get the rear sump get one(normally on the soarers). you will have to 'adjust' the fire wall with a hammer....

if you can do most, if not all your self it should be about $4000
if you cant 6000.

but it's not the only motor out there.
a 1hdtfe would be a great motor in a middy or 1hz...... and easy to fit as well

depends on what your doing with it as to what motor you will want.
i have the middy for stupid stuff and a diesel 80 for camping.

Cheers
Thommo

[badger]

put a 1fzfe in it

heaps more torque and power than a 3f with better econamy too

oh and pretty much bolt in

[bravo]

a 1fzfe sounds interesting, do you know whats involved in putting one in? and where to get a kit

[hulsty]

get a middy half cut from a market that had them as standard fitment, swap stuff over DONE!

[bravo]

is there such a thing i thought only the 80 series had them

[Thommo 73]

the imports have the 1fzfe in them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om5EBEogJNM

most of them here are 1fz powered middys......
i think the half cut would be the best bet.