1Uz into Hilux info needed.

[ricduza]

Well, I,ve begun my 1Uz conversion into my 94 SR5 and will begin a build-up thread shortly. However, I would like some input and hopefully photos from anyone who has done this conversion using the 1UZ auto. I have trial fitted the tranny and motor using the original cross member mounts and have found the motor sits far too far forward. I suspect the auto box coupled to a surf transfer case is longer than the original manual G52 and transfer, so have to move the crossmember mounts rearward somewhat, in order to get a radiator in. It would be great if anyone can either show me a photo of their firewall to engine clearance or measure the distance between the firewall and the camshaft tower thingy that sticks out past the rear of the rocker covers. I,m aiming to make this distance an absolute minimum, say around 15mm, as I am hoping to use AU thermos between radiator and motor. At the moment though, this looks doubtful as the AU thermos are just too thick. Am also toying with using the Celsior radiator and shroud combination and maybe fitting a 16 inch thermo in where the hydraulic fan normally sits. I am convinced the key to cooling these things is not just to have a decent sized radiator, but also have a proper shroud arrangement completely covering the radiator. I just wish the Hilux engine bay was about 2 inches longer, would make things much easier.

[Guy]

have you looked in the iuz sticky at the top of the page ?

[booflux]

Mines a 98 so not sure if the engine bay lengths are different??

Mine has had a very slight firewall massage and is running, the AU thermos and a alloy radiator. There is very little room between the firewall and engine and again the fans and front of the engine.

I am running a manual so I cant help with the crossmember query. But just be aware that if you run the AU thermos it is very very tight. We had to shave the back of the themos slightly to stop the motor hitting on hard acceleration.

But I have never had a temp issue even in summer doing circles when Twistys jumped to 110 mine sat steady at 90.

[ricduza]

Thanks, Boof. I have been thinking seriously about massaging the firewall a little, but didn't want to bugger up the paintwork there which is perfect at the moment. I guess a sledge hammer padded with rags may do the trick.

The AU thermos I fitted to my Navara (Commy VP motor) completely solved the ongoing temp problems I always had with it in really hot weather. In fact even with only one of the fans working it is ok, so I really would like to fit them in the Hilux. I wouldn't want the motor hitting the firewall under hard acceleration though , so do want a little clearance. Maybe 8-10 mm would be enough.

The hydraulic fan pump pulley at the front of the motor seems to stick out more than anything else. I had it modified to just be an idler pully, but now find it is going to be a big problem sticking out too far, so I am going to remove it altogether and use a shorter serpentine belt. I will be retaining the air cond compressor, so I hope the belt won't slip. If it does, I'll just have to design a snugger idler pully somehow. I'd be interested to know how you went with that pully, Boof.

I have noticed that most of you guys who have fitted 1Uzs have done 50mm body lifts. I assume this is to get clearance between the bonnet and plenum chamber. I have done just 25mm lift and it seems this will be enough.

Luvmud, Yes, I have looked in the sticky, thanks. I think I have read every post on every forum over the past few months researching the practicalities of this conversion and have found much helpful info. There isn't much detailed info though on the auto conversion by people who have actually finished their conversion. Lextreme has some good stuff but the projects are only part way complete. I think Clownboy is close to having Venom complete his conversion, so maybe he will see this thread and respond.

Regards,
Ric

[MissDrew]

These pics might help a bit for anybody fitting a 1UZ into a hilux. This is into my 93 model Hilux. I also moved the gearbox and transfercase forward 35mm for firewall clearance.

Firewall massaging, this is the ac evap hump on the passengers side. The clutch and brake lines you see here have slightly different final resting places.



With motor fitted, passengers side clearance, its about 10mm at the smallest spot



Now here is something Ruff pointed out to me. A V6 4 runner has the pully for the handbrake running down the inside of the firewall. By changing to this setup you gain a heep of extra clearance.

If you look you can see the old bolt hole to the right. This is a bolt in mod other then drilling 1 hole and making a cover plate for the old holes. The cable is also about 100mm to short but is easily fix with the use of a turn buckel. Will see if I have any pics of it but don't think I do yet.

This is looking straight down at where the pully used to be in the engine bay, you can also see the back of the head and how much clearance it now has.


This is the clearance for a fan, thats 50mm RHS in there just for referance. That is also a crown clutch fan setup with the fan unbolted.


If you have any other pics you need then just ask and I'll see if I can find something for you.

[ricduza]

Guts,
Thanks, thats just what I was after. I have already done the handbrake mod, but the other photos are great. I will do a little massaging and see how easy the firewall bends. I'm now feeling a bit more at ease about the whole thing, just wish I could go out now and do some work on it, but it's too cold here at night at the moment. Will have to wait for the weekend again.

Ric

[booflux]

The later model luxes 98 on already have that handbrake mod from the factory so that wasnt an issue for mine. Also mine is running the ac also with no dramas, other than the knob keeps leaving little leaks in the system. I think its been repaired and regassed near on 6 times now grrr

[ricduza]

Hey guys, I'm also interested in what engine mounts you ended up using and photos would be good. Originally I was trying to use the Celsior ones, but they are very high and basically sit vertical, meaning I will have to cut off the Hilux ones from the chassis, fabricate new ones and weld them on. I was hoping to not have to do that, so I've just bought some EL Falcon ones which look the go and I am hoping will fit without any chassis welding.

[MissDrew]

I used the crown ones and then welded new bits to the rails to suit.

[ricduza]

Thanks, Guts. Over the weekend I completed the EL Falcon engine mounts. Turned out to be pretty fiddly because of the restricted space between engine and body, but it all seems to be good. Ended up having to heat the firewall up with the Oxy in order to massage the firewall enough for clearance. I still don't think I'll be able to run AU thermos as there just isn't enough room. Am now thinking of either utilising the Idler pully which previously ran the hydraulic pump for the cooling fan and fixing the fan directly to it. Seems to be in pretty much the right place in relation to the radiator and the Celsior fan is an 18 inch one, so should work OK. Alternatively, I may move the radiator forward under the bonnet catch shroud. This will give me about another 2 inches of space, but is quite an involved job. This will mean doing away with the bonnet catch altogether and fitting rally style catches thru the bonnet.

I will get this thing in there and I'm determined to keep it cool in all conditions, so its worth spending the time now, rather than stuff around later after its back on the road. An overheating car is a PITA, specially when the little woman is driving it. We all know how closely they look at the guages, not.

[beavis]

hate digging up the past but, how did you guys go setting up cooling fan/s, I have one push & one pull thermo, however as i want to reconnect the ac and mount a condenser i need to remove the push thermo.

So I,ve been looking at the au fan & shroud combo but as my radiator is only 570mm (and the au measure 700mm) i'm not sure how ppl are tackling this problem.

Beavis

[UhhOhh]

I used an EL twin thermo fan as they are slightly thinner again apparently as well as cheaper. Can't help you with the radiator I've got a 7MGTE rad that suits the fans perfectly. Needed a fair bit of radiator support removed though. You could just run a big 16" and make a shroud to suit, the importance as you probably know is in the shroud, the best fan needs a good shroud to seal it to the radiator otherwise it will be useless.