Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi guys, has anyone had any experience swapping a 2.8 for a later model 3.0 or 3.0 turbo motor? Do they fit to the same bell housing? Any other physical changes? Mount positions etc? Is wiring it in a hassle?

Any words of wisdom would be good. We're tossing up options to repower or sell the ute before it gets too bad!

Talk to ferrit on here. He's very proud of his 1kzte conversion.

I would join the masses and go 3rz.

both the 3.0L (fuel injected)and 3.0LTD are quite complicated to wire up, or just take a fair bit of time.

-the 3.0L (5L motor)diesel without fuel injection will just drop in and work (i'm pretty sure) but there is not much difference between the 2.8 and the 3litre.
-the 3.0L fuel injected (5LE motor) will bolt up as well to engine mounts and transfer mounts but the wiring side of it is huge...
-the 3.0LTD (1kzte motor) needs different engine mounts, and can get adaptor plates for the gearbox but you are better off installing the gearbox and motor out of the same truck (they have a stronger box) also needs different crossmember to be made/bought as it will not bolt up.
Also takes a fair bit of wiring to get it going...

My opinion, if you can handle the wiring your self the you may as well go the 1kzte motor and box, if you cant then usual figures of around $10,000- $13,000 for the whole conversion is pretty normal.

I went for a 5le motor because mechanically it pretty much bolts up but me and my cousin did the wiring (and it took 1.5 weeks togerther working 12-14hr days) and i could bolt my turbo on and have the computer to controll the fueling properly (cost me a total of $4,500 for the lot)

There is also alot of other things that need doing in both motor conversions....

Just a little for you to think about....

Any conversion is only as expensive as the amount you have to pay some one else to do, if you can do it yourself the its not too bad (still expensive) but affordable...

Brad- sorry for the novel

the single easiest way to get around the wiring issues with a 3.0L TD (the 1KZ-TE) is to get your hands on a KZN130 surf halfcut, and swap the entire wiring looms over.

You'll have to modify the 4wd wiring (to eliminate the ADD system), Bring the LH indicator over to the drivers side, swap the fuel sender wires to the drivers side and change over all the indicator plugs on the front end.

Mechanically, you need to saw off and move the engine mounts (the chassis mounts for the 3L and 1KZ are identical, just in a different position) and if you want to use a gear transfer case, so you can fit crawlers, get an adaptor plate for the R series box. The R151F is the usual fitment for surf 3.0TD's, but i exploded mine and wound up with an R150F from an aussie spec Turbo lux in it.

I ended up needing a custom dump pipe to be made for mine due to chassis clearance issues, but the stock one fitted fine, just was Veeeery close to the brake lines!

Radiators are different, and the 3L one will NOT keep a 1KZ cool, even the surf copper ones wont on hot days- I ended up with a KZN165 Hilux alloy one, 10 blade fan from said KZN165 and modified the radiator to suit.

Easiest way to do all this? Buy a KZN130 surf wreck or halfcut! Then you get all the stuff you need, plus other goodies, like a VERY good denso AC system that was designed to cool a wagon, and then has to cool a dual cab or less!