Anyone considered buying a complete diesel engine/bell housing/clutch/tranny/xfer case combo w/ EFI harness/computer from Australia or Japan from a junker and just installing the entire unit? Sure, it's almost the entire vehicle and you probably have to modify the crossmembers/mounts, but you don't have to go through the hassles/costs of importing a car.

James, I'm sure a lot of people would consider it but it would cost probably at least $4k to get one over here.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by 85TrailToy:
<strong>James, I'm sure a lot of people would consider it but it would cost probably at least $4k to get one over here.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Actually it's much cheaper than you think. Ozrunner on this board has been the main exporter of similier parts from Australia. Remember the U.S. dollar is worth almost twice as much as the Australian dollar. It's a win/win for everyone. He makes a nice profit and we get a pretty good deal. Those engines/trannys are everywhere over there. Not so much the most recent EFI turbo diesel being sold on EBAY, but the prior generation diesels which make just slightly less power, but are extremely reliable and get great gas mileage.

As for installation, it should be a direct bolt in for most applications. Even the trannys should bolt right up. There's no cross member or engine mount modifications needed. Remember these are engine options for the same Toyota frames as ours, so it's a bolt in. The non-EFI models would be the easiest. One wire for the glow plugs and one for the starter and your done.

My only reservations on this swap are the lack of power. It should have plenty of torque for the trail, but I worry about how it would do on the highway at speeds around 70 mph. And then there's the matter of finding parts. If you get the 2.4 diesel, I imagine some of the older '85 U.S. Toyota diesel parts should interchange, but it will still be hard to find parts. I'm sure JD would have no problem sending you what you need, but it would be international shipping.

Here's some links to prior posts on the issue, with Ozrunner:

http://www.4x4wire.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=005375#000004

Here's JD Ozrunner's webpage if you wish to contact him:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~jonhel5/

Brian, these should, unless geared way low, do quite well on the freeway. While they might take awhile to get up to speeds, diesels usually maintain speeds well and really shine in top gear roll on acceleration. In fact, the newest MB diesels have the top gear passing power of some exotic sports cars.

This is because of the torque. When you are in low gears, you get a lot of torque at the wheels. To go fast in low gears, you need to rev high while still making torque(horsepower). Diesels don't rev very high of course. However, once you are in top gear, your engine has much less mechanical advantage. The only way to get 'em spinning is with torque which diesels have in abundance.

Because diesels have to have very large flywheels to keep them spinning at idle, they don't rev up very quickly either so acceleration might be slow but torque is up there and that's what matters in top gear.

I find my car is really at home on the freeway. It's the one place it actually "hangs" with the rest of the pack just fine.

With the prices of these motors and parts availablility, those MB diesels are out there you know. Parts are easy to get and there is a very strong knowledge base about them on BBS's.

They wouldn't be a bolt in though.

Frank.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by elripster:
<strong>Brian, these should, unless geared way low, do quite well on the freeway. While they might take awhile to get up to speeds, diesels usually maintain speeds well and really shine in top gear roll on acceleration. In fact, the newest MB diesels have the top gear passing power of some exotic sports cars.

This is because of the torque. When you are in low gears, you get a lot of torque at the wheels. To go fast in low gears, you need to rev high while still making torque(horsepower). Diesels don't rev very high of course. However, once you are in top gear, your engine has much less mechanical advantage. The only way to get 'em spinning is with torque which diesels have in abundance.

Because diesels have to have very large flywheels to keep them spinning at idle, they don't rev up very quickly either so acceleration might be slow but torque is up there and that's what matters in top gear.

I find my car is really at home on the freeway. It's the one place it actually "hangs" with the rest of the pack just fine.

With the prices of these motors and parts availablility, those MB diesels are out there you know. Parts are easy to get and there is a very strong knowledge base about them on BBS's.

They wouldn't be a bolt in though.

Frank.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Your right. On the highway and especially climbing hills it's all about torque. When I intially looked at the power graph on the KD-TE, it appeared that the torque dropped off to nothing soon after 1800 rpm. This worried me what how much power would be left at 3500-4000 rpm for very high speed (75mph) runs down the interstate. But in checking again, at 4000 rpm, there's still a whopping 210ft/lbs of torque on tap. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> Holy crap, that's enough to pull my 4800lb truck up any hill in the world and keep up with traffic no problem. Consider that my 22RE only makes 140ft/lbs of torque at 2800 and it's all downhill from there.

Now why doesn't Toyota bring this thing to the U.S.? Oh ya, because they are stupid. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> Or maybe it's the consumer that's stupid. Toyota probably figures they wouldn't sell very many, because in the U.S. it's all about horsepower numbers, even torque is the only power measurement that really counts. With only a 118hp, the KZ-TE appears gutless, even though, it's far from it.

The US has some harsh smog laws. I think VW is selling diesel cars still but MB hasn't since '97 due to the laws. It seems like the EPA just follows what ever CARB does. You can sell diesels but they have to be in trucks of a minimum size, like full size minimun size.

While I'll agree that diesels of the past were downright filthy, mine's no exception, the technology now along with stricter guidelines on diesel fuel manufacturing have really cleaned things up. I don't know if it's clean enough or if people are just not "deemed" interested enough to warrant looking into. Also, power and efficiency are way up. In Europe, the latest 300D's get 35mpg at 140 mph!

I know these motors aren't what race cars are made from but for trucks that acually serve as trucks, they are really nice.

Another pro for the benz drivetrain: stump puller first gears in the auto tranys, the tranys act like sticks in their response to throttle.

Frank.

Frank.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Brian894X4:
<strong>
My only reservations on this swap are the lack of power.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">The 3.0 turbo makes 128hp which is at least 28 more than I got now! And the 252lbft of torque would just be awesome!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by 85TrailToy:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Brian894X4:
<strong>
My only reservations on this swap are the lack of power.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">The 3.0 turbo makes 128hp which is at least 28 more than I got now! And the 252lbft of torque would just be awesome!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">I have no problems with those numbers. I correct myself that power would be an issue. At least with this particular turbo diesel.

The KZ-TE isn't even the newest diesel. Toyota has a brand new D-4D technology diesel out for the European markets. Probably will be out for all the markets (except U.S. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/mad.gif" /> ) in the near future. Not as much power as the KZ-TE, but it's not turbocharged either, I don't think. What it does offer is even less pollution, less noise and better fuel economy.

Common Toyota! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/mad.gif" /> Bring that baby to us. After all, we are your biggest cash cow. You owe us!