1996 LX450, 1HD-FTE, H152F Build.

[Mag71k5]

Hey all, been on Ih8mud for a bit, have a build thread over there but I like to idea of a more local forum.

Started with a 1996 LX450, bought from a dealer out of Alabama. the 1fz-fe that was in it was probably full of headgasket sealer.

Flushed the coolant system one day, and pretty sure I flushed out all of the sealant with it, after a few days I noticed it started seeping under the exhaust manifold. I kept driving it and just kept adding coolant, during that time I was on the fence about rebuilding and slapping a turbo on the 1fz, or importing an HDJ100 and slapping a 1hdfte in, I decided on the Turbo Diesel route.

4 months for importing the truck, and collecting parts, had it swapped and driving in 2 1/2 weeks, I'd say 99.9% buttoned up buy week 3. AC working, etc.

Imported the 1HD-FTE from an HDJ100 out of Japan
Got the h152f setup from Back40Imports
Engine Harness was from mickFTE in Australia
3 inch back exhaust from AA Performance muffler and brake in Denver
AC lines from Maxxair out near parker

Next additions will be a 21L UFI Turbo, and Unichip. I'm after about 275-300HP to the wheels.

 

[Mag71k5]

 

[Mag71k5]

 

[shellb]

Finally! Welcome to the forum!

 

[White Stripe]

Looks nice. How was getting it through the referee for emissions?

 

[Mag71k5]

Looks nice. How was getting it through the referee for emissions?

Well, I haven't gotten that far yet. Tag office at Adams county gave me a 30 day temp tag.

With a fuel change you have to get a certified vin inspection by CSP, which is simple enough. They just make sure all your safety equipment is functional. Wipers, signals, lights, horn, etc. I've done that.

Now I need to take it for diesel emissions, which is done through third parties, not air care Colorado. I have zero emissions equipment on it. I deleted the crossover and with that the EGR. so.... we'll see.

I have no doubt it'll pass the particulate/opacity test as it runs super clean with virtually no soot, it's all up to the ref with the EGR situation though.

 

[gr8fulabe]

According to the state, you can never retitle a gasser as a diesel. There’s a big discussion on it here somewhere. Search Cruisertrash as I think he posted most of the relevant regulations. You might get lucky & sneak through with the right people looking at it. But you might have to go the Montana or South Dakota route instead. I haven’t done that myself yet, but lately I’ve been thinking about it honestly.

 

[Mag71k5]

According to the state, you can never retitle a gasser as a diesel. There’s a big discussion on it here somewhere. Search Cruisertrash as I think he posted most of the relevant regulations. You might get lucky & sneak through with the right people looking at it. But you might have to go the Montana or South Dakota route instead. I haven’t done that myself yet, but lately I’ve been thinking about it honestly.

Yeah I have property in other states without emissions, so I could title and register it there as well. Id much rather find a way to just get it titled here though.

Dumb as fuck they make it so hard to go about it the right way.

I also find it weird they wouldnt tell you, that you cant retitle it at the title office when I plainly stated it went from gas to diesel.

We'll just have to wing it,

 

[gr8fulabe]

Yeah I have property in other states without emissions, so I could title and register it there as well. Id much rather find a way to just get it titled here though.

Dumb as fuck they make it so hard to go about it the right way.

I also find it weird they wouldnt tell you, that you cant retitle it at the title office when I plainly stated it went from gas to diesel.

We'll jhst have to wing it,

Honestly if you figure it out & get it done 100% legit, write up all the details here! I'd love to do similar to my fj62, but have never entertained it due to the challenges. But if it could all be done legit & I wouldn't have to go to another state, I'd start saving my pennies!

Thanks,
Abe

 

[White Stripe]

I believe you have to transfer the title to another state as a diesel. Then transfer it back to Colorado with it being a diesel.

 

[Mag71k5]

I believe you have to transfer the title to another state as a diesel. Then transfer it back to Colorado with it being a diesel.

Its titled in Tennessee currently, and doesnt have a fuel type on the title. That may be in my favor. Either way ill post here how it goes.

 

[Doughboy]

According to the state, you can never retitle a gasser as a diesel. There’s a big discussion on it here somewhere. Search Cruisertrash as I think he posted most of the relevant regulations. You might get lucky & sneak through with the right people looking at it. But you might have to go the Montana or South Dakota route instead. I haven’t done that myself yet, but lately I’ve been thinking about it honestly.

That's interesting, so my HDJ81 was originally titled as a gas, probably because they just put in land cruiser or whatever and it came up as a gas? No idea, but I went back to the DMV and told the lady that the fuel type was wrong and she just changed it on the spot and gave me a new title with diesel as the fuel type. Didn't ask for any paperwork or anything just a "oh I'm so sorry about that, let me change it real quick"

Don't know if I got lucky or because it's an import or what.

 

[Mag71k5]

That's interesting, so my HDJ81 was originally titled as a gas, probably because they just put in land cruiser or whatever and it came up as a gas? No idea, but I went back to the DMV and told the lady that the fuel type was wrong and she just changed it on the spot and gave me a new title with diesel as the fuel type. Didn't ask for any paperwork or anything just a "oh I'm so sorry about that, let me change it real quick"

Don't know if I got lucky or because it's an import or what.

Ive noticed that no one's experience is alike. Hopefully its that smooth for me

 

[HDavis]

Ive noticed that no one's experience is alike. Hopefully its that smooth for me

Thats the same reason they didn't know to tell you that you can't retitle gas to diesel. I've had to personally educate people at the dmv on their own process to get my stuff through. It helps if you have a DR form showing the steps they have laid out.

Here is what research others have done.
[EMBED content="thread-16716"]https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/threads/would-a-disel-swap-in-co-mean-trouble-at-the-dmv.16716/[/EMBED]
[EMBED content="thread-35733"]https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/threads/denver-engine-swap-getting-it-legal.35733/[/EMBED]

 

[Mag71k5]

Thats the same reason they didn't know to tell you that you can't retitle gas to diesel. I've had to personally educate people at the dmv on their own process to get my stuff through. It helps if you have a DR form showing the steps they have laid out.

Here is what research others have done.
[EMBED content="thread-16716"]https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/threads/would-a-disel-swap-in-co-mean-trouble-at-the-dmv.16716/[/EMBED]
[EMBED content="thread-35733"]https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/threads/denver-engine-swap-getting-it-legal.35733/[/EMBED]

Thanks for the links, the whole thing seems like a circus.