V8 swap on a 97 fj80 shop recommendation

[LC200TX]

That's great intel. Thank you gents, Andy, I need to check out your rig one more time and take notes this time

 

[LC200TX]

I did my V8 swap in my garage. used 5.3, and 4l60 for 1200. all said and done spent about 12k.

It gets around 15ish city and 20ish hwy.

So what are the biggest expenses, since the Motor and tranny cost was 10% of the build? Beer? Pizza?

 

[Stuckinthe80s]

I'm about $5k into my 2uz swap and that isn't including the drivetrain although you can find drivetrains for around the same price as the Marks adapter needed between the tranny and transfer case. The 2uz isn't nearly as powerful as an LS motor but you can do it for cheaper. There's a lot of hate on the 2uz swap option but I don't know why. They typical statement is because the amount of work is the same as an LS swap but with less power.

A lot of the cost with any swap is all of the little things add up quicker than you think they will.

 

[LC200TX]

I'm about $5k into my 2uz swap and that isn't including the drivetrain although you can find drivetrains for around the same price as the Marks adapter needed between the tranny and transfer case. The 2uz isn't nearly as powerful as an LS motor but you can do it for cheaper. There's a lot of hate on the 2uz swap option but I don't know why. They typical statement is because the amount of work is the same as an LS swap but with less power.

A lot of the cost with any swap is all of the little things add up quicker than you think they will.

Interesting, I have been told many time that an LS swap would be way cheaper than a 2UZ swap... Maybe because the used LS are just that much cheaper?

 

[Stuckinthe80s]

Interesting, I have been told many time that an LS swap would be way cheaper than a 2UZ swap... Maybe because the used LS are just that much cheaper?

Not sure why. It's not hard to find an entire drivetrain: engine, tranny, transfer case for around the same price as just the Marks adapter ($1500).

You will have to get driveshafts made where the LS swap keeps the transfer case in the same spot. That's $400 - $600 depending on the shop.

All of the other costs are the same because you're doing the same work either way. (i.e. - exhaust)

And while on paper the difference between a 2uz and a 1fz is marginal, I never had problem holding 70mph in my 100 series going over Vail pass. I don't know that there's a stock 80 out there that can do the same thing.

 

[LC200TX]

Not sure why. It's not hard to find an entire drivetrain: engine, tranny, transfer case for around the same price as just the Marks adapter ($1500).

You will have to get driveshafts made where the LS swap keeps the transfer case in the same spot. That's $400 - $600 depending on the shop.

All of the other costs are the same because your doing the same work either way. (i.e. - exhaust)

Well I'd like to check out your build!

 

[Stuckinthe80s]

Well I'd like to check out your build!

Come on by! Maybe it will motivate me to get it across the finish line

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

So what are the biggest expenses, since the Motor and tranny cost was 10% of the build? Beer? Pizza?

i got the motor and trans for 1200 with harness, all accessories, gas pedal, and ecu . marks adaptor cost me 1500 bucks.
when i got the motor i put new gaskets on it. didn't touch the heads or timing chain. put on a new water pump and stuffed it in.
i did have to rebuild the transmission 2 years later (fluid was questionable when i got the motor).

 

[3rdGen4R]

@ddelong6767 at Well Sorted in Buena Vista is a great option as well. I don't know what his lead times are but you should give him a call.

edit: oops, I forgot he's in the process of moving and may not be taking anything on right now.

It looks like Doug is moving, womp womp!

 

[LC200TX]

It looks like Doug is moving, womp womp!

He is. I spoke to him and he is swamped with work and the move on top of that.

 

[irbis]

Hi. From my experience with any swaps. And I done many of them. Best way to do it. Buy Salvage Truck from Auction like copart.
This way you pull everything from single truck. and sell the rest.
Like you can get 05-06 Tundra 4,7 VVT 5 speed auto. for around 2-4K and sell parts for at list half of that.
But that way you have almost every part you need.
I can help with that.

 

[LC200TX]

Hi. From my experience with any swaps. And I done many of them. Best way to do it. Buy Salvage Truck from Auction like copart.
This way you pull everything from single truck. and sell the rest.
Like you can get 05-06 Tundra 4,7 VVT 5 speed auto. for around 2-4K and sell parts for at list half of that.
But that way you have almost every part you need.
I can help with that.

I sure appreciate it! Let’s discuss further

 

[Stuckinthe80s]

Hi. From my experience with any swaps. And I done many of them. Best way to do it. Buy Salvage Truck from Auction like copart.
This way you pull everything from single truck. and sell the rest.
Like you can get 05-06 Tundra 4,7 VVT 5 speed auto. for around 2-4K and sell parts for at list half of that.
But that way you have almost every part you need.
I can help with that.

Yeah, in all the reading and looking over wiring diagrams that I've done, it seems like the best approach for the wiring is to adapt both harnesses (engine and dash) to work with your 80, not the other way around. So if you get a donor vehicle, that makes it easy. The 4runner, Sequoia and Tundra seem to be the most simple. (depending on the year) The Land Cruiser (100 series) dash wiring has a bunch of added subsystems that make it more difficult to modify. If I had it to do all over again, I'd find an early 4x4 Tundra and use the harnesses and ECU to run my 1999 100 series drivetrain. Then I could just thin out harness as necessary and use what is left for a pretty clean, "easy" install.

In my swap, I left the engine harness alone with the exception of a few wires but I completely rewired the two plugs on the ECU that interface with the 80 series chassis ( dash, shifter, etc. ) and it was A LOT of work.