I'm planning to build my dream Landcruiser for quite some time now and read through the different forums here, hoping to collect enough insight to make the final engine/trans decision. But the longer I read the more confused I get and that's why I post here now my ultimate question: What engine/transmission/transfer case to use. To give you guys an idea what I expect from my Cruiser once it's finished, here some guidelines:

- I will use the car mostly as a comuter, a bit of off-roading (incl. deep sand) with all the
camping gear involved and every now and then pulling a 3-ton trailer.
- I'm a V8 fan. I just like the sound but that doesn't mean that I'm insisting on one if there
are good reasons against a V8.
- I like auto tranny's too (lazy that I am) but I am not sure if I should use one since I've
read that they tend to overheat and use a lot of the engines power.
- Fuel economy plays a role too. I am of course aware that I can't expect the same
mileage from a, say Powerstroke engine compared to a Jetta Diesel but it should be a lot
better than a 5.7 Chev petrol engine.
- Living in Africa (Namibia) I have only limited access to specialized workshops and parts.
So reliability is an important factor.

Well, that's mainly it. I read again today in this forum and it seems to me that nearly everybody goes for the Cummins when doing a conversion. Are the V8's so bad after all?

 

So many use the Cummins because it's just a really good option for larger vehicles.

To me the biggest reason not to use a V8 diesel (or a Cummins) is because of the amount of work/mods required to keep a vehicle that wasn't designed to handle huge torque numbers together with that much power being fed to it. I have 1st hand experience here having installed a 2005 Duramax in my 4wd S10. It required modifying nearly every aspect of a little truck that was designed to handle around 150 ft/lbs of torque from the factory. Extensive frame mods for clearance and power handling ability, far heavier axles, springs, shocks, sway bar, steering components, etc. had to be swapped in the handle what this engine is capable of dishing out, so keep that end of it in mind as well.

As far as the automatic goes, use whatever the engine you choose used from the factory with the factory cooler. Coolers are something else to consider with a diesel swap, with a larger radiator, trans cooler, intercooler, and in some cases an oil cooler and power steering cooler, so space fills up up quickly. I also prefer the factory engine driven fan in a comparable to factory shroud.

You also mentioned sand which can be looked at two different ways, one being the extra weight on the front from a larger V8 can help get you stuck, but on the other hand the larger V8 will have ample power to spin the tires in the sand where a 4 banger may struggle.

Just stuff to consider...

 

Thanks DieselS10 for your reply. Many people tell me that any conversion will give problems in one or other way, that it's not cheap to do one and that it's a garantee for headaches but still.....
I would immediately order a decent F 250 or Dodge or Chev from the States to get a good and trustworthy ride without all the hassles but the Namibian law doesn't allow vehicles older than 5 years and especially left hand drives to be imported. Toyota hasn't come up with a powerful engine yet that doesn't ruin you with fuel consumption. Well, I have to ponder that matter a bit more I guess. Thanks again.

 

who every the people are that tell you that conversions will give problems and or headaches are retards!! If done in a perfesional manner in a resonable vehicle it will work and be as dependable as a new truck if not more dependable!! If you do a shitty conversion then expect shitty results!!!