Dodge 1/2 ton V-6 Diesel

[Denis]

I'd bought a complete Lexus ( not sure which model, big ugly sedan ) with a 4.0l quad cam V-8 to swap the motor into it ( bolts straight up to the Hilux transmission ) but it never happened due to us pulling the ejection handle and bailing out of the doomed UK.

Tell us more, please. I'm trying to get my hands on a decent used Hilux, but they hold resale value so well that most (all) are out of my "buy it cheap" category. Maybe a chop and swap job like that on one needing engine work would be the answer... Otherwise, I'm going to see if I can't find someone in the UK who needs to get rid of a left-hand drive Hilux - they do come up occasionally.

[MiddleAgedKen]

Checker Marathon + Cummins 6BT = Happy. Now, just need to find out if it can be done in an economical manner...

Be a Number One zombie squasher too, I dare say.

[Greg]

I think they were referring to the ugly 'new' water cooled beetle with the dashboard bud vase, not the ugly old air cooled ones.

Yup.

The new Beetle is a Golf with ridiculous sheet metal, designed solely for nostalgia and "cuteness". For a while there was a minor craze and you had to pay over sticker for one, every girly-girl had to get her parents to buy her one. Then the fad crashed and now the only reason to buy one is for the preposterous amounts of headroom that the silly otherwise impractical cosmetic design of the car gives you.

Until now, the only man I knew of who drives a new bug is a former coworker of my wife, and he's like 6'6" or so.

[blackeagle603]

yup, just another of the many sheetmetal options on an A4 chassis. Unlike most of the others you can spend several hours in the Beetle and emerge erect, not having sat in a human oragami butt bucket with your knees above your navel and your hip flexors folded back on themselves completing forgetting their intended function and form. An A4 chassis TDI pickup would be an interesting DIY project but that's waaaaay down the list. An old Volvo diesel wagon chopped to a pickup would be interesting too.

back on the 1/2T pickup topic:
I'd go for a smaller, simpler diesel truck if available but the market is distorted and it's not going to happen here. That Manhidra really caught my eye a couple years ago but it's a no show so far.

[rightisright]

Oh it will be a matter of time till ford brings out the F-150 Ecoboost Diesel. It be stupid for them not to.

The problem is that if they come out with an F-150 diesel they will cannibalize sales of F-250's. Large numbers of F-250 buyers only buy it to get the diesel for towing.

Maybe for private sales. But for commercial sales, if the F-150 diesel only has 7500# towing capacity like the Dodge, it won't impact F-2/350 #s very much.

[blackeagle603]

Yep, the F-250 crowd has come to count on the serious grunt capability.

Ain't it grand, the times we live it? We're talking about a 1/2 ton with only a 3.0L having only 7500# towing capacity. If I recollect. that's not far off what the old F250 6.9L was rated for.

[Rich Jordan]

I was rather hoping that when Dodge came out with a lighter diesel truck it would have a Cummins 4BT in it. I suppose that would not have met the preferences for use in passenger/suv vehicles though.

[Highspeed]

Tell us more, please. I'm trying to get my hands on a decent used Hilux, but they hold resale value so well that most (all) are out of my "buy it cheap" category. Maybe a chop and swap job like that on one needing engine work would be the answer... Otherwise, I'm going to see if I can't find someone in the UK who needs to get rid of a left-hand drive Hilux - they do come up occasionally.

The 2.4 version is the one to look for then, they really aren't a good engine and the heads warp.

The Lexus engine swap isn't a bad one, but obviously changing from a 4 cyl diesel to a petrol V-8 isn't all that easy.
I'd really recommend you bought a complete donor Lexus. You get all the little bits and bobs that way - ECU, relays, injection pump. I paid £100 for mine - failed an emissions test because the catastrophic converters were shot. You want to ask when it last had a timing belt change, I think the interval is 70k miles. Mine actually had a full service history
There are some wiring issues, engine mounts to make, but the biggest job is getting new exhaust manifolds ( headers ) fabricated. The stock Lexus ones aren't useable in the Hilux.

As I say I can't remember the Lexus model - I do however have a picture of the car :-

[Les Nessman]

:jacked:
Diesel Jeep Wrangler.
It would sell.

[rightisright]

As I say I can't remember the Lexus model - I do however have a picture of the car :-

Looks like the Lexus LS400. At least that's what it was called in America. It came w. a 4.0 V8