• Non-Volvo

  • Paddler Ed's Land Cruiser Problem(s)

As some (many) know we have a Land Cruiser problem here... and a mini-Land Cruiser as well (the Daihatsu Scat).

Started with a 1986 Fj73 that we owned in 2011-12, and then when we came back in 2013 we had the 4Runner (that got sold in 2019 for the same as we paid for an 80 series) which was joined in 2017 by the HJ45 ute (the thin end of the wedge for old cars).

The FJ73 did do a couple of Turbobricks meets - met up with @Dauntless and @Angus242164 many years ago!

There was just something about it, and I do regret selling it - but at the time we didn't know we;d be back in Australia 13 months later.

Now we have:

1978 HJ45 ute:

(now looks like):

1982 Daihatsu Scat (IG: Wombat.scat)

Which really hasn't changed except for some new tyres. Currently waiting on me sorting out a rocker cover gasket as the one I have won't fi

1985 BJ70 (IG: Bandicoot_bj70)

As I saw it advertised

and cleaned up a bit on the way back to ours (behind the Nav was to the top of the Moonbi's behind the 8- was the last bit back to ours):

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As it sits now:

Engine not working, but I'm getting to the bottom of that... slowly... and that's another post or 2...

1994 FZJ80

As we got it:

This is my daily, and since that photo has had ~60,000km put on it in under 4 years... We regularly jump in it and do 500+ km trips with it.

All the (working) vehicles do get used as workhorses, they all get loaded up.

I think this load of firewood in the 45 reshaped the underside of the tray a bit... it was a slow run back in to town...

The 80 gets used for firewooding as well, so it's not immune... just no photos...

__________________________________

We have the 45 and the Scat on historic rego now, so that makes it more palatable on the wallet, but not sure what to do with the BJ70 in due course - Wife is keen for it to be set up as a tourer/her daily.

Since entering SWB life I dont think I can go back.

a month later

So... after trying to source another 3B for the SWB, which was contained in a Toyota Coaster bus... that turned out to be a 2H... I've been thinking about alternative re-powers.

Given a rebuild is running at about $1,000/cylinder, and then I'd be thinking about a Whistle'n'soot turbo kit (say another $2k), that's rapidly heading to $6-7k... I've started thinking of other repower option.

I've even been starting to think about an EV retro fit; there's the weight of a iron block and iron head 3.4 litre diesel (375kg) and then 90 litre (75kg) of diesel tank to be removed, and tare weight as it left the factory is 1750kg, with a GVM of 2500 there is a bit of room to play with.

The 3B is a real powerhouse, with 90 hp (67 kW) at 3,500 rpm with 160 ft·lbf (217 N·m) according to Wikipedia, so an EV conversion would be easily enough to upgrade that performance - the challenge is then working out the range requirements - I'd probably like about 250-300km, depending on what I can do for charging options.

This might all be pie in the sky thinking, but it's an avenue I might spend some time pursuing... There may even be Volvo involved in the mix depending on which way I go as the cost of a written off XC40 EV or Polestar is tempting....

Voice of reason may stop all this, but who knows...

50kwh of lifepo4 is 330kg

You would want 90kwh so closer to 600kg of battery

Battery is around $250 per kWh of capacity so your closer to 22k of battery

Aem makes a controller for the Tesla motor

So motor and controller and bms are another 10k ish

That would let you do 50kw fast dc charging

Diesel conversion from something else would be way cheaper

The 6cyl p-pump merc and bmw diesels are pretty dam good for what they are and excellent output (easy 150-180kw) and stupid reliable with lower mass than a 4bt or Toyota diesel

Berry's have a Volvo T8 ..

Has all it's driveline intact.

So.... Dellow do a Barra conversion for the H55F gearbox that I have, so that is one option. But that then requires a lot of fart-arsing around with looms etc.

EV conversion might be out due to cost; some of the groups are keeping an eye on salvage auctions, and an example is an XC40 EV only making $7k.

Not sure that 150-180KW in something as tall, SWB and narrow as a BJ70 is a good idea...

I'll work something out; Wife is on her way back from a road trip (Alice Springs back to here with a mate) and has only seen one SWB (but 2 40 series) so is keen to get it sorted out as a tourer of some flavour.

Get a Falcon. Swap related electronics into yours with the motor.

I bet there's lots of info out there.

I'll ask Mark about the wrecked T8.

Graeme Manietta here in Brisbane has done a Landcruiser 70 series.

Ozdiyelectricvehicles.com is his website.

He used a high torque motor that runs 800Nm running it straight into the transfer case from memory.

OK... so it's looking like keeping the BJ70 as close to stock as possible, as I've been given my instructions on what it should be able to do.... which is done best by keeping it stock.

I want the back of bandy set out for touring. Drawers fridge slide etc. be more of a adults car rather than for dogs too. As in for going camping.

So, based on that, and knowing someone has itchy feet again after a 10 day road trip, I think keeping it as close to stock as possible will be the go. Some people are saying they're good for about 12L/100km, and with a 90 litre tank that works out to be around 700km.

80 will stay as the dog camping vehicle, so that's clear in terms of what does what.

There was a 14B on Marketplace the other day for $2500, claimed to be in good running condition. I'm not sure what needs to happen with sump, oil pickup, and other ancillaries to do the swap, but it's been done before. You might find more info on 4BTswaps and ih8mud.

    Dauntless

    There was a 14B on Marketplace the other day for $2500, claimed to be in good running condition. I'm not sure what needs to happen with sump, oil pickup, and other ancillaries to do the swap, but it's been done before. You might find more info on 4BTswaps and ih8mud.

    Yeah the closer I can stay to a stock swap the better. A 3B, 13B, 14B or possibly a 15B would be good. May look for a turbo one or just add a Whistle'n'Soot kit as appropriate.

    I'll get it engineered properly as it may go full rego or Classic rego, it's not been decided yet.

      If you can find a 14B, I'd be inclined to try one naturally aspirated first. They go surprisingly well in the trucks. This probably won't require engineering as it's a direct bolt in and a minor capacity/output increase. If you do decide to add a turbo, it should work out safer and more efficient than a 3B.

      4 months later

      So in September I ended up in Sydney, and picked up a 13B-T with a 3" exhaust, and an auto gearbox (anyone want one to gearbox someone with?)



      Got it back up to here, pulled the old 3B out on a stinking hot day






      13B-T is cleaning up nicely; I just need to sort the Rear Main Seal out and water pump before I refit it




      Interior is a work in progress; I spent today pulling out the dash, and it looks like the whole lot has to come out... There were some industrious mice that didn't make it out...


      Seats are off at the trimmers, and he's made me some new door cards as well:


      Was hoping to have it going in 2 weeks time, but I think it might be into the new year looking at the amount of dashboard work I need to do!

      2 months later

      Seats are finished now

      Image description

      Image description

      Now filling up the front room!

      Will get them bolted in over Christmas.

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