Lexus V8 (1UZ) into Prado 90 V6

[LouisF Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LouisF]

I have decided to have a Lexus V8 transplanted into my Prado 90. Has anyone of you done that and if so, what is your experience with it? I heard about a bloke in Cape Town area that said he got 9 km/l average from it. As my average consumption is about 7, it seems I will save some money, although that is not why I am doing it. I would like to read your comment on this, please.

Cheers

Louis

[robandjenine Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robandjenine]

I'd be very interested to hear this one, I was also contemplating this conversion when it's time for a new donk in the 90

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

Do itttt. Would be so good.

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Are you sure you want the 1UZ? Or did you mean the 4.7L 2UZ-FE found in the 100 series Landcruiser?

I think a more sensible conversion would be to use a 1GR-FE 4.0L V6 from the 120 series Prado. It would be a serious power upgrade for a 90 series and would be much easier to fit in engine bay.

[Derb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Derb]

Hi Fellas. Is a crowd in Pukekohe (near Auckland) does the 1UZ conversions on Hi-Lux/Surf/4Runner/Prado 90's on a regular basis. Not an uncommon conversion over here. Another lot in Taupo specialises in Hi-Lux's. UZ's are cheap power with Link computer upgrade. Some of the exhaust manifolds used are pretty agricultural looking though on some conversions. Cheers, Derb.

[LouisF Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LouisF]

Why I am not getting a 3UZ? Too expensive: ± 3x the price of the 1UZ. And I don't need that much power. Going from 132 KW to 216 (the post '96 VVTi) and from 298N.m to 407 is good enough for me.
And the reason I am not interested in the 1GR-FE is the following findings of a seasoned and highly regarded transplanter of engines locally: "then got a 4l v6 lux in and what a mess broken crank destroyed oil pump on the auto box but did get sorted , shoved 2 conrods out the block , sorry but after looking at the v6 4l i would never buy one - very flimsy motor"
The 1UZ is a very robust motor. According to wikipedia: "In 1997, Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing technology was introduced along with a further compression ratio increase to 10.5:1,[1] bumping power and torque to 216 kW (290 hp) and 407 N·m (300 lb·ft). In the GS400 application, output was rated at 300 hp and 310 lb·ft of torque.The 1UZ-FE was voted to the Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 1998 through 2000" And once again the 1UZ is cheaper and it is a straight fit onto my Prado's 'box.
Glad to hear this is done elsewhere too. In the USA there's also a strong following for the Lexus series of V8s: 1UZ, 2UZ and 3UZ. Some very interesting reading here:
http://www.lextreme.com/1uzfe_info.html

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Even though your not going down the path of the 1GR-FE that is a load of shit what he has written about that motor. Not saying it didnt happen BUT its not a common thing and look through the posts on here I doubt there would even be one and if there was again how has it been treated and who's to say the motor he got hold of was ever serviced properly ?? These motors along with the 3.4 from the 90 are well known for exceeding 400/500 thou without any issues if serviced correctly, have seen it for myself. Some people talk out there ar#e. If it was like the dash boards in the 120's then I would believe it was a common thing....(this is not aimed at you in any way) just saying some people talk a load of shit when some thing goes wrong...........Cheers Steve

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Why I am not getting a 3UZ? Too expensive: ± 3x the price of the 1UZ. And I don't need that much power. Going from 132 KW to 216 (the post '96 VVTi) and from 298N.m to 407 is good enough for me.
And the reason I am not interested in the 1GR-FE is the following findings of a seasoned and highly regarded transplanter of engines locally: "then got a 4l v6 lux in and what a mess broken crank destroyed oil pump on the auto box but did get sorted , shoved 2 conrods out the block , sorry but after looking at the v6 4l i would never buy one - very flimsy motor"
The 1UZ is a very robust motor. According to wikipedia: "In 1997, Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing technology was introduced along with a further compression ratio increase to 10.5:1,[1] bumping power and torque to 216 kW (290 hp) and 407 N·m (300 lb·ft). In the GS400 application, output was rated at 300 hp and 310 lb·ft of torque.The 1UZ-FE was voted to the Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 1998 through 2000" And once again the 1UZ is cheaper and it is a straight fit onto my Prado's 'box.
Glad to hear this is done elsewhere too. In the USA there's also a strong following for the Lexus series of V8s: 1UZ, 2UZ and 3UZ. Some very interesting reading here:
http://www.lextreme.com/1uzfe_info.html

There was a guy here in Australia that did the same 1UZ transplant into a MQ Nissan patrol.
He seemed very happy with the end result.

Good luck with the 1UZ transplant. It is a strong and well regarded engine. It seems you have done your research, and the engine suits you for what is being done locally.

Steve

[GreenVX Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GreenVX]

Hi LouisF,
firstly good luck with your planned swap, engine conversions are never simple things.
Think the guys have already covered the major aspects but in keeping with apples to apples there was no gs400, im assuming you meant the ls400 from the late 90s which used the same basic block but was a RWD saloon rather than an off roader. Again assumptions but im guessing your planning on taking the 4.7 from lexus LX470 from around 1999/2000?
That would be an interesting swap over to see, if you get some time would be great to see how it would turn out.
If it was myself doing the swap though I would be sceptical of the 90 series prados driveline being able to handle nearly DOUBLE the tourque that it was designed for.
Another question raised is how you are going to find basically an engine and driveline package when the lexus lx470 model is fairly scarce to begin with?
While the more widely sold V8 landcruiser with the 2UZ that williade mentioned earlier would be alot easier to come by. This would seem like a better option for your planned mods but this is simply my opinion and for all I know you may have contacts in the states willing to ship you parts.
Once again, Goodluck with your swap.

[timmay5.7 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close timmay5.7]

The mechanic I take my car to has done about 4 1uz into surf conversions in the past 2 years.
The 1uz 4.0 is lighter than the 4.7, easy to get mods for, cheap to buy (about 2k for a whole running front cut).
The latest one was a 96 toyota surf, so almost the same driveline as a 90 prado anyway -
same diesel motors, same suspension setup, same chassis dimensions, just a different body. I have no doubt this conversion would be awesome, and something I would consider for mine - if not a holden 6.0, or the 4.7 from the US 4runner.

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

I'd loooooove more power but I've already blown 2 CV's in 2 years, god knows what I'd blow with a v8 under the hood!! If it were me, I'd just do a simple bolt on supercharger, and enjoy significantly less issues, but horses for courses...

[LouisF Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LouisF]

Even though your not going down the path of the 1GR-FE that is a load of shit what he has written about that motor. Not saying it didnt happen BUT its not a common thing and look through the posts on here I doubt there would even be one and if there was again how has it been treated and who's to say the motor he got hold of was ever serviced properly ?? These motors along with the 3.4 from the 90 are well known for exceeding 400/500 thou without any issues if serviced correctly, have seen it for myself. Some people talk out there ar#e. If it was like the dash boards in the 120's then I would believe it was a common thing....(this is not aimed at you in any way) just saying some people talk a load of shit when some thing goes wrong...........Cheers Steve

No need to get so excited Steve. The incident did happen, but you are quite right, we have no backround info. That engine in my view blew that way because the driver (accidentally?) put it in a much too low a gear for the roadspeed. The guy who wrote that, has impeccable credentials and is very highly regarded by members of our LC Club (www.landcruiserclub.co.za) and if he says that's what he saw, I believe him. Furthermore, his remarks about the "flimsiness" of the 1GR-FE is his opinion. But I should have added in my post that I cannot get a transplant of one of those for the price of the 1UZ, the main reason for my choice.

[LouisF Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LouisF]

I'd loooooove more power but I've already blown 2 CV's in 2 years, god knows what I'd blow with a v8 under the hood!! If it were me, I'd just do a simple bolt on supercharger, and enjoy significantly less issues, but horses for courses...

My engine developed a piston slap due to overheating when the rad's inlet-pipe blew on a trip on a hot day far from anywhere. That inlet pipe has been damaged somehow before I ever bought the truck. If it had not been for that and I only wanted more power, the s/charger might also have been my choice. But an aftermarket 'charger is not the best thing that can happen in the life of an engine, IMHO.

[LouisF Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LouisF]

Hi GreenVX, good to find a familiar name from LCOOL here (your avatar pic seems to be the same, so if you're not that goy, my apologies)! The 90 I have, has the AISAN A343F 'box, according to my MAX ELLERYS 'shop manual very similar tp the A340F found in the 120. The 1UZ does not develop "nearly double" the torque of the 5VZ-fe, but only just over 30% more - 289N.m for the 5VZ and 407N.m for the 1UZ. I'll just have to not abuse the darn thing.

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Even though your not going down the path of the 1GR-FE that is a load of shit what he has written about that motor. Not saying it didnt happen BUT its not a common thing and look through the posts on here I doubt there would even be one and if there was again how has it been treated and who's to say the motor he got hold of was ever serviced properly ?? These motors along with the 3.4 from the 90 are well known for exceeding 400/500 thou without any issues if serviced correctly, have seen it for myself. Some people talk out there ar#e. If it was like the dash boards in the 120's then I would believe it was a common thing....(this is not aimed at you in any way) just saying some people talk a load of shit when some thing goes wrong...........Cheers Steve

Agreed. It is very rich to describe the 1GR-FE as a "very flimsy motor" because you once saw one that was wrecked. They are one of the best Petrol engines for 4wd applications. Very strong and also very torquy for a juice burner.

My engine developed a piston slap due to overheating when the rad's inlet-pipe blew on a trip on a hot day far from anywhere. That inlet pipe has been damaged somehow before I ever bought the truck. If it had not been for that and I only wanted more power, the s/charger might also have been my choice. But an aftermarket 'charger is not the best thing that can happen in the life of an engine, IMHO.

Is the cylinder block damaged? If the block is healthy, I'd be rebuilding the engine and supercharging it. If the block is gone, I would consider a replacement long block motor or a 2nd hand 5VZ-FE and maybe a supercharger.

Don't underestimate the amount a work involved in a conversion like this.

I was at first of the mindset that when my 80 series 4.5L I6 clapped out I would install an LS2. Now I'm leaning towards rebuilding the donk and supercharging it.