Lexus V8 (1UZ) into Prado 90 V6

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

You can just see the top of the fan here Glen, tucked in behind the grille http://postimage.org/image/667lz2j9b/ Cheers Steve

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

On the front side, yes, blower fans, in other words. I took a video a few minutes ago and downloaded that to me PC, just to hear what it sounds like, for I want to post it to youtube, but I have no idea how to upload to youtube. Once I got that figured out, I'll do a video of the idling and with my wife blipping the throttle. This time it was just the idling.
Listen guys, this thing MOVES when you give it stick. Addictive, especially with that sound.

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

As promised, here are some pics of the final installation. Fuel economy: in town 14.8 mpg average (no street racing, but now and then a little "spirited" driving) and 21.1 mpg on the open road at speeds of 65 mph to 75 mph. Here and there a short "power run" to overtake. Power aplenty and very smooth, once the tuning was sorted out. The tuning was done on a dyno - tuned for economy, if you want to believe that - but the accelerator pump I tuned myself, using the software of the ECU (a locally produced aftermarket system called Spitronics) on a laptop. Now it goes quite nicely, except for the auto box ECU (from now on TCU = transmission control unit) that does not communicate well with the engine's ECU. So in about a month's time we are adding a Spitronics TCU and then, my mechanic says, all will be honky dory. Because there is no room for the engine driven fan and the fan shroud, an electric fan controlled by the ECU does the cooling, which is all well and good, but the ATF is not cooled properly, it seems. The result of this is that after some stop start city driving the 'box heats up and then the torque converter locks up when it should not - in L and 2 on the Prado's 3+O/D box. When this happens at a stop/traffic light, the revs drop to below 500 rpm and when you want to dive off the darn thing stalls. One has to select L before moving off. I believe this on its own is enough reason to say never, ever, put a 1UZ into any automatic car except with the 1UZ's own 'box. And a Prado is not a good subject for this conversion.


Too many pics for one post, so the rest are in the next post.

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

The last 3 pics.

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

Great job mate all looks factory..

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

The story that the fuel consumption is better than with the V6 is a load of crap. Anybody who says he achieved lower consumtion with a 1 UZ than with the original V6 is a liar in my view, unless if he used the Lex transmission as well. Maybe. I could give myself a KITP for going this route, for my once very nice car will never be the same again.

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

""The story that the fuel consumption is better than with the V6 is a load of crap. Anybody who says he achieved lower consumtion with a 1 UZ than with the original V6 is a liar""" Bit harsh there Louis, Wouldnt suprise me if it was better, the 3.4V6 was a bloody thirsty motor at the best of times. My 120 with the 4L V6 is better on fuel then my 3.4 was both freeway running and around town. Best on freeway was 12.2L per 100 my 120 is 11.6L per 100 and dont forget its a bigger vehicle as well. Ive had two commodores one was a straight six the other V8, the V8 was better in both ways. Obviously depends on how you drive them but driven under the same conditions it would be very easily achievable. Look at the 100 series for example the V8 lexus (4.7L) motor in them is more economical then the 4.5L straight 6 hence why the 6 was deleted from the line up at the time. Either way the lexus change over would be a great mod to do, achieving better acceleration and better torque.............Cheers Steve

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

Sorry if I have offended you, Steve, but I am driving the same routr every day and I am really oussy footing it. Despite that, my consumption have increased from an average of 16.7 per 1000 to 20 per hundred. On the freeway I usually achieved 12.2 per hundred at a more or less steady 100km/h to 13.2/100 at 120. This has increased to 13.2 at 100 and 15. If I had to drive even more sedately, I am no longer interested in the thing. Am planning to flog it and rather get a Mitsubishi DI-D. Not quite as good in the rough stuff maybe, but much more economical.

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

No offence taken mate, yeah gotta love the DI-D, fantastic motor and great vehicle to drive, this was my next choice if I didnt find the prado. If I was towing/touring I would buy the mitsi over the prado, mitsi slightly noisier but will leave a prado for dead in the uphill towing stakes.........Cheers Steve

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

So you went to all that effort to put a V8 in a prado but are now selling it because it uses more fuel than a V6? And buying a poojero?

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

Yes Kakadaz, sounds stupid, I know, but I have spoken to 3 guys who had 1UZs put into their cars - albeit with the Lex 'box as well - who had better fuel economy afterwards. I then had the stupid notion that I would be that lucky, too. But to tell the truth, there are other reasons that also bother me, such as the tranny that will never be the same again and the engine coolong fans (4 of them) are mounted with bolts going through the radiator core. I don't trust that and shudder to think if a leak should develop there. Alu cannot be soldered - nor reliably repaired in any other way, I have heard often - and a new radiator costs R7k+. A$700±. I have just lost my taste for the darn thing.

I had to replace the original V6 because it blew a gasket and had to be either replaced or rebuilt. Rebuilding it would have cost about double the amount that the V8 did.

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

So spend a little more and Finnish it off. A V8 Prado is an Awesome combo, how many K's do you do a week that an extra 2-3L per 100 is not justified?

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

Kakadaz, fuel cost is not so important in my day-to-day driving. As a matter of fact I am busy calculating my average consumption before and after the conversion and, although I still have a lot of log book entries to capture in the spreadsheet, it already begins to look as if the difference is not going to be earth shakingly big. The additional fuel cost for in town driving is about A$33/month, which brings my total montly fuel cost to ±A$200 - at roughly 850km/month.

There are however other issues also involved, but you could be right, if that V8 and the transmission are properly sorted out and the fans on the radiator mounted safely (currently 6mm bolts through the radiator core), I will reconsider. At present planning a dyno tune by a more reputable operator, followed by some more work on the electronics of the 'box. I'll report back once that is done.

The car is performing very well on road as far as performance goes, but I am going to test her in off-road conditions as soon as the above work has been done. After that I'll make my decision.

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

I have a blown 3.4 which achieves slightly better fuel economy now than before I fitted the blower - if I drive normally!
My thoughts are your tune is slightly off and perhaps the auto box is not shifting at the correct rpm/load to match the new engine.
With my system properly tuned now I find my economy is consistent anywhere between 80km/hr to 110km/hr cruise irrespective of load. That is roof rack on with 2nd spare, swag or tent etc up top, fridge and clothes etc in the back I get the virtually the same economy as without the rack on, The extra power usually allows the gearbox to hold a higher gear longer. If I use the power (130 kws at the wheels) overtaking etc I use more fuel ... but I have fun especially when my girlfriend goes .... shite!! when I plant the right foot

As for having 4 electric fans i would be worried too, perhaps 2 large fans with a better mounting system might be the go.

Lee