Prado 90 2.7 petrol - engine swap??

[Marduk Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Marduk]

Hello all 4WD lovers !!

I would like to please you for some feedback about my car. I have Prado 90, 2.7 petrol 4cyl, 1999, auto. Already own it 5 years and really happy so far, except only one thing and thats the lazy engine. I bought the car by $8K with 220.000kms and spent through the years around another $8K on improvements and some services. I´ve lifted up with brand new Iron Man susspension Foam cell Pro, install nice solid roof rack, did complete new brakes, complete cooling system (visco, pump, radiator, thermo, all conduits,etc...), I have there all new bushes, LED bars, great LDVD player with ammplifer, sub-woofer, reversing camera, have some camping improvements like a backside drawers with double bad, nearly new offroad tyres and always well serviced on time with oils, transmission fluids, all filters, air-con been re-gased, new strong battery, etc...it all means, that I really like my car and was still buying something new and better into...but now the main question, which I am not able to answer it. As I said, there is the engine with only 2.7 petrol and it is honestly very lazy and very expensive to drive. My car easy taking 20L/100kms when is empty, but I am working as a carpenter and constantly movin heavy trailer, heaps of timbers, tools, etc and than I am over 25L/100kms, but the worse thing trully is, that the power of my car absolutely inadequate to this bloody consumption. When I drive fully load, I have problem to even drive into very low hill, no chance to drive over 60km per hour...so I really need to do something with this case. Sell the car and buy something stronger or and that is my question to you guys, if is here any chance of swap the engine by something stronger and what it can approximately cost ?
The main reason why I am thinking about the option of engine swap is, that I am really really happy with my car with everything, only not with the engine LOL and also clasically is all question of the money, so if would be cheaper to change the engine compare to sell my Prado, buy something stronger and do all other improvements and services again from bottom.... Please help me to make some decision.

Thank you very much for any feedback, opinions, potencial contacts for someone in Perth, who do this services.

[RedAdventureWagon Member Find all posts View Profile Close RedAdventureWagon]

The 90 is a great machine, your upgrades sound very nice. Are you thinking of a change to diesel or petrol still?

Any particular engine you are thinking of? And what kind of driving style - in the country/highway or mostly city?

With petrol your natural choice would be the 5VZ-FE but whilst I think the power increase would be somewhat noticeable I'm not sure you'll see a great deal improved in fuel economy. Might be worth test-driving one if you can so you can compare, if that's the way you want to go.

[Marduk Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Marduk]

Hi there, thank you for response. Well, if diesel engine might suits to my Prado, that would be really great. I am not big fan of petrol engines, this choice I already have was small mistake on purchasing under time pressure. Do you may know anyone who is eventually able to give me rough quote in Perth please ?

[RedAdventureWagon Member Find all posts View Profile Close RedAdventureWagon]

If you google 'Prado 90 petrol to diesel swap' you'll find some threads of people wanting or doing it. Unfortunately I'm not in Perth so can't recommend anyone to assist.

Either way I think you need to decide on which way you want to do (petrol/diesel), the engine or engines you'd want to use, and then the budget you're willing to spend on it. Then see if you can get the engine plus conversion costs out of that budget.

Depending on the cost though, would it be more cost effective getting the one with the engine you want and then swapping your stuff over, and then selling your original one?

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

The short answer is sell your car and buy one that suits. Will be way cheaper.
Scott from Mighty 90's FB swapped out his V6 for a KZ but he had access to a complete wreck, so he could source all wiring, parts etc.
If you ask his opinion I bet he'd say sell too.
Dropping in KZ won't give a massive power increase, although the economy should improve. I had a KZ auto and I can assure you she was no power giant.
You also have the weak cylinder head dilemma.
If you're dead set on an engine swap it would make more sense to source a Hilux KD. Even with their piston problems, they make a heap more power than a KZ and economy is much much better.
Cooling system is still any 90's weak point so that would need addressing.