Diesel 4 runner swap on Ebay....

[LittleCaesar]

I'd like to do this mod; it may be the one thing that keeps my 4runner in the stable. It looks very clean. Price is a little high.

Toyota : 4Runner | eBay

Is the seller a member here? I am always late to the party.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I have driven the truck 2500 miles since performing swap and it has no issues.

There are a lot of reasons to be suspicious but the main reason is that the owner paid to have the diesel "professionally swapped in" ~2500 miles ago and now it is for sale on EBAY.

Why would anyone go through that much money and trouble to sell it for what will inevitably be a huge loss?

I would be worried that the truck has problems - major problems.

Also, you would think that someone who is into the 4x4 scene enough to pay huge cash for a swap in the first place, would know some other people who would want it - if it really ran fine.
.

 

[A&F]

Why would anyone go through that much money and trouble to sell it for what will inevitably be a huge loss?.

This is more common than you think.
Lots of people modify their car, win awards, get magazine time or become a web-forum darling and as soon as the 15 minutes of fame is up they sell it for pennies on the dollar.

I can also see this swap being a huge let down. It's not a large power or torque boost and as soon as the owner realized it's not the romanticized diesel beast people talk and dream about... disappointment set in and the sale ads went up.

But you could also be correct, it may have issues or it could just be the owner realized anytime he needs parts it's a call over seas, 2 week wait and $$$$.

Edit: after reading the ad, sounds like he did the swap and is looking to make a buck. $2000 4runner + $2,000 front clip $1,000 to swap.... Sell for $15,000


$10,000 diesel tax profit?

 

[IanB]

Swap looks clean, I'd say he's a legit seller based on the ebay feedback, and just trying to make a buck for his work. I can't spot anything that looks hacked, diesel tach, the high idle switch is there, RR diff lock equipped, looks like a clean truck. Airbox and fuse boxes are on opposite sides compared to mine, but LOTS of room around the turbo to work.

 

[Singtoe]

There is no intercooler. This truck must be a dog to drive.

 

[IanB]

There is no intercooler. This truck must be a dog to drive.

My truck has no intercooler either, it's not too bad at all. In town there's plenty of torque and you just ride the wave, it's pretty peppy really. At highway speed it is low on power, passing on 2 lane feels like trying to accelerate a parachute sometimes, lol.

 

[LittleCaesar]

IanB,

Is that the same motor you have in your Hilux? It looks like an easy engine to wrench.

The high idle switch is what has my curiosity, I guess for the AC?

 

[cordrayj1]

could an intercooler not be added?

 

[JohnsD90]

could an intercooler not be added?

Intercooler on these are on the top of the motor, it utilizes the sport hood scoop, if i were to add an intercooler i would just FMIC it. That 4runner is one i would stay away from, im not doubting the swap was good, but the chassis has 350k miles, parts need to be replaced at those numbers...

 

[IanB]

IanB,

Is that the same motor you have in your Hilux? It looks like an easy engine to wrench.

The high idle switch is what has my curiosity, I guess for the AC?

Same engine as mine, yes. I haven't had to do much wrenching on it so far, just maintenance stuff so I know it's up to date. The high idle I use in the winter as it warms up much faster, but it could also be used when you're running accesories like a winch, etc that use a lot of juice, as it spins the alternator faster. I've also heard if you idle a lot, it can prevent the injectors from gumming up.

An intercooler can definitely be added, as John said the factory setup uses the sport hood with a topmount core. If/when I add an intercooler, I think I'll be going with an air/water setup, less chargepipes = less boost lag, and no concerns about damaging the core off road or in a fender bender. Big gains to be had from adding an intercooler with no other changes, the factory setup nets 15hp and 42ft/lbs over the non-intercooled version, and 2mpg!

 

[HiluxHunter]

Same engine as mine, yes. I haven't had to do much wrenching on it so far, just maintenance stuff so I know it's up to date. The high idle I use in the winter as it warms up much faster, but it could also be used when you're running accesories like a winch, etc that use a lot of juice, as it spins the alternator faster. I've also heard if you idle a lot, it can prevent the injectors from gumming up.

An intercooler can definitely be added, as John said the factory setup uses the sport hood with a topmount core. If/when I add an intercooler, I think I'll be going with an air/water setup, less chargepipes = less boost lag, and no concerns about damaging the core off road or in a fender bender. Big gains to be had from adding an intercooler with no other changes, the factory setup nets 15hp and 42ft/lbs over the non-intercooled version, and 2mpg!

Intercooler is definitely worth it, heck i've waited 5 months to get mine... i'm not sure of what the MPG will be but I will post what I get on my trip back from Vancouver, how are you finding the MPG on the non intercooled IanB?

Also, diesels like to breath, I've heared putting a snorkle on the surf along with a K&N will also give noticable returns on horse power/MPG.

 

[Hepar]

Yeah, I would definitely want it on a body that had a lot fewer miles on it. And intercooler is a must!

I am curious to what he has the reserve at.

 

[cordrayj1]

Intercooler is definitely worth it, heck i've waited 5 months to get mine... i'm not sure of what the MPG will be but I will post what I get on my trip back from Vancouver, how are you finding the MPG on the non intercooled IanB?

Also, diesels like to breath, I've heared putting a snorkle on the surf along with a K&N will also give noticable returns on horse power/MPG.

is the snorkel theory because of the high compression? i dont know anything about diesels but just wondering...

 

[IanB]

Intercooler is definitely worth it, heck i've waited 5 months to get mine... i'm not sure of what the MPG will be but I will post what I get on my trip back from Vancouver, how are you finding the MPG on the non intercooled IanB?

Also, diesels like to breath, I've heared putting a snorkle on the surf along with a K&N will also give noticable returns on horse power/MPG.

I'm averaging 20.2mpg, and I've tracked every tank since I picked it up on Fuelly | Share and Compare Your MPG so this is deadly accurate. My best highway tank was 23.X, so not quite what I was hoping for. I did however get cruise control installed last night, so I'm excited to see what kind of difference it will make with the highway results. City driving nets about 20mpg with ECT in power mode, and that's not bad IMO.

 

[JohnsD90]

I'm averaging 20.2mpg, and I've tracked every tank since I picked it up on Fuelly | Share and Compare Your MPG so this is deadly accurate. My best highway tank was 23.X, so not quite what I was hoping for. I did however get cruise control installed last night, so I'm excited to see what kind of difference it will make with the highway results. City driving nets about 20mpg with ECT in power mode, and that's not bad IMO.

Cruise control will only help if you not that good at throttle control!

 

[HiluxHunter]

is the snorkel theory because of the high compression? i dont know anything about diesels but just wondering...

Well a part of it has to do with the direct ram air effect of having the snorkel, but also the stock air intake is very restrictive and the snorkel eliminates most of that.

I believe that it would be beneficial for gas and diesel engines but for diesels in particular if the air flow is restricted you will start blowing smoke out the tail pipe and loose a lot of power because the mixture will start to go rich. I'm not a 100% on my diesel theory, but I have had this happen to me with a dodge 1 ton with a cloged air filter and I've had similarly clogged filters on gas cars that didn't effect it at all.

 

[IanB]

Cruise control will only help if you not that good at throttle control!

My drive home to my parents for example is 3 hours of double lane, with only one valley as far as hills go, and very few corners. It will just be nice to "set it and forget it", and I guess we'll see how good my throttle control is, since it's the ONLY factor that could be at play here, according to you, lol. (we've been over this via chat many times)

 

[vthokie]

I would love to have a diesel 4runner. Looks pretty expensive though, and the body has a ton of miles. Maybe i'll be able to import one many years down the road... They should sell them in the U.S., there is no reason not to.

 

[JohnsD90]

Well a part of it has to do with the direct ram air effect of having the snorkel, but also the stock air intake is very restrictive and the snorkel eliminates most of that.

I believe that it would be beneficial for gas and diesel engines but for diesels in particular if the air flow is restricted you will start blowing smoke out the tail pipe and loose a lot of power because the mixture will start to go rich. I'm not a 100% on my diesel theory, but I have had this happen to me with a dodge 1 ton with a cloged air filter and I've had similarly clogged filters on gas cars that didn't effect it at all.

Yes, because the computer still sends X amount of fuel to the engine whether it gets alot or a little amount of air. Now most people think that when they see a big Cummins or Duramax (not powerstroke, it broke down before it gets to this point) with a nice stage 5 or 6 tune cranks by that 400hp corvette is really cool when it blows 19 gallons of unburned diesel in the form of black smoke is really cool and is why they go so fast, but all that is is the engine sending an Un-Godly amount of fuel in the the engine whilst the amount of air being sent in is only so much, the same thing can be accomplished with no black smoke/unburned diesel by sending less fuel to engine while optimizing the fuel air ratio which make for a much more efficent way to blow past a vette at 90mph, instead of wasting so much extra diesel in order to a nice thick film of diesel on the bystanders lungs. And what not many people realize it is just a waste to send all that fuel to the motor if the turbo's cant pull enough air in to match it!

 

[IanB]

Yes, because the computer still sends X amount of fuel to the engine whether it gets alot or a little amount of air. Now most people think that when they see a big Cummins or Duramax (not powerstroke, it broke down before it gets to this point) with a nice stage 5 or 6 tune cranks by that 400hp corvette is really cool when it blows 19 gallons of unburned diesel in the form of black smoke is really cool and is why they go so fast, but all that is is the engine sending an Un-Godly amount of fuel in the the engine whilst the amount of air being sent in is only so much, the same thing can be accomplished with no black smoke/unburned diesel by sending less fuel to engine while optimizing the fuel air ratio which make for a much more efficent way to blow past a vette at 90mph, instead of wasting so much extra diesel in order to a nice thick film of diesel on the bystanders lungs. And what not many people realize it is just a waste to send all that fuel to the motor if the turbo's cant pull enough air in to match it!

Running rich like that is when EGT's spike and you melt pistons. Clean is mean!