Blown D4D... What next? Advice/Ideas needed!

[10K]

Hello All,

I come to you all a broken man! Not literally, but pretty gutted.

A few weeks ago I started to have some issues with my truck, and it has been off the road for about two weeks.

To cut a really long story short the head gasket gave way, the motor got really hot and basically it now needs a complete rebuild. Bottom end and cooling system... Basically the best part of $10000.

Ironic for someone with a nickname of "10K". I'm not laughing though...

So the trusty D4D shit itself. Considering how much of a hard time I give it, the extra's I have and the accident I had in it last year I can't say I'm all that suprised, but I could have lived without this expense.... again!

Anyways I'm just sounding out some ideas and looking for some feedback and anything I might be missing in regards to the rebuild or motor conversion, thanks in advance for the advice and insights.

The truck is currently at WestEnd Diesel who I have a very good relationship with and trust, so the aim of this post isn't to question their work or prognosis, rather to see what other options might be worthwhile.

I guess I need to decide what I want from this blasted vehicle long term.
As a work truck I am due for a new vehicle next year in May, but I was planning on keeping this truck as a toy.

I'm not sure on what I want to buy next, which isn't helping a decision with what to do with this busted truck!!


Anyways here are my basic options as I see them:

Option 1

Bite the bullet and rebuild this motor for $10000
That will mean basically a brand new motor, with fresh bore, pistons, rings, bearings etc etc
Warranted.

Advantages:
Fresh start, good re-sale potential etc
Disadvantages:
$$$$



Option 2

V8 Conversion from a Lexus 1UZ
Will cost about $8000-$10000... I'm guessing the later part of that equation.

Advantages:
Bullet proof motor
Lots of power, plus big potential to force feed it for a lot of power.
Good potential to run on LPG.
Cheap parts
Neat conversion, looks stock.
Light motor
Something different.
Can sell the D4D in parts for a rebuild and re-gather some money... I'd guess at least $2000.

Disadvantages:
No longer a "stock" vehicle... which means insurance dramas, lower resale value, smaller resale market.
Locks me into keeping the truck for a while.
Might break running gear with the extra power... more $$$
Long time off the road, at least another month.
Will retain the manual transmission, as the automatic conversion is too expensive. Not that bad, but a bit of a handful for other people (ie the Mrs) to drive.


Option 3

Buy a wrecked D4D and do a motor swap.
The cheapest I found is $5500 and this come with only a 3 month parts and labour warranty. No injectors or turbo.
The truck is already at about $1500 spent in pulling the motor out, testing etc
About another $2000 to install a new D4D so its a bit cheaper than the rebuild.
But without the warranty of the rebuild.


Thats about all the options I'm thinking about.

Boof suggested a motor swap from a V6 Hilux... not a bad option but kind of going backwards... ish?

The Lexus V8 is much more of an exciting prospect!!

So basically fellow Hilux people I am after some genuine feedback.


As far as my new business Monster Rides the Lexus V8 in my truck would be good for advertising and loads of fun to drive, but the bloody thing has just been a money pit from the start and I have that sneaking suspicion that it wouln't get any better with a V8! Not that many people will enquire about the motor conversion, but ti would be something different and present well at car/4x4 shows and in magazines etc





I was really keen on a new Hilux extra cab with suicide doors, but they won't be available, nor will the SR5 in an Automatic.

So maybe I fix this diesel and buy a new V6 dual cab Auto?



Or drop the V8 in it and buy a D4D Dual Cab automatic?



Bloody doing my head in.

Thanks for the advice and wish me luck!


Cheers
Matt

[Steve9R]

man.. bad news.. im really sorry for your loss... especially since ive followed all your dramas with interest since you've had it..

Ive also had this thought as to what to do if the motor blows.. and since i built a drag car years ago and had aspirations then of a v8 lexus thats the way i'd be going, and running straight gas.. so dump the fuel tank and lines drop in a twin exhaust system and go that way..

you're right it'd be unique, but there are always people who want them.. when i sold my custom v8 years ago it took longer than normal, but it sold.. there's always someone..

the other main advantage is that you no longer have to worry about contaminated diesel..

IMHO.. lexus. - 1 vote.

Steve

[Hilux Max]

Matty, Steve is echoing my exact sentiments to you from the other day.

Botom line is do you want to keep or sell this hilux.

If you decide to sell it, do the cheapo 2nd hand motor swap, cut your losses and be done with it.

If your gonna do a Lexus engine conversion, it will be a toy thats gonna stay with you for a while...long term project...think Boofish treatment, well, maybe not to that extent but towards it.....

your call mate.......i vote for the lexus.....

by the way, can you claim it through insurance?

[Boof]

Pretty much exactly as Max said if its going to be a toy and kept long term do the 1uz swap. It would be cool and definately has the potential for more power if wanted

[Marshwa]

another vote for the v8 from me, your buisness is about customising cars, its one hell of a way to show that off by rolling around in a massive hilux with a big v8. Doesn't get much better than that

[dute]

Mmmmmm . . . . .Lexus . . . . .power. .. . . . .


Big boys toys wins every time to me . . . . . .

[Quinny34]

I told ya the V8 would be a big hit....

Rack up another V8 Vote from me...

[shane308]

4.5l turbo v8 D4D out of a cruiser would be nice.

[Zac]

V8 lexus or D4D

[olcoolone]

Yeah Shane has the right idea, thats what I'm thinking for the future.

[jamiecracker]

i would rebuild a d4d
if you are taking it touring or on big trips trying to find parts for a lexus v8 would be hard
then again a v8 lux in the city would be cool

[Bull]

That's a hell of a delema. If it were mine I'd probably want to step back to the simplicity of a mechanical injection diesel.
Why don't you do the sums on a 4.5 TD V8 as shane308 suggested? Something else to do your head in. Would definately be a head-turner then.

[10K]

Firstly thanks fellas for the arm twisting regarding the V8... not half obvious what you blokes would push me towards that option!!

4.5l turbo v8 D4D out of a cruiser would be nice.

Thought of that... bloody expensive motor to buy at the moment.

None of the wreckers had one, a bloke from Melbourne said he had a mate who moved a wrecked 200 Series and the whole chassis and running gear went for $21000, or something ridiculous like that.

Did we work out definatively if the 4.5 D4D motor would fit in the Hilux?
Chassis rails too narrow, or something like that? I remeber reading this on one of the other topics?

another vote for the v8 from me, your buisness is about customising cars, its one hell of a way to show that off by rolling around in a massive hilux with a big v8. Doesn't get much better than that

Very true... this is something that really has me thinking. If I did buy another truck say a D4D Dual cab and set it up as more of a tourer they would be a great promotional team of trucks. One more on the wild side, the other more of a daily driver/tradesman style ute.
I would want to SAS the thing then... all of a sudden I've just spent $20000, and would want to turbo it or supercharge it.
The list wouldn't stop... worse than women these bloody things are


To Quinny, Max and Boof thanks for your time and advice over the past few weeks... very helpful and insightful.
Clear as mud!


A brief background to the issues that caused the motor failure...
It got really hot twice, and then the heater stopped working before I took it off the road, it was still driveable.
It was sluggish at times and stalled twice when coming off the freeway coming back into neutral (not my doing, just lost horses) and then wouldn't restart fro about 5 minutes... this all being said just the gasket was damaged, or the main culprit. Because of the heat damage the rings are stuffed, and everything else needs to be replaced, but is still workable..ish.

As a relative novice in all things diesel I have a few questions about my motor that is currently in bits?

1. So what is the inherant risk of just replacing the gasket and the rings and using everything else as is.
This would save about $4000.

2. Or flow on question from this is how much do you think the motor is worth to sell in bits for someone else to re-build?

3. Does anyone know of a good diesel mechanic in Sydney who might offer a cheaper rebuild option? I really like the guys at WestEnd and they do first class work, but they sure ain't cheap! That said I know diesels aren't cheap to rebuild, but I guess its a question worth asking...


I am warming to the V8 option a lot more, but I really think I should get rid of the old girl... My head tells me to put it back on the road as cheaply as possible and trade it in and be done with it, my heart says keep it and blow all my money on it!

I need to research the V8 option a bit more... if I go down that path I don't want any nasty little suprises popping up and blowing out the budget.

Speaking with a few guys who have done these conversions they seem relatively straight forward now, after lots of other guys before me have done them like Boof... a lot has been learnt and there are guys who specialise in the tricky bits like the wiring looms etc.


More phone calls and internet searching... could be a long night!!


Thanks again for the advice and encouragement.


Cheers
Matt

[10K]

That's a hell of a delema. If it were mine I'd probably want to step back to the simplicity of a mechanical injection diesel.
Why don't you do the sums on a 4.5 TD V8 as shane308 suggested? Something else to do your head in. Would definately be a head-turner then.

The mechanical injection diesel seems to be the most reliable of all the motors put in 4WD if maintained well.

Might just cut some holes in the floor and run it Fred Flinstone style!

The 4.5 D4D is an awesome option, but way to expensive to buy and, then the engineering to get the motor to mate up to the gearbox etc... nightmare. If money was no option it would be the weapon of choice!
Then again one of the European 6 cylinder diesels from Audi or BMW would be ideal... 170 odd kw and 500nM out of the factory in a very light motor... the thing would fly!

The other thing to consider is that I have already invested in DieselGas... so the V8 option makes this redundant.
Same for the air-water intercooler that I have been in development with Plazmaman.

ARGH.... I might need a Dr Phil intervention

To many options is a bad thing.
Busted D4D is even worse.

Buggar.

[K1W1 Hilux]

Lexus V8 with a big blower hanging off it....

[seanr72]

throw it back together and trade it straight away, 10k for an engine rebuild seem rather high tho.

[rodw]

Come up with a very plausible reason why this occurred as a result of an accident and put it through insurance. You will get pro-rata on the engine but at least it would help expenses. Maybe the head warped after a deep water crossing when hit by some water and this caused the engine to blow? Surely in your business, you can find somebody independent to write ..errr.. sign the report...

I'm not really up on engine swaps but what price would be a half cut of whatever engine you decide on so you get the wiring loom and all the ECU stuff..?

[Diegothecat]

well it is a fair pickle you have your self in and every day you contemplate your delimer is one more day with out your car....

For a sence of reliability and knowing that this will not happen again for some time, Id be doin the cheap fix and trading in on a new vehicle.

But the sound of a quad cam V8 would make me wanna pull like a school boy

But they there goes your reliability. A price some are not willing to make. But would be a fun way to get around.........

Good luck

[KTM525EXC]

the lexus motor sounds the goods, and would be a excelent marketing ploy for ya new bussiness. Any custom job is usually time consuming and relitivly expencive but end of the day if it makes ya happy do it
Troy

[Razoo]

I agree with the general idea of these boys. Go the lexus if you gonna keep it as truly excelent promo unit for work. If not, cheap d4d replacement and trade it soon to save reliability and risk issues down the track. Such a crappy position to be in, we all feel for ya mate...