engine replacement

[PN]

Hi
I have been trying to locate a 1994 Toyota Hiace 2779cc deisel engine for a campervan I recently purchased, but have come up against some unscrupulous reconditioned engine specialists.
One gave a quote and when I went to purchase the engine I found out they had put an ad on their site for the engine, posted the same time as I had contacted them. They gave a quote and then tried to source one...I could have paid for it and they didn't even have the engine. Others have quoted for the specs I requested and it turned out to be a 2449cc not 2779cc. Also the quotes have been for £1500 to £2500.

The camper is with a mechanic who says the best is a new engine....it was left standing at another dealership by the previous owner with the head left off the engine. The mechanic says it's best to get the same as came out, but it's hard to find one and I have been told that a 2449cc would not for because the connections for electrics etc., are different.
The interior of the camper is so beautiful, outfitted in solid wood, lovely and clean with a wood burner installed, that I am loathe to give up on her.
But if I can't find an engine I am at a loss as how to proceed.

Paul

[GreenV8S]

PN said:

But if I can't find an engine I am at a loss as how to proceed.

Sell it, and hope the general condition will attract somebody else as optimistic as you were that the problem could be fixed easily and cheaply.

[finlo]

Shove a V8 in there!

[x 7usc]

is there a reason why the engine you have already can't be rebuilt? There's probably lots of small companies out there that do exactly that. i recently picked up a two post lift from Automotech and next door was a guy with a small unit rebuilding engines

[Evoluzione]

x 7usc said:

is there a reason why the engine you have already can't be rebuilt? There's probably lots of small companies out there that do exactly that. i recently picked up a two post lift from Automotech and next door was a guy with a small unit rebuilding engines

PN said:

it was left standing at another dealership by the previous owner with the head left off the engine.

[stevieturbo]

If a good engine the same cannot be sourced from a reputable source....rebuilding may make sense, again as long as it is done by a competent place/person.

But why does it need replaced in the first place ? what is actually wrong ?

[x 7usc]

Evoluzione said:

x 7usc said:

is there a reason why the engine you have already can't be rebuilt? There's probably lots of small companies out there that do exactly that. i recently picked up a two post lift from Automotech and next door was a guy with a small unit rebuilding engines

PN said:

it was left standing at another dealership by the previous owner with the head left off the engine.

Yep,so was my tvr, that's being re built, bores rusty and engine full of water!

[dhutch]

Sounds like the engines are rare, enter a world of chancers.

At said, depending on what's wrong £2500 might well be worth rebuilding.

Else are their vans available you can remove the engine from?

Daniel

[HustleRussell]

If you’re looking at £2.5k for a ‘refurbished’ engine of dubious origin, surely it is worth considering pulling the bottom end apart, getting the bores cleaned up and a new set of rings put on?

Is the rest of the engine now ok with only the rusty bores to solve?

How hard have you tried to find a replacement engine, have you rung around the specialist breakers? Google isn’t always your friend.

[GreenV8S]

HustleRussell said:

Is the rest of the engine now ok with only the rusty bores to solve?

The fact it was dismantled and left in bits suggests there may be some other problems, presumably ones not trivial to fix since they were not fixed.

[PN]

Thanks everyone for the input. The mechanic it is with ...taken to by the previous owner from the dealership who left the van sitting with the head off the engine, looked at the engine and said if it had been soaked in oil etc., it could have been saved and that the best is a new one! I'm running blind here ...the engine looks totally rusted, but I'm not a mechanic. He has a good reputation and is a bodywork rebuild specialist, I assume he knows what he is talking about. Saying that he will not source an engine for me (I can understand he doesn't want any fallback) and is not very forthcoming with advice. He's happy to fit an engine if I source it, and said a same engine as came out is best but when I have searched and contacted him with details, such as would a 2449cc engine fit? are the connections different? all he text me was 'possibly' and doesn't seem to want to commit himself

[The Wookie]

For 2.5 grand you‘re not far from having the thing fully rebuilt by a race engine builder. A decent machine shop should be able to do it for less

I’d just have a google or a search on Facebook, you should be able to find somewhere local that’s got decent reviews

[anonymous-user]

I’m sure you know this but a bit of Googling tells me you are looking for the Toyota “3L” engine:

The 3L is a 2.8 L (2,779 cc) four-cylinder diesel engine. Bore and stroke is 96 mm × 96 mm (3.78 in × 3.78 in), with a compression ratio of 22.2:1. Output is 91 PS (67 kW; 90 hp) gross at 4000 rpm with 19.2 kg?m (188 N?m; 139 lb?ft) gross of torque at 2400 rpm.

Hilux/Hilux Surf/4Runner[10]
Toyota HiAce
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (J90)
Toyota Dyna 150 (Euro-spec)

So you may have more luck looking for a Hilux for example?

[PN]

stevieturbo ...That makes sense. I don't know what is actually wrong with it other than, as a layperson, it looks rusted to hell and I assumed the mechanics advice was correct.

As you guys suggest, a rebuild does look like the answer but I've no idea why the mechanic didn't suggest that if it's possible. Thanks, I'll have to get back to him. Can anyone recommend a reliable outfit for rebuild?

HustleRussell ...Have placed searches with CarBreakers, 1st Choice etc., and emailed reconditioned engine specialists. !st Choice came up with two...one who has a very bad reputation, and the other quoted a highly extortionate price....£5,000.

[Scrump]

One has just been listed on eBay with a buy it now price of £770
ENGINE TOYOTA HI-ACE LH11/LH12 1990 On MPV 2779 DIESEL 3L & WARRANTY - 11493913
It looks like it might be the correct engine.

[PN]

Wormus ...Yep I know it's a 3L but thanks for the spec details. I did wonder a while back about a Hilux. Someone suggested 1KZ-TE, which was used in hilux's and prados up until common rail and that a J import or aussie hilux that came with the 2.8td engine also. He said he would definitly just put the 1kz-TE engine in, should be easy to find and is by far the best engine of the lot. The swap should be a simple in and out with no drama?
If I cant get advice from the mechanic looks like I'll have to transport it out of there. Can't get a commitment or much support from him!

Scrump ...Thanks so much for that will check it out.

[The Wookie]

PN said:

As you guys suggest, a rebuild does look like the answer but I've no idea why the mechanic didn't suggest that if it's possible.

To be fair anything’s possible but not everything’s financially viable. He might not have appreciated that you really wanted it fixed

Alternatively he wasn’t confident enough to do a major rebuild himself and he doesn’t have someone that he contracts those sort of jobs out to

[dhutch]

Yes, might be he does have the knowledge or contacts to rebuild, but it might also be it not economical given you have get and engine for £200-600 which is what most are but at £2500 is viable.

Obviously it might also be totally toasted, or having decided it wasn't worth it, enough bits have now been lost it's not happening anymore!


Daniel

[dhutch]

Scrump said:

One has just been listed on eBay with a buy it now price of £770
ENGINE TOYOTA HI-ACE LH11/LH12 1990 On MPV 2779 DIESEL 3L & WARRANTY - 11493913
It looks like it might be the correct engine.

Not even opened the add, but if this is true, could be a winner.

[stevieturbo]

PN said:

Thanks everyone for the input. The mechanic it is with ...taken to by the previous owner from the dealership who left the van sitting with the head off the engine, looked at the engine and said if it had been soaked in oil etc., it could have been saved and that the best is a new one! I'm running blind here ...the engine looks totally rusted, but I'm not a mechanic. He has a good reputation and is a bodywork rebuild specialist, I assume he knows what he is talking about. Saying that he will not source an engine for me (I can understand he doesn't want any fallback) and is not very forthcoming with advice. He's happy to fit an engine if I source it, and said a same engine as came out is best but when I have searched and contacted him with details, such as would a 2449cc engine fit? are the connections different? all he text me was 'possibly' and doesn't seem to want to commit himself

So the mechanic.....is a bodywork specialist.

If it is just rusted bores, a rebore and new pistons should be well within the abilities of most mechanics and machine shops....one would hope. Assuming parts can be sourced.

The last option you'd want to consider is a different engine.

Some pictures of said rust might help...but it is very likely that removing the pistons, giving the bore a good hone, cleaning things up etc etc....and likely it could all go back together and live quite happily for some time.