Replace Prado V6 with 3 L diesel motor - what's involved ?

Brew I think people want diesel over petrol in a 4wd for more than just economy. I've had both petrol and diesel Prados and diesel is just so well suited to a 4wd with its massive torque at half the revs of a petrol motor. I save about $5 per 100km. That's about $500 per 10,000km or $5,000 in 100,000km (or 3 years). But at the end of those 100,000km my diesel (which cost exactly the same as the petrol equivalent) will be worth at least three or four thousand dollars more than the petrol version. Add to that the extended range when off road (the fuel consumption gap widens on trips like the Simpson Desert), the longevity and reliability and you can see why Jeff wants to go diesel! Jeff check out what is involved in changing the auto specs to suit the lower rev power band of a diesel. The petrol Prado changes down at much higher revs than the diesel (I've had both)

Muddy doe who is a 120 diesel owner tells me a study into running costs of petrol vs diesel was done over a year and with servicing etc there was no difference in running cost at all.

Brew, I think you must realise that a "study" can produce any result that it wishes. Many studies factor in the initial purchase price difference which is considerable in the case of most vehicles but not for Prados on which I based my case. I have had 2 V6 Prados and now have a TD. I have kept detailed fuel use records and service costs. The additional servicing amounted to $96.50 at 25,000km and the 30,000km service cost $234.70. A 30,000km service on my first V6 cost me $168.40 in August 1998. Given that that was over 6 years before the comparable service on the diesel I suspect that there is very little difference in servicing costs. The real saving comes in fuel. I average $5.00/100km as said before. Additional savings come in much higher resale value (remember that the initial purchase of the TD is the same as the V6. Not so important if you keep them for a long time but I change at about 18 months. Then there is the driving pleasure off road as the diesel just cruises over difficult areas where the petrol needs the extra revs and sucks up the fuel off road. An example of off road fuel use in a Simpson crossing - I was driving a V6 and mate had a diesel (not turbo) cruiser. Our fuel use to Oodnadatta was comparable (about22mpg). Oodnadatta to Birdsville I used 120l and he used 95l. We travelled exactly the same distance at the same speed. Apart from the difference in cost at the bowser in Birdsville, the most significant difference is the greater range he had from a given amount of fuel. I know that his tanks were smaller than mine (135 v 159) so my range in the V6 was much the same as his but imagine the range of my current TD. If I had to I could go Oodnadatta to Birdsville and return without filling LOL.
Now all of this is of little relevance to you if you use your vehicle as a shopping trolley / kids taxi as most people do, but to a keen off road traveller like me it has great signifance.

But truckster, the need for detailed planning before undertaking a conversion like this cannot be over emphasised. I'm just amazed that your mate could do the whole job and then find he couldn't fit the fan in!!!!!!!! I mean that's as simple as measuring the length of the engine!!! There won't be a problem with that on the Prado as the engine bay easily accommodates the diesel motor with a significant gap between the fan and radiator. Jeff .... make sure you plan everything BEFORE you start so that you avoid the pitfall that Truckster's mate is in. Good luck!

He bought the place that makes most kits that was supposed to 'work'..

Admittely it was the first kit of its kind for the VS donk into a 4skinner...

The work was undertaken by a reputable 4wd shop in melbourne, not a yarder either.

It didnt. In fact there wasnt room for themos on the inside, they had to go on the front of radiator and push the air thru, it wasnt enough . NFI what happened with it in the end.

Porls you're doing VERY well to get 11l/100 from a V6. The best I ever got was 11.3l/100 and that was a flat freeway run from Melbourne to Geelong and return using cruise control at 100kph and with no luggage. With the TD I find I can get that economy up hill and down dale at 100 - 120kph fully loaded. That's the diesel difference!

Jeff re the above advice ... the Pajero may be worth considering but think carefully about the disco as they are very slow on the highway and tend to be a very "wet" motor.

Mick, can you ellaborate regarding the Discovery?
What do you mean they are slow on the highway? I was travelling on a 110 km/h freeway not long ago, going up a hill, I was doing 110km/h and a TD5 went past me, still accelerating, to get past me before the lane ended. It had to have been doing near 130km/h, no diesel smoke, etc.
Also, what do you mean by a wet motor?
Cheers

Pajero has 132 kW, Disco 101kW, Prado has 90 something.