another 1HZ - turbo query

Submitted: Friday, Feb 12, 2010 at 10:18
ThreadID: 75968 Views:12160 Replies:11 FollowUps:22
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Hi all,

I'm an expat living in Peru, and the other day I finally got my hands on a HZJ78... they are almost as rare here as in the states/canada. I got it cheap because it needs an engine/gearbox rebuilt, but three years of searching means you take what you can get.

OK, to the point... I am still undecided as to whether I refit the turbo it came with after the rebuild. I have read countless forum threads and technical sheets, and I am leaning towards putting on the turbo at 8psi and installing EGT and boost gauges to keep an eye on it, but I am not yet completely convinced I am doing the right thing because I am converting this baby into a camper to tour South and North America (maybe do up to 80,000 kms in it) with my wife, and while the extra power will be welcome at altitude and in general (I had a HZJ75 tourer years ago back in Oz and remember the old slowlane days!), the last thing I want is unreliability, especially in South America... so any comments on experiences with similar turbo/gearbox setups would be very welcome.

the history... HZJ78 2002 with 1HZ motor and R151 box imported new to Peru by Thiess... immediately had a Garrett T3 turbo (water and oil cooled) installed @8psi with 2.5" exhaust, work done by local Toyota for the purpose of working in the Andes (+4000 m above sea level). The next owner, one year later and to date (a peruvian construction company), thrashed it in a mine... it had the boost raised to at least 12psi, apparently very little maintence, and when i finally got my hands on it with 220,000 km, the cylinder pressures ranged from 250 to 400psi and the box had been completely rebuilt but two gear shifts and gear shift forks had been modified/damaged which I am currently replacing. I have heard this box is crap for pushing a landcruiser with a 1HZ, and that problems have arisen when turboed.

I am rebuilding the motor with the original pistons (which were in perfect nic) and using all original replacement parts, and sleeving the cylinder block instead of reboring. The gearbox is in good nic, except for the abovementioned parts which i am importing from Toyota... it was recently overhauled and had the syncs changed out (they obviously couldn't find the broken gear shifts hence the dodgy modification of another and consequent damage to the other and the forks they run on).

I'm a pretty conservative driver, but I think my greatest concern is possible problems with the gearbox, although if I can be 'guaranteed' a troublefree 80,000km I'll be happy with the extra power/torque.

Cheers,
Damien

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