v6 conversions hilux

Hi Ray, you have not mentioned which model Hi lux you have, back in the eighties I fitted a hilux with a straight six, and found out at great expense it was not worth the hassle,after changing diff ratios and gearing, just to get some where near the fuel consumption thought I would get, it was a complete failure. Now days I stay with the standard vehicle motor. sure I had more power and when it wasn't broken down worked quite well off road, but still I would not do it again, as for the v6 Holden motor I would look at the toyota 3.5 v6 early models as a conversion.
Broodie H3

Mate when i worked for toyota back in 88 to 92 this was an extremely common conversion and ARB even did their own as well which we sold. Yes the VN/VP was the common engine V6 with auto box was the option, some people who did their own at the time would fit the old 4.2L V8 out of the holdens but the V6 would leave them for dead, less issues and were more reliable. Marks Adaptors have all the required gear and if you are pretty good on the tools then you will save a fortune. Most get a complete engine including the wiring loom from the vehicle and then take the plunge. Most ECU units are put in the glovebox so there kept high and dry. Power steer hoses, aircon, etc are things to look into as well. Im quit sure if you did some googling on this you will come up with pages of this change over been done or some forums out there. My mate had his 86 duel cab done and also running on LPG never had any issues except from blowing rear diff but this was in my opinion from flogging it all the time and obviously the extra power compared to the 2.4L he pulled out of it. If you intend keeping it for a while then I would say go for it. I wish that toyota would do like the V6 engines in the commodores and that is mount the bloody alternator at the top of the engine like in the V6 commodore engine, then it would cop mud and crap, this is one thing you wont have to worry about. If intending to play in the water then some lanolin spray or wd40 or the likes may be needed as the plugs not been well insulated will ark out as my mates finds out. I have dunked my V6 prado deep in to it and neved had an issue but the plugs are well consealed like the 120 I have now with their own coilpack and down in through the rocker covers compared to the V6 engine. i would get a low klm one out of a VT/VX, more grunt then the VR/VS. The VS and VT/X are all ecotec engines but the VT/VX bit more refined and more kw's. Wouldnt go the VZ there made by the same mob who make the saab engines, ok when going but have a few issues, some with pouros blocks. cracking thermostat housings, leaking pumps etc, the older V6 more reliable and cheap as for parts...............................

as said above, need to know the year of yours as you will not be able to fit an earlier motor in your lux for emmissions reasons. Engine must comply with cars ADR rules/year.
From my research VR is the last Commodore engine without a BCM (body control module). Later can be used but you need a module to fool the ECM into thinking its still in a Commodore.

Marks Adaptors or Castlemaine Rods are the source for parts.

Good idea in theory but not quite so in practice! But I'll tell you what I know from expereicne with engine swaps (Holden EFI V6 and V8 into older Holdens, Subaru Turbo in VW, Ford EFI V8 into older falcon etc)
Firstly, it wil be at least a $10K conversion. If you are doing this swap to "save money" then QUIT NOW. If anythig I am about write makes your eyes glaze over, QUIT NOW.

Save for a later Hilux - 2005 models are under $20K. Got that?

If you wish to continue,.... With all the other effort invoved, get a VT-on (ecotec) engine - nicer, smoother, more grunt than the VN-VR engines and better management than the VS. You may need a speedo head conversion to suit the mech drive speedo in (most) hiluxes as the 4L60E box in VS-on cars doesn't have speedo drive output.

You must retain the factory speed input to the computer (some conversion 'specialists' don't) or the car won't idle and trans won't work properly. Yes try retainHolden factory revs/road speed as thsi helps with shift points, TC lockup and lean-cruiser closed-loop economy . But I'm not sure if Hilux diffs are available to do this - Holdens have 0.89 4th and 3.08 gears on a 205/65/15 tyre so you might be OK with shorter Hilux diffs and taller tyres.
That's all I can think of for now - and I haven't mentuioned sumps, radiators, coolant hoses, engine mounts or engineering yet! Check out v6conversions.com.au. I think they do a neat kit

Get yourself a 2005 or later Hilux V6 , it will be legal, cheaper, less hassle and have resale value.

It is also worth rememberig thet the genuine hilux 2.7 litre injected 4 cylinder petrol motor is a pretty sweet thing and produces more power in less weight than lots of much bigger motors....more power than a 4.1 liter falcon motor and more power than a 253 V8 in stock form.

That should be a pretty straight forward swap that requires little or no engineering.

Or just buy one between 2001 and 2005.

cheers