Hi all
I posted a message late last year early this year about my Townie, it was finally killed by Rodways and another garage in Southampton, after taking 8 weeks to replace the head there were water/oil and fuel leaks galore, all of which were finally sorted by myself overseeing the garages in question except the oil leak which was done eventually, I later found out the mechanic?????? if he can be called that dropped the gearbox to locate the leak (it was the rubber gasket at the rear of the rocker cover that had slipped).
Said mechanic then proceeded to overfill the engine with oil I think he must have used at least 2 gallons!! anyway the engine went up the creek on the motorway with the wife and kids in it although it did not catch on fire the smoke was unreal and my wife could not see out of the windscreen! The insurance man said the cherry red glow was the turbo which had been feeding on engine oil rather than diesel and had the car gone on much further would probably blown up with rather unpleasent results, but as it was mechanical they couldn't help, and after taking legal advice I have had to cut my losses.

Now to the point the body and interior of the townie is 'ace' but the engine is shafted, can I drop a larger engine in the townie ie a 2.2 or 2.5 turbo diesel, a friend has suggested a 3.0v8 would fit quite nicely as long as larger wheels vere used, anyone got any thoughts on this?

Ps dont use the garage listed above even if they are the last left on the planet better to do it yourself.

- (#8419) Marc, 8 Feb 04 17:13

I have been told that the 3.0 ltr Tdiesel engine from the Hilux Surf will drop in.
Many people told me it would be very expensive to do, due to the different wiring etc for the electronic fuel injection (mine is mechanical!).
My Diesel Mech friend told me that he would have dropped the 3.0 in and used all the existing accessories - mech fuel inj pump etc.
He works for Toyota Truck division here in Perth, WA, and assured me that he could do it - but he was on holidays, and I needed it fixed before he came back. Boo-hoo.

He said that any hilux 4cyl diesel would fit, but the 2.4 and 2.8 have the same head problems as we suffer - he said the 3.0 is great. Probably his opinion, but there it is.

- (#8419) DaveW, 9 Feb 04 01:48