Why consider an LS Swap over any other engine swap for your FJ60, FJ62, FJ80, and FZJ80 Toyota Land Cruiser

Why consider an LS swap over any other engine swap for your FJ60, FJ62, FJ80, and FZJ80 Toyota Land Cruiser

While we may pride ourselves on being Toyota purists, let’s face it: the engineers at Toyota didn’t always provide the horsepower necessary to push our beloved “Land Tanks” down the road and up rugged mountains with vigor. Sure, we could import one of those sweet Toyota turbo diesel engines, but therein lies a bigger problem. What parts will you find at Napa, AutoZone, or O’Reilly’s when exploring remote locations like Death Valley or the Great Basin Desert? LS parts, that’s what!

According to Toyota UK’s blog post “Toyota Land Cruiser history—Station Wagon edition,“ Toyota has sold 550,000 units of the 80-Series Land Cruiser worldwide. But how many of those are actually in the USA? It’s estimated that fewer than 20,000 FJ80s (’91-’92) were sold in North America, with the FZJ80 (’93-’97) coming in at less than 50,000 units. The LX450 Lexus (the rebadged 80-Series) sold only around 15,000 units, making it clear that fewer than 100,000 total 80-Series variants were sold in the USA.

Of those, the 1991-1992 FJ80 stands out as the best candidate for an LS swap, as it came with the underwhelming 3FE engine carried over from the FJ62. The later ’93-’97 models featured the more refined 1FZ-FE engine with dual overhead cams, though still based on the inline-six platform. It wasn’t until 1998 that Toyota introduced the 2UZ V8 with the 100-Series. While Toyota did offer a V8 with the 2004-2006 2UZ-powered 4Runner, it was the 80-Series available outside North America that saw an optional 1HD-FT 4.2L turbo diesel with 170 bhp.

But before we discuss the specifics of the LS engine, let’s examine the engines that powered the Toyota 80-Series Land Cruisers and consider what Toyota alternatives could work for an engine transplant.

1991 – 1992 FJ80 3F-E

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1993 – 1997 FZJ80 1FZ-FE

The 1FZ-FE was a fuel-injected 4.5L inline-six with dual overhead cams, delivering 212 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. While it was a step up from the 3FE, it was still an inline-six engine that left many wanting more power for road and trail performance.

Fuel-injected 1FZ-FE output is 212 hp (158 kW) at 4600 rpm and 275 lb-ft (373 N⋅m) at 3200 rpm.
Carbureted 1FZ-F output is 188 hp (140 kW) at 4400 rpm and 268 lb-ft (363 N⋅m) at 2800 rpm;

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1989–1995 HDJ80

The 1HD-FTE was a 4.2L turbocharged diesel engine with 167 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Available only outside North America, this engine was a favorite for its torque and reliability, and it became an appealing option for those looking to swap into a U.S.-spec Land Cruiser.

The bore and stroke are 94 mm × 100 mm (3.70 in × 3.94 in), with a compression ratio of 18.8:1.
Output is 167 hp (125 kW; 169 PS) at 3,400 rpm with 380 N⋅m (280 lb⋅ft) of torque at 1,400 rpm.

There is an intercooler variant of the 1HD-FTE in the HDJ100 station wagons that has 202 hp (151 kW; 205 PS) at 3400 rpm with 430 N⋅m (317 lb-ft) of torque at 1200-3200 rpm with a redline reaching 4200 rpm. A lower output 122 kW (164 hp; 166 PS) non-intercooled version powers HDJ78 Troop Carrier and HDJ79 Utility versions.

LS Engine Overview

Let’s look at the LS engine family, which has become a favorite swap for many off-roaders and performance enthusiasts. These V8 engines significantly increase power and torque over the stock Toyota options and are supported by a vast aftermarket.

LS Engine Options

• LS1 5.7L: Power Output: 305 hp | Torque: 335 ft-lb
• LQ4 6.0L:   Power Output: 325 hp | Torque: 370 ft-lb
• LS3 6.2L:   Power Output: 430 hp | Torque: 425 ft-lb

General Motors has produced over 100 million LS-based engines, making them widely available. In fact, parts like water pumps, thermostats, belts, and more are easier to find for LS engines than for the original Toyota components in remote areas. This availability is a significant advantage when taking your Land Cruiser into the wild.

See our CT525 engine:
Chevrolet Performance CT525 6.2L Crate Engine / High-RPM LS Performance with Forged Pistons – Part Number: 19434598

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