Diesel swap and restoration progress

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larry mcgrath
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by larry mcgrath »

Personaly I like "Every Job Hes A Supprise In IT". No truer words were ever spoken.
SynthDesign
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My tercel:: The General, 85 SR5 w/ Sunroof,Olive Drab paint, Black Interior, custom steel bumpers, Barto BC lift, 1.67L BUILT 3AC w/ Weber Carb. 346,000 miles and counting since restoration
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by SynthDesign »

Any progress? I'm just getting back to my 4A-GE project. I understand how hard it is to keep on a project like a motor swap
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CathodeRayTube
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by CathodeRayTube »

No not really other than daydreaming...Im hoping to get back into it soon however. I just got my new Lincoln Electric welder set up, so that will aid in getting things done faster. Theres still alot of other things iv been focusing on tho and more things getting in the way...the Automatic T4 is largely done and is now my daily driver...i have to change the water pump & T belt in my old daily driver (the 92 corolla fwd wagon), then get it inspected & attempt to sell it.... fix the exhaust on the Grand marquis for it to pass inspection...then the barn has been becoming increasingly cluttered now to the point where i can barely get into my workspace at all due to my fathers projects that he starts right in my way & lets sit forever...because he either gives up, is lazy, or is doing it only to irritate me or all of the above...also cant gracefully do the work on the corolla until he has his shit out of the garage bay...his shit being the VW rabbit with rusted brake lines and a honda motorcycle that hes had for 10 years now & only ridden twice...the clutter keeping me from getting things done also consists of "neet things" that i & everyone else keeps finding & bringing home...a great antique 1950s electric range that works that i scored for $20...redundant microwaves & air conditioners...computer parts...more car parts...building supplies.. ugh...

All that and the broken parts for the 1NT still havent come in...and i have little faith that Jesus (of STC Corp.) will be sending them...im not going to bother going after them...wich they probably know...i should be able to order replacement parts from overseas or repair/substitute as needed. nothing that critical was damaged.
86 T4 DX 4x4 - Diesel Swap project
85 T4 DX 4x4 Automatic
83 T4 SR5 - junker/parts
94 4Runner V6
86 Mercury Grand Marquis
88 Lincoln Town Car
90 Yugo GV+
85 F250 dually 6.9 turbo diesel
81 VW Rabbit Turbo diesel project
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dlb
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by dlb »

CRT, my dad (and his father and brother too, actually) is a legit hoarder too. he has 2 acres and half of it is covered with crap. sounds very similar to your dad: starts projects, takes a "break" for many years, might come back to it eventually but by then the project is rotten or rusted or damaged so he's further behind than when he even started all those years ago. you can't open doors to some rooms in his house because they are full to the ceiling and door with all manners of stuff. his massive shop is rendered useless because there is no space to work, anywhere. i've tried helping him and had some short-lived success that was followed only by him filling the cleaned spaces back up again within a few months. i've learned that hoarding is an addiction, much like drugs or alcohol, and you can't make someone quit it. they have to actually want it themselves. counseling is also a largely overlooked part of dealing with hoarding, too. hoarding is a mental illness and the mental aspect must be addressed before any long-lasting physical benefits can be had. i've talked to my dad about all of this but, of course, he doesn't think he has a problem and just wants to keep living as he does: under a mountain of junk, cursing at his lack of space, unable to do the many things he'd like to.
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CathodeRayTube
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by CathodeRayTube »

I believe it is a serious problem here, however i think everybody (parents & myself) does know when it gets to be too much. I have openly admitted that the model train set i started 10 years ago needs to be disposed of somehow...Im attempting to sell the Corolla like i said, the red junk-tercel i may or may not dismantle and recycle...alltho thats currently living in the woods and isnt taking up any important space...and if i dismantle it il be one-less mobile storage-pod and il have to box up all the parts and store those in the barn...I may just flip the antique stove mentioned...that was partly my plan when i bought it a few weeks ago anyway...i can probably make a handsome profit on it. Dad has his Jeep project for sale (for too much). We also get floods here once in a while...so that forces everybody to clean EVERYTHING up quickly and save the truely important things, while purging all the junk. there is progress being made. its just tough to motivate myself...i have been sick more often than not this entire year with multiple colds, even in the summer, had mononucleosis in July...and now i was just in the ER last weekend for a bad stomach bug...
86 T4 DX 4x4 - Diesel Swap project
85 T4 DX 4x4 Automatic
83 T4 SR5 - junker/parts
94 4Runner V6
86 Mercury Grand Marquis
88 Lincoln Town Car
90 Yugo GV+
85 F250 dually 6.9 turbo diesel
81 VW Rabbit Turbo diesel project
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CathodeRayTube
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by CathodeRayTube »

The barn...
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86 T4 DX 4x4 - Diesel Swap project
85 T4 DX 4x4 Automatic
83 T4 SR5 - junker/parts
94 4Runner V6
86 Mercury Grand Marquis
88 Lincoln Town Car
90 Yugo GV+
85 F250 dually 6.9 turbo diesel
81 VW Rabbit Turbo diesel project
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Petros
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by Petros »

looks like a typical barn around here. I spent every spare weekend this summer cleaning out my shop/garage, I could hardly walk in there either, but i knew there was stuff that had to get scrapped. the problem is when the pile of junk gets too large you do not want to take the time to sort it out, put the stuff you are keeping away, and throw/scrap the stuff that must go. I did not even want to take the time to list the stuff on craigs list, 4 old engines (all needed to be rebuilt), junk parts (bad starters, alternators, etc), scrap metal left over from other projects, etc. I hauled off almost 2000 lbs of metal parts to scrap (that is not counting the good spare parts I am keeping!). Two truck loads of trash bags full of garage (old carpet, old plastic car parts, old pagaging, etc.). I hated spending all my weekends sorting and cleaning out the garage, most of the good parts went in organized boxes, labeled and put on the shelf, off the floor. I still have to sort out 4 or five boxes of miscl. tools, plumping fittings, boat parts, etc.

At least now I can move around in my garage, and have space to get a project car in side before it started raining/snowing.

It is not that I like it that way, or that I can not get rid of it, but I did not take the time to deal with the growing pile of stuff. I use my garage a lot, every weekend and many evenings, it got that way in only 4 years of projects. when it gets past a certain point of mess, it takes a large commitment of time and effort to get it cleaned out. I even paid several people to help haul the junk, put up some sheet rock (long over due), etc.
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sr5luv
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My tercel:: 1983 4wd sr5, 1985 4wd sr5,

Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by sr5luv »

So did you ever get a space big enough to take up this project again? I just read through the seven page saga and want to see if there are any new chapters. This was something i had researched before i even found this thread. And since Betty has a blown engine it may be a legit possibility in the future.
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CathodeRayTube
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by CathodeRayTube »

still no progress since last posting...been focusing on doing the water pump /timing belt on the Corolla and then trying to unload it...but have still been procrastinating...i really should just take an hour or so and see if the 1NT bolts to the tercels tranny...it wouldnt take much effort at all to just do a test fit...stay tuned...all great things take time...

oh and something else that isnt helping my time management and Automotive-Attenton-Defecit-Disorder problems...I impulse bought a nice BLACK 88 Lincoln Town car...because i couldnt decide if i liked that or the Grand Marquis better..so i just had to have both...The plan for that is possibly a Powerstroke-swap...stay tuned for that as well...if i dont die first...
86 T4 DX 4x4 - Diesel Swap project
85 T4 DX 4x4 Automatic
83 T4 SR5 - junker/parts
94 4Runner V6
86 Mercury Grand Marquis
88 Lincoln Town Car
90 Yugo GV+
85 F250 dually 6.9 turbo diesel
81 VW Rabbit Turbo diesel project
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splatterdog
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by splatterdog »

Around here, you are the king of self punishment!
Tercel__jon
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by Tercel__jon »

Every single time I see this thread pop up Im like "DOES IT FIT!? DOES IT FIT!? DOES IT FIT!?" lol. Its all good though. I understand the AADD!
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CathodeRayTube
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by CathodeRayTube »

In honor of my general habit the last several years, turned tradition of totally ignoring the stupid bowl by being out in the garage, Im going to go attempt to do a test fit of the T4 trans to the 1NT. Hopefully in a few hours il have good news!
86 T4 DX 4x4 - Diesel Swap project
85 T4 DX 4x4 Automatic
83 T4 SR5 - junker/parts
94 4Runner V6
86 Mercury Grand Marquis
88 Lincoln Town Car
90 Yugo GV+
85 F250 dually 6.9 turbo diesel
81 VW Rabbit Turbo diesel project
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dlb
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by dlb »

this is the first mention i've heard of the super bowl this year. i had no idea it was even happening. that's great, but it will be even better to hear how the test fit goes.
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CathodeRayTube
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by CathodeRayTube »

OK so that went pretty fast and was painless. I dont understand why i waited over a year to do it... It FITS! moreless...The 4 main bolts and the input shaft all line up (or specifically, 3 large main bolts, and one small one) . Which is the biggie. The slightly larger diesel clutch also appears to be interchangeable with the gas one, it has the same number of splines and fits the 6speeds input shaft fine. The diesel pressure plate fits inside the tercels bellhousing fine. Both appear to use the same throwout bearing.

The diesel starter does not fit, and has larger teeth than the 3As. The flywheel does not fit, but should be able to be lathed down fine, only needs about 1/4 inch taken off to make it flush with the pressure plate. As expected, the front differential does not clear the oil pan of the 1NT, however its close, and should be able to also be easily modified, or a custom pan may be the best solution as im anticipating clearance issues with the front cross member and steering rack also. There is No pilot bearing used with the diesel engine/trans...however it appears one could be inserted or made to fit.

The starter not fitting is going to be the biggest issue...but i had wanted to do some sort of belt-starter/hybrid/electric-boost setup anyway. So just doing that makes the flywheel modifications much easier since i can get rid of/ignore the ring gear all together and just grind/lathe it away to make it fit. Im thinking a small electric forklift motor connected to the engine via a cog belt, perhapse a timing type belt or a motorcycle drive belt or something would serve this purpose very well. Having a high voltage starting/boost system would also make it easier to have extra power for flash preheating cold vegetable oil. Im thinking a 120VDC battery pack composed of motorcycle batteries.
86 T4 DX 4x4 - Diesel Swap project
85 T4 DX 4x4 Automatic
83 T4 SR5 - junker/parts
94 4Runner V6
86 Mercury Grand Marquis
88 Lincoln Town Car
90 Yugo GV+
85 F250 dually 6.9 turbo diesel
81 VW Rabbit Turbo diesel project
TURTCEL
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Re: Diesel swap and restoration progress

Post by TURTCEL »

CathodeRayTube wrote: The starter not fitting is going to be the biggest issue...but i had wanted to do some sort of belt-starter/hybrid/electric-boost setup anyway. So just doing that makes the flywheel modifications much easier since i can get rid of/ignore the ring gear all together and just grind/lathe it away to make it fit. Im thinking a small electric forklift motor connected to the engine via a cog belt, perhapse a timing type belt or a motorcycle drive belt or something would serve this purpose very well. Having a high voltage starting/boost system would also make it easier to have extra power for flash preheating cold vegetable oil. Im thinking a 120VDC battery pack composed of motorcycle batteries.
Ok, now you have my attention. I have been following this post on and off since I joined and have anxiously been waiting to see how this has progressed. Any conversion can be tricky or even a real pain in the...but sounds like this one is having some pretty smooth outcomes here lately.

I am most interested in this custom starter idea that you have thrown onto the table. Other than adding what I would think to be a considerable more amount of weight as well as bulk under the hood (potentially) the idea sounds steller. Besides, with the extra HP and torque of the diesel,the little extra weight would prob go unnoticed.

It will be intriuging to see how that plan pans out. I am sure that the design will take some time, plus finding parts, plus custom install and trial and error testing, but will be bad ass if it works out in the end.

Definitely keep the updates on that project coming. I don't have the means to fab and customize things like that so I totally dig when I hear about and see someone who has succeeded at a project like this. Larry McGrath's 20v black top has been my recent favorite but this project has know become a major draw of attention.

Good luck on what sounds like a fun project (I am guessing still with a fair share of headaches).

Peace
1985 Tercel 4wd SR5 Wagon, WEBER Carb, Brown (TURTCEL)
1988 Corolla DLX All-Trac Wagon, 4 speed AT, Silver (Wife's new car)
1993 Ford Escort Wagon LX, 5 Speed, Smurf Blue (Smurfette)...selling
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