Project "9 Lives" - Toyota FJ60 L92/6L80
 

Long story short:

1. Sold everything and moved to Utah to start a new business building vehicles and parts for off road and "adventure" vehicles
2. Bought a clapped out Toyota FJ60
3. Decided to use said FJ60 to promote new business by starting a build project which will be chronicled on video. To this point, our YouTube channel has focused mostly on Jeeps. This will be the company's first entry into the Toyota world.

I am a tried and true LS guy, for all of the obvious reasons, maybe to a fault. I would like to put a L92 and 6L80 into the FJ60, BUT, the business can't afford to keep this vehicle right now as would be expected with a new company. I need to build something that has good market value so we can find someone to adopt this vehicle when it's finished.

I put a post on a big Toyota board asking whether I should do the LS swap or rebuild to OEM as closely as possible. As I expected, that thread didn't generate much positive feel toward the LS swap. No surprise there, but I wanted to post up here and see what you guys thought. I realize the FJ60 isn't the typical vehicle for this forum, but I would like to hear your input.

Would you, or do you think the market would, be interested in a mildly restored FJ60 with a very nice L92/6L80 (probably FJ80 or Dana 60 axles)? It would be built with a very mild lift (max 35" tire) and expected to perform as a comfortable daily driver (nice A/C, heat, sound system, etc.).



https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...4f6364e952.jpg

Why is your business considering the L92 when you are on a budget as you say because it is a new business? Do a gen 3 LQ9 w stock ecu and some power upgrades like cam etc and you could get it over 380wheel hp easy for ALOT less cost.... that L92 drivetrain w trans would be 4,000 scrapyard/salvage yard price easy where you could do the LQ9 and 4L80e for less than half that cost then built it up some.........

^ that

junkyard Gen III 6.0, 4L80E trans, will be FAR less expensive and equally as potent as the L92.

the 4.2 from the landcruisers is a very good motor. but seeing a v8 swapped landcruiser i personally think would bring more attention. i agree with the other posters about finding a cheaper lq9 instead of the l92.

It isn't as much the L92 that I'm after as much as it is the 6L80. That combo works well in big, heavy, long vehicles with increased tire size. 1st and 6th gear are perfect for what this vehicle needs. The first swap I did was a LQ9 and 6L90, which would definitely be a good combo for this build, but I don't see a huge price difference, in relation to total build cost.

I also think there is some marketability with being able to loosley say the L92 is a LS3. The layman sees 6.2L and is able to easily associate that with a LS3. I think that's a harder sale with a 6.0L. LS3 is an easily marketed phrase.

Don't get me wrong, I love the 6.0L, and that's a viable option. I appreciate the suggestion. I'll definitely be checking current prices for those.

Yesterday, I found a 130k L92 and 6L80 in Salt Lake for $4750. That seems to be market price for those miles right now.

The L92/6L80 iny JK was $3k, but had more miles. We did a full rebuild on it and filled it with COMP Cams parts, which bumped the price back up.

I'll shop LQ9/6L90 next week.

If the primary concern is getting a 6l80e, they're available behind cheap gen 4 5.3 engines as well. I sold the 6l80e(I prefer a manual) from a 2010 tahoe I picked up. Bought the tahoe for 1k, and sold the tranny and transfer case for 200. It sold so fast, I should have priced it higher.