Importing a used Diesel motor to the USA for a Toyota Previa

Hi,

I live in the USA (Seattle, WA) and have a question about importing
*just the engine* for a Toyota Previa

I know the Toyota Previa has a diesel option in other parts of the
world,
and the US does not allow importing Diesel vehicles... is it possible
to just
import the motor only?

Thanks,

Matt

<matt.and.chiaki@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1140474601.607417.215000@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Hi,
>
> I live in the USA (Seattle, WA) and have a question about importing
> *just the engine* for a Toyota Previa
>
> I know the Toyota Previa has a diesel option in other parts of the
> world,
> and the US does not allow importing Diesel vehicles... is it possible
> to just
> import the motor only?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Matt
>[/color]

Yes, you can probably import a diesel motor only. However, to convert the
Previa into a diesel-engine vehicle, you would need at least a new fuel
tank, fuel filler neck, fuel pump, fuel lines, transmission, ECU,
transmission ECU (if you have an automatic transmission), brake booster if
the engine does not include a vacuum pump, and engine wiring harness. You
will probably also need a new dashboard wiring harness, ignition switch,
instrument cluster, and cooling system. If the engine does not include a
starter, you will need a new starter. After you spend somewhere in the
vicinity of $10,000 to $15,000 to convert the vehicle, you probably will not
be able to pass any emissions tests or get it repaired.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray,

Assumptions.... Thought the rest of the vehicle would be
compatible as is.... oh well.

Not as simple and clean as it was in my mind... ;)

Thanks for setting the record straight.

-Matt

<matt.and.chiaki@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1140483363.858452.121790@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Ray,
>
> Assumptions.... Thought the rest of the vehicle would be
> compatible as is.... oh well.
>
> Not as simple and clean as it was in my mind... ;)
>
> Thanks for setting the record straight.
>
> -Matt
>[/color]
A proper conversion to Diesel is a huge job that basically involves swapping
the engine and powertrain.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On 20 Feb 2006 16:56:03 -0800, [email]matt.and.chiaki@gmail.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
>Ray,
>
>Assumptions.... Thought the rest of the vehicle would be
>compatible as is.... oh well.
>
>Not as simple and clean as it was in my mind... ;)
>
>Thanks for setting the record straight.
>
>-Matt[/color]

I have to agree with Ray - It sounds simple to "just do an engine
swap" at first, and 25 years ago it was actually fairly easy to do.

But when the car is a modern fuel-injected emission controlled car,
and you sit down and look at all the little details that are involved
in getting to a finished car that drives right and (Most important!)
that you can get smogged and registered every year to drive on the
streets, suddenly it's turned into a HUGE project.

Transmission bellhousings don't mate up and you can't find an
adapter (Custom machined bellhousing = big buck$), the stall speed on
the torque converter is all wrong, the Transmission ECU freaks because
they are made to talk to a gasoline engine ECU, the final drive (rear
end) gear ratio is all wrong and you have to swap the ring and pinion,
the transmission shifter linkages don't mate up, the driveshaft needs
custom shortening and rebalancing...

It gets down to stupid little things - diesels have no usable
manifold vacuum, you have to either change the power brake booster to
a hydrovac system or add a mechanical vacuum pump to run them.
And there's no ignition system to get a tach signal from, so you have
to change out the tachometer module in the instrument cluster.

Diesels need a LOT more radiator cooling for the same engine size,
and you'll have a heck of a time importing the right radiator now and
every time you need a replacement. Or you'll have to have a totally
custom radiator built which costs a small fortune.

Diesels need a LOT more battery to crank them over when cold - you
need dual batteries. Do you have a place to mount them? And the
oversize 1/0 battery cables to the starter? And you need a much
larger alternator to recharge them, and a heavier electrical harness
connecting them all together. Do you want to make a total custom
wiring harness?

That's why it's a whole lot easier to buy the car built the way you
want it. The auto manufacturer has the resources to solve all those
myriad problems and deliver you a well engineered ready to use vehicle
at a fair price.

You can still build a true custom, but after you get through leaping
all the hurdles you're going to pay dearly for the privilege.

--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
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