Rig Review: VW Turbo Diesel Swapped Toyota that my Son and I built!

My son and I built this ‘79 Toyota pickup together for his first rig. We did a 1.6 VW Turbo Diesel swap as well as upgrading the axles , suspension, transmission and transfer cases.

[@gregphillips1998]

Love it. I had ‘83 long bed. It had a bad transmission when I bought it. Had it rebuilt & broke again. A $5 part destroyed my transmission. My ‘79 before that was bomber proof. Love the Toyota 4WDs.

[@frogmaster83]

Very cool build. I had the same year truck here in the UK but with a 2 Litre, 4 pot engine.

[@Mouldyturnip75]

what a fantastic build guys! The result of when you combine youth and enthusiasm with age and wisdom - a smart build, capable, top quality and safe. I'd take one!

[@boilerman2540]

I have been looking to diesel swap my 4x4 s10 this was a great idea and build!!!

[@darcykeddell4930]

super cool dude, currently building up my 98' Nissan Patrol with my dad loving the father son shed time

[@Gulfbluerag63]

Great work guys!

[@desertadventures4221]

Nice truck... really good video

[@numbers7n]

Love the sound of that diesel engine. And I love these Toyota trucks. (I've got an 83.)

[@kylejacobs1682]

It’s an awesome truck, The best part about it is spending time with your boy in the garage.

[@matthewdavidmunson]

Awesome Build!

[@mr.handsome7689]

Good job pops

[@gordowg1wg145]

A really nice, effective, family project. 'Bout the only thing I'd suggest addressing is the unsecured hard-lines for the brakes - there are excellent chances of them getting hung un and torn off, or at least snapping or cracking from vibration fatiguing the tubing at the calipers.

[@hunt1198]

Thank u. It’s sounds awesome. I’m getting a Jeep cj7 built. On top of a 1996 Toyota 4runner v6 3.4. With electric e-locker. I wanted a diesel though

[@shawnwilliams5453]

I had a 79 with 38in super swampers on it when i was 20 or so. No power steering but you could get it stuck in a straight line no matter what 😎

[@allanwagner4570]

I really like the build I would only recommend that you get some skid plates from the radiator back to the transfer case because you should never know what you don’t know you know Climbs like a goat if ya air down a bit more imagine what could happen 👍

[@Random-dq8ew]

Good job, very nice.

[@toddminchew1950]

I remember when you were working on this in your garage.

[@HWG-wm8ld]

That’s awesome! Great job on the truck and being a dad. I’m getting old, I have no interest in the new trucks with all the electrical bells and whistles

[@brianwills4398]

Cool rig, a good friend of mine swapped that same motor into his samurai, he runs all over the Rubicon on just a few gallons of fuel.

[@kornaros96]

So... You just made a VW Taro!

[@timberlineoffroad]

Yes!! Just like the Taro but with a few more upgrades!👌😉

[@jamazonnewyork3221]

really cool build. I always wondered about those vw 4 cylinder diesels and how they would be a perf swap for toyota 4x4's.

[@spinnetti]

Cool! I'm both a VW and Toyota fan. I had a 81' short bed in the same color. At the time I swapped in the race motor out of my Celica as I put a JDM twincam in the Celica. Rolling Briquettes! (mini-coal lol). I'd probably do a 3rd Gen EA888

[@timberlineoffroad]

Same here! Lol briquettes! 😅👌

[@20DYNAMITE06]

Legendary... so cool.

[@michaelgray4601]

What an interesting combo! Not a Toyota fan, nor does the build do anything for me. But... A father and son building anything together is absolutely priceless! Great Fatherhood! I'm sure your son needs credit for putting up with you as well. Lol... WELL DONE TO BOTH OF YOU! Two thumbs way up!

[@FlawedOffroad]

Sweet rig, that beds longer than a monday though, gonna bob it? 😂

[@timberlineoffroad]

No plans to bob it he sleeps back there so its nice having the leg room and the room for all the camping gear!

[@braydenables8685]

i have a buddy with a truck just like that one!

[@CarlosRivera-go5nj]

What a fantastic machine! that sound of a turbo diesel engine is music to my ears...I have an old 90 runner with a 3.0 turbo Diesel engine (1kz-te) , not a surf , I'm from Costa Rica so we have a lot of turbo diesel toyotas in here hehe, wich size of tire are you running?

[@timberlineoffroad]

Nice! These are 35’s🤙🏻

[@1320fastback]

Bosch VE pump like in my old Dodge 👍

[@northpeak4x4]

It was fun wheeling with you and your son clearing Dusy this year. What all needed to be repaired after it revved to the moon?

[@timberlineoffroad]

We will be doing a 1.9 swap! Stay tuned…

[@OneHellOfASandwich]

Feeling a little mad I got a 97 4r. I love it but it just isn’t like this. Maybe I’ll SAS it? I dunno. I have lots of suspension issues having IFS. The one thing I haven’t replaced yet is my shocks, bushings are gone. Maybe that’s why shit gets rattled to death. I can only afford one piece at a time or so. I bought it with all worn out parts practically. Having fun fixing it all up tho.

[@Dave-zc2wb]

Interesting combination. I have the engine in my golf mk1 and it is pretty fun. Do you feel it has enough power to move the 35s? I am going to intercool mine, I recommend it for the Yota too. Great build!

[@brianwills4398]

I'm sure you can, fred from dirt every day has a jeep named" tubesock " and he runs that combo. I think he might be on 39s now. It's all about gearing

[@appalachiandiesel3243]

finishing up this swap on my 85 toyota, I'm having trouble with alternator bracketry, did you use the stock alternator? could i see a pic up your alternator bracket? Thanks, Sean. PS beautiful build.

[@timberlineoffroad]

Thanks i believe we used vw alt and bracket ill double check…

[@Tronwouldhav]

I'll take 2 please

[@hunt1198]

Truck looks and runs awesome. What is the mpg you get on it. Is your transmission a automatic or standard

[@timberlineoffroad]

Its a 5 speed Toyota w56 trans and with the 4.56 axle gears it gets about 25-30 mpg👌

[@addisonsmith3503]

@@timberlineoffroadthat’s pretty epic. I’m tossing around the idea of a tdi swap in my 2wd 87 for a little hwy runner. What kind of power do you get with these tdi swaps?

[@timberlineoffroad]

@@addisonsmith3503 you can reliably pump the tdi up to about 300 lb ft of tq with a few mods👌

[@hunt1198]

If they could make stuff like this now. Not having to make them your self to come up with a get rig.

[@JohnnyAnderson1]

Perfect rig! Was the 1/2" thick plate necessary so you had enough material to drill and tap?

[@timberlineoffroad]

Yes that and the spacing for the flywheel and clutch👌

[@JohnnyAnderson1]

@timberlineoffroad Makes sense, thank you sir. Love these somewhat simple and very functional builds!

[@deborahchesser7375]

@@timberlineoffroadwhat a perfect combo, I’d love to have a truck like yours what a great little machine.

[@Gabriel-jc2sc]

💪💪

[@Gabriel-jc2sc]

Son and I are also rebuilding an 80 Pickup for Rock Crawling adventures. So far it’s already 4 Linked in the front with Chevy 63’s in the rear, 24” travel Fox Shocks in the front with the hoops, and pulled out the broken 20R engine and Transmission. So far I’m swapping in an LS with Tranny and rebuilding the interior. My son pushes me and keeps me motivated to keep working on it because he seems more excited than me to finish the build but I do have work in the way of things. I’m glad to hear that there’s another Father and Son Toyota Pickup Build out there. God Bless!💪💪

[@boyceSSSbuttner]

sweet rig, what are you running diff gears?

[@timberlineoffroad]

Thanks! 4.56 v6 diffs front and rear🍻

[@alexlane6522]

👌💯💯

[@spamanator666]

Interesting build. Diesel Hilux were common where I live now, so given the option I'd just stick with the Toyota motor. How did you manage to get that to pass Cali smog? I would guess they still consider it a gasoline vehicle since it was orignally, so should have to pass?

[@timberlineoffroad]

There was no drivetrain in it when we bought the truck. The dmv had no records on the truck so it was inspected and registered as a diesel.

[@spamanator666]

@@timberlineoffroad Nice, that is awesome!

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

I never could afford the Bluetooth drive line for mine.

[@timberlineoffroad]

😅🤣🤣👌

[@andersonlynn3686]

Build me one. Take my money

[@williamlott7612]

Did you design the engine-tranny adapter plate yourself or are there kits out there? I have an old mail jeep (DJ5G) that I’d love to put a diesel in but don’t know a lot about taking an engine set up for front wheel drive and making it rear wheel drive. Thanks. Darlington, South Carolina

[@timberlineoffroad]

There are a few kits out there but we found the dimensions online so we sent them to a buddy who made a file then we sent the file to a laser cutting shop👌

[@williamlott7612]

Thanks for getting back to me so soon and on Christmas Day!

[@user-rf7kq8tz6o]

Nice hot air intake

[@mauriciogonzalez9337]

Hi do you have a video about the adapter that you made to adapter the vw engine with the transmisión?

[@timberlineoffroad]

No i dont, sorry.

[@fastinradfordable]

I can tell by the single cab Y’all are rich

[@timberlineoffroad]

I stole the single cab! Lol

[@TheRealCatof]

Usually people replace engines with Toyota engines, not the other way around lol

[@mauriciogonzalez9337]

Hy, do you need to leaf the cabin for the engine or its not neccesary ?

[@timberlineoffroad]

You meant lift the cab? No theres no body lift needed👍🏻

[@mauriciogonzalez9337]

@@timberlineoffroad thanks I m thinking to do that swap and I' m doing a list what I have to do 👍

[@BrentYeska]

Trying to do 1.6 in my 87 Yota I was curious with homemade plate how does the starter mount up ?

[@BrentYeska]

Also what flywheel and clutch were used

[@timberlineoffroad]

I redrilled and milled the center bore 1.0mm on the Toyota flywheel to bolt on the vw crank and used the toyota clutch and starter.

[@BrentYeska]

How about the starter lol

[@timberlineoffroad]

@@BrentYeska starter bolts to the w56 bellhousing.

[@user-kz9np3fi5i]

Did this truck not come with the 1kz 3l diesel

[@timberlineoffroad]

I believe they came with the 2lt turbo diesel

[@user-kz9np3fi5i]

@@timberlineoffroad oh that must just be for America

[@darcykeddell4930]

way too old for a 1KZ

[@lesklower7281]

It is interesting that you used a VW diesel motor in your Toyota but you do realise that in the 1990s VW made the Taro a ute the Toyota Hilux built under license but it was basically a Toyota Hilux with a VW badge on it diesel and petrol mostly a rear wheel drive ute and in the 1980s 1990s and into the early 2000s a greater percentage of the Toyota Hiluxes were rear wheel drive only but now the double and single cab ute are mostly 4X4 from Toyota Hiluxes Mazda BT50s Isuzu D Maxes Nissan Nevada's and Ford Rangers and a couple of Chinese brands they aren't worth mentioning because they all are piles of crap

[@jjcale1976]

1.9 TDI would be a better choice...

[@timberlineoffroad]

Yes but this is what we had to work with at the time and made the swap easier, at this point now a 1.9 will be easy to swap in stay tuned…

[@joosthoekzema663]

soo take the most relible car ever and then why swap a vw diesel in it

[@conqueringlion420]

Thumbs down for not putting in a Toyota motor into a Toyota, apparently you never heard why Toyotas are World famous

[@timberlineoffroad]

Ok thanks for your comment, have a great day!

[@ripnandtearing]

You must not know about vw diesels. A vw diesel will last 2x as long as the original 20r.

[@davidrose2382]

Wish Toyota would sell 1.6 or smaller one tonne hiliux in australia