2.8 D/C TD - factory fitted

[husteds]

Can anyone tell me whether or not the '97 2.8 D/C TD came standard with the turbo, or is it an after-market fitment?

[Coopraider]

Came out standard - I have one - also 97 model - but have since ditched the turbo

[Ouarzazate]

AFAIK, because it was a bolt-on job (no internal engine mods) the turbo's were fitted pre-delivery by John Conchie developments in Pinetown, and approved by Toyota. Same thing for the 5L, 3.0TD, which was an even bigger disaster. One of the few large mistakes that Toyota made.

[husteds]

Thanks for the advice. Does that mean its not a good idea to have for our Africa trip? Is it easy to disconnect, would this make it a good option?

[Ouarzazate]

It is not a good idea. They love to overheat, and also love to burst the oil pipe to the oil cooler. Which just goes to show how close to the limit the installation was. Increases in oil capacity and oil coolers are only fitted when engines have heat dissipation problems. This is why you find them on many race car engines.

My non-turbo 2.8D developed a head crack and wasted two radiators, so these engines are marginally cooled, even WITHOUT turbo's.

But AFAIK you can safely ditch the turbo. However, often, the engine damage has already been done, and it is best to give the engine a good inspection, or have it reconditioned by a reputable shop if you have the means.

Still remains a very capable vehicle on which one can safely spend some money and not be sorry about it in the future. Mine eventually cost me close to 60 K to fix, but IMHO is was still worthwhile!

[BenHur]

Toyota Japan never designed a 3L or 5L with a turbo but at the time the Isuzu 280DT's were kicking but in SA wrt fuel economy and performance (but reliability was also questionable),so Toy SA jumped on the bandwagon and and offered an options to order a Toyota approved after market turbo with your new Toyota. Nissan also did the same on their 2.7 diesel engine with massive reliability issues and warranty claims. Even tough it was Toyota approved and fitted it was really still not a real factory fitted turbo designed by the Toyota engine designers. It also led to a lot of warranty claims against Toyota.

To ditch the Turbo you need a NA engine's manifolds and plumbing.

[Fdp]

AFAIK, because it was a bolt-on job (no internal engine mods) the turbo's were fitted pre-delivery by John Conchie developments in Pinetown, and approved by Toyota. Same thing for the 5L, 3.0TD, which was an even bigger disaster. One of the few large mistakes that Toyota made.

Question? Is or was John Conchie developments a Alphine agent? Mine has a Alphine turbo package and i did not really had temperature problems yet, (Only once in Lesotho but i pushed her a bit to get to the border)

[Ouarzazate]

Sorry, Don't know what I have been smoking... John Conchie is the owner of Alpine Developments. And they were by no means beginners in the business of modifying vehicles, so I can still not understand how they managed to get it so wrong.