Picture Pages:
NEW Pictures of FJ40 with 6BT installed
NEW Pictures of Scout with 6BT installed
FJ60 with a Cummins 6BT installed
6BT naked but still in a Dodge full size truck frame.

Relevant Link
Conversation of getting a 4BT (& 6BT) to fit into a Cruiser & Exhaust Issues
NEW Pictures of Scout with 6BT (different site, will open in new window)

First, there are different generations of Cummins 6BT's available.  I believe the best candidate is the early 1990-91 6BT that is non intercooled with 160 HP and 400 ft/lbs of torque as clearly on the engine's cover.  Then there is a later, more powerful 12 valve version that is intercooled which lasted through, I believe, 1997.  Then in '98 (already 5 years ago!) they introduced the powerful 24 valve version that is electronically controlled.  This version puts out about 200 hp and a whopping 550 ft/lbs of torque in stock configuration.  I believe only the earliest 6BTs are ideal for a Cruiser swap because 160 hp / 400 ft/lbs of torque will still knock the socks off an cruiser!

There has been much discussion about the idea of installing a Cummins 6BT into a Toyota Land Cruiser.  I have done a lot of research for one personally believe the 6BT is too heavy, powerful, and large for a Land Cruiser with the stock drive train and frame.  However, I still think if the early model is used then it could be feasible.

There are a whole lot of issues associated with putting a Cummins 6BT into a Land Cruiser that I think could make for a possibly difficult swap rather than a practical swap.  However it has been done and luckily I was able to get and be able to post them.  Click here to see a FJ60 with a Cummins 6BT installed.

Here are some picts of a 6BT naked but still in a Dodge full size truck frame.

As for issues surrounding the swap it's obviously not the horsepower but the torque.  400 lbs isn't massive amounts of torque and it is possible the Toyota axles and other drive train parts might hold up.  However, I wouldn't want to do any extreme off roading or anything because I would be fearful that I might brake something.

Another alternative is installing Dana 60s.  For Lou Chou's 4BT Scout Conversion he felt the power of the 4BT was enough to warrant 1-ton axles.  The problem with 1 tons is they are quite wide but will allow you to run a different transfer case rather than the Toyota one (see more about transfer cases and Cummins conversion here).  You can also have the axles & housings customized.  Last quoted it was around $1,000 to have it done.  Furthermore, they can be retrofitted somewhat easily into a leaf sprung Cruiser but it will be significantly harder with a coil sprung truck.

There are other potential side effects that must be considered too:

• The dry weight of the Cummins 6BTA5.9 is 905 lbs (no flywheel, clutch or any accessories).
• The Toyota frame was never meant or built to handle that much torque so there could be some issues related to that.  In fact the Toyota frame is quite thin and flexible.
• You could also install the engine without the intercooler and "detune" it a little to put out maybe 130 hp and about 300-350 ft/lbs of torque and I actually think it would be OK, but there are still lots of other issues like weight and size of the engine.  The 6BT weighs approximately 1000 lbs dry.
• Because of the added engine weight, you will definitely need custom springs.  I recommend Alcan Springs in Grand Junction Colorado.   from my experiences I like them a lot though I have heard of some people having negative experiences (poor fit, etc etc).  But I think if anyone were to attempt to have some custom springs made for this application, Alcan would definitely be the best best.
• For years I had heard many people, particularly on the LCML, say a Cummins motor is too tall for a Land Cruiser.  In fact, it's too deep.  You will need at least 4 (I'd run about 6 ") of lift to clear the oil pan.  I'm not sure how the the FJ60 with 6BT faired up with Old Man Emu sized height springs but here are the dimensions of the engine  --it's huge.