Converting a Carby 60 series to EFI?

[Rackers03]

G'day guys,
It's getting close to me getting my P plates (less than 2 months) and I'm hoping to have something before then.
My budget is up to $7k for a car and then a few grand more for mods. I've seen a fair few 60 series' with the 2F carby in them and was wondering what were the thoughts on those. I know their bad on fuel but if driven like a granny can they be allright? And I'll want to be swapping it from a Carby to EFI set-up for better fuel and economy so I was wondering how hard that is to do, how much it costs and is it actually worth it?

Cheers,
Hugh

 

[typhoeus]

I would use some of your money budgeted for mods and put that toward getting a later model with efi as standard. Swapping all that stuff out is a pita, and expensive unless you have a whole donor car

 

[Rackers03]

I would use some of your money budgeted for mods and put that toward getting a later model with efi as standard. Swapping all that stuff out is a pita, and expensive unless you have a whole donor car

Ok, thanks. But say if I couldn't afford/find a later model one with EFI, would the carby 2F still be a good engine if driven right?

 

[typhoeus]

they are slow and thirsty, but sturdy and go for ever. In low range, you can watch the fuel guage needle move. with todays fuel prices, I would try really hard to get a later EFI model. If you went to a wrecker and priced a complete EFI system, including wiring loom, fuel lines, fuel pump, fuel rail, air intake system, etc etc, you would find that would start costing serious money. If you bought a write off complete and running would be better, then you could sell other parts to offset some costs. Either case, it is a lot of work swapping stuff over, refitting wiring looms, etc. If you have the time, inclination, skills and a run around car to use while you are doing it, you could do it.

 

[dabbler]

IMO 7k is not a lot really and all sorts of things can go pear shaped with a vehicle let alone an older one. Once you own a vehicle, you really, really want it to be on the road as much as possible because saving for repairs just isn't as much fun as driving.

It's your first vehicle, it won't be your last. Buy the best you can, make sure it's in good running order and live with it. Then think about mods.

I wouldn't commit funds to mods until you know the vehicle is worth extra coin and I certainly wouldn't funnel large amounts of cash into an engine to save a much smaller money on running costs.

Driving like a granny will save more fuel that engine type and not driving like a granny in a 60 series is harder than you think. When unloaded and new they had top end speed but were seriously scary on less than perfect roads at speed. It's a 4x4 not a plastic-wrapped Holden.

 

[Batts88]

Can't see any decent fuel gains if you get one converted they still use around a 3rd more fuel than a diesel. Even the GQ nissan patrols in the 1990's gained bugger all fuel difference going from carby to efi.

I'm not being rude but practicle if you can't afford the fuel there's no enjoyment in having to drive around like a granny everywhere and not being able to drive the car as you would like to drive it. Rego is dearer they take around 10lts of engine oil when servicing. Have you considered looking at a 4 cylinder petrol or diesel hilux or 4runner for your first 4wd that you can afford to drive and service costs will be cheaper.

 

[Lost1?]

If you are.sold on getting a 60 series, I recommend a diesel. Or follow Batts recommendation. If live axles are essential another option is a GQ Patrol or Maverick. Better ride and more capable off road.

Take your time when looking at these older vehicles to find a good one. Get onto a forum specific to the car you decide to buy and learn how to identify their faults before putting money on the table. There can be nothing more expensive than fixing a cheap car. Good luck.

 

[Batts88]

Yes GQ's are more comfy to ride in and in my experience having owned 2 x 60ser, 2 x GQ's it takes around 10yrs longer before rust shows up in a GQ..

I'm buying my neighburs 3.0Ltr diesel 2006 BT50 soon around the 10g price range they are a good reliable vehicle have a comfy ride less prone to rusting more power great on fuel at around half of what a 2f would use and then some. Not quite as capable off road but still good enough depending who's driving it there are lots of other options out there don't get hung up on one particular brand is probably what I'm getting at.

Rackers03 I like old school vehicles a lot more myself but they always need work like my daily driver a GQ patrol and my old 1971 FJ45 ute.

 

[Rackers03]

I am fairly sold on the old 60 Series, I've always wanted one deep down. My mate's selling his '84 Sahara in bright blue and it looks sick. It's got a 2 inch lift, 33 inch muddies, bullbar, spotties. etc. It's got the 2F in it and it's got 290,000 k's on the clock with the 5-speed and he's asking 4 grand. If I looked after it would it be good for a fair few years until I can buy something better?
Also these guys really look after their machinery so it's in really good nic

 

[Lost1?]

Sounds like your stuck on a 60 series. Wait for a good diesel to turn up. Neither wagon will be quick on road. But the diesel will be better off road.

 

[discomatt]

I will give you a tip, you can take it or leave it as I don't know your situation but here it is,
If you are worried about fuel consumption which will be no more then 6-7 l per hundred difference as a financial thing maybe you should forget owning a 4wd for now because I don't give a crap what brand you buy but if you want to do mods you want to use it for what it was built for and if you do use any 4wd as a 4wd it will cost $$ to maintain and fuel should be you very last consideration unless you are doing the Canning stock rout.
Personally a crappy old rusted out 60 would be my last pick for a 4wd but that just my opinion

 

[CaptainBanana]

I will give you a tip, you can take it or leave it as I don't know your situation but here it is,
If you are worried about fuel consumption which will be no more then 6-7 l per hundred difference as a financial thing maybe you should forget owning a 4wd for now because I don't give a crap what brand you buy but if you want to do mods you want to use it for what it was built for and if you do use any 4wd as a 4wd it will cost $$ to maintain and fuel should be you very last consideration unless you are doing the Canning stock rout.
Personally a crappy old rusted out 60 would be my last pick for a 4wd but that just my opinion

Having driven one more than a few times I agree in that price point there are far better options especially if you're a broke young bloke.

 

[TYNO87]

I love 60 series’, they’re on my to build list when I win lotto. Great vehicles.
The thing with old cars, regardless of make, model or how well they’ve been treated, is unless they’ve had a full resto, you have to be prepared to constantly work on them if you’re going to use them as a daily and keep racking up miles. Just about every oil change there will be something else to do. Swivel hubs, brakes, hoses, belts, unis, seals, engine mounts, body mounts, the list goes on. In a 60 you’re talking about parts that are 30 + years old. And then of course there’s RUST. Unless it’s had a full body off respray in the last 5-10 years it’s going to have some somewhere. Maybe not enough to cause a problem in the next few years but if you don’t keep on top of it that can change in a matter of months.
For me, tinkering with and standing in the shed staring and thinking about what else I could tinker with is stress relief.
I enjoy it, but many don’t. You need to decide if you want a vehicle to take off road and enjoy on the weekend with your mates, or a vehicle to do the above with and also spend your afternoons playing with/ fixing.
Either way, I wouldn’t bother with a conversion. Cost will likely outweigh the savings in fuel use.

 

[dabbler]

My folks first 60 has been through several fanily hands. Brand new, it had all the fruit. It's done three laps towing, about every desert crossing in the country plus GRR and Cape York an unknown number of times. I was the second owner and got off lucky with things like hoses, belts, brakes, clutch and tyres. My cousin poured around 15k into cooling systems, better aux power setup etc for parts alone.

The most recent owner is a nephew who only ever engages the hubs on difficult boat ramps so I asked him if he would sell it back to me. We looked at it closely when I was after a tourer. At 760+k, It simply wasn't worth the dollars compared to my other options especially as I didn't want a resto project.

 

[Rackers03]

If there's not much else for that price braket near me, would the 60 be alright for a few years until I can find a 2H/12HT from another 60 and throw that in? That was sorta the main idea behind this, drive the old carby until it's given up the ghost and swap it for a diesel or just swap it when I find one

 

[hulsty]

With 7K in the bank I'd buy a 4.5L Petrol GU, see plenty come up in that budget.

 

[Rackers03]

With 7K in the bank I'd buy a 4.5L Petrol GU, see plenty come up in that budget.

I would like one of those, but over here is South Aus I haven't been able to fine one that cheap, and the occasional one that is has too many k's on it

 

[Batts88]

If there's not much else for that price braket near me, would the 60 be alright for a few years until I can find a 2H/12HT from another 60 and throw that in? That was sorta the main idea behind this, drive the old carby until it's given up the ghost and swap it for a diesel or just swap it when I find one

12HT is a good engine my 1986 sahara had one you'd be probably looking at 6k plus for a reco one. Another option would be a 1HZ from the 80ser cruiser non turbo it's cheaper, smoother, quieter only 5kw less in power throw on a snorkle some extractors and exhaust to suit you've got an engine that will last for a long time with enough power to do what you want.

 

[Rackers03]

12HT is a good engine my 1986 sahara had one you'd be probably looking at 6k plus for a reco one. Another option would be a 1HZ from the 80ser cruiser non turbo it's cheaper, smoother, quieter only 5kw less in power throw on a snorkle some extractors and exhaust to suit you've got an engine that will last for a long time with enough power to do what you want.

yeah, I was thinking maybe one of those too. We got one in our 75 series and it's a strong engine, built like a tractor. Plus we threw a exhaust that dumps out under the cab on it and she sounds sick!

 

[typhoeus]

There was a non turbo diesel 60 on farcebook marketplace for $3k just recently