1998 Toyota® Tacoma® Conversion Build

A Tacoma with a TDI is a great pairing. Power to weight ratio is ideal and the TDI allows for the low end torque the Tacoma has always deserved. Fuel milage has been acceptable. It was just taken on a 3-hour road trip with averaging speeds from 55-75mph and a few stops along the way. Trip average was 25mpg. Baby the truck and play the wind right to likely achieve a better mpg... I test drive like Mr. Owl in the old Tootsie Pop commercials trying to count licks to the center of a Tootsie Pop. I start off strong with light accelerations and the next thing I know the throttles pinned and I’m wearing a grin! That’s when Mr. Owl’s tag line “the world may never know” races into my thoughts.

Mating the TDI to the R150 transmission is a Diesel Conversion Specialists adapter plate and crankshaft spacer. This allows the factory Toyota starter to be utilized for the conversion. We advertise our TDI adapter plates for the AHU and ALH versions of the TDI.

The TDI we used originally mounted transversely under the hood and when switching to longitudinal placement it required some elaborate pipe routing for the intake and exhaust. The Tacoma factory air box was retained. A 3” body lift made it possible to clear the differential still shut the hood. It looks like you could get away with a 2” body lift. The factory vents in the bumper made it a breeze when it came to intercooler placement. The factory Tacoma radiator with a Derale 17” electric fan and controller make up the rest of the major cooling pack components.

Other versions of the TDI come standard with a power steering pump but this BRM did not. An electric over hydraulic power steering pump out of a Volvo S40 has been installed and satisfies the steering needs nicely.