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Comment by zackmorris

7 hours ago

I want to do an engine swap in my 1980s Toyota pickup (like on Back to the Future) from a 100 hp 22r to a 150-250 hp fuel injected inline 4 or turbodiesel to raise the thermodynamic efficiency from 20-25% to ~40% to nearly double fuel economy.

Unfortunately, most modern engines are transverse mounted. They can fit any transmission with an adapter plate, but then they're set too far back into the firewall to access stuff like the high-pressure fuel pump (which is often mounted on the transmission side for easy access on front wheel drive vehicles). I feel that's by design for planned obsolescence.

So I really wish that someone would offer a 4-6" thick 100-200 hp (100 kW) axial flux motor insert between the engine and transmission. Optionally with a simple battery management system (BMS) storing perhaps 5 kWh to provide up to 15-20 miles of electric range and hybrid fuel economy with regenerative braking.

If anyone knows of one, please let us know! If not, then those of you who won the internet lottery could make a killing investing in a novel product that everyone wants but doesn't know it yet.

You could swap the 2LTE engine, that’s the equivalent hilux diesel for 80s. You may have to import though, they are few and far between in the us.

Totally with you, I want more options for my Tacoma also!

I’ve been playing with idea of importing a lhd hilux from Mexico

something like a BMW 330e drivetrain has that (as do most German RWD hybrids), the biggest issue there is going to be the inverter and control software.