The Landcruiser 79 Series is a legend. With the 1VD 4.5‑litre V8 turbo‑diesel, it’s built for hard work – towing, overlanding, and heavy‑duty use. But factory tuning leaves a lot on the table.
We’ll show you what a stock 79 makes, what we can safely unlock, and where the bottlenecks lie – especially if you tow heavy loads.
✅ South African models come without DPF – no removal needed
✅ Imported models with DPF should have it removed for long‑term reliability
✅ Proper tuning does not create smoke – we calibrate cleanly
✅ Stock turbo, injectors, and exhaust are fine for most – but towing changes things
The Stock Baseline – Landcruiser 79 (1VD)
Our test vehicle arrived in healthy, unmodified condition. On our dyno:
Stock (no DPF – South African model):
191 horsepower and 423 Newton‑metres of torque.
Other 79 Series with the 1VD engine typically fall within a plus or minus 5% margin of these figures – so roughly 181–200hp depending on mileage, fuel, and condition.
✅ No DPF removal needed on this specific vehicle (SA model)
✅ If your 79 is an import with DPF, we recommend removal before tuning – it’s a reliability risk
Our Calibration – Stock Hardware, Unlocked Potential
We loaded our custom calibration, respecting the factory turbo, injectors, and exhaust. No hardware upgrades – just our expert remapping.
After our tune (stock exhaust, stock turbo, stock injectors):
254 horsepower and 631 Newton‑metres of torque.
That’s a gain of 63 horsepower and 208 Nm – a massive improvement in drivability, especially for towing and low‑end response.
✅ No smoke – clean calibration
✅ Factory reliability preserved
✅ Transformed pulling power
Blue line: Stock – 191hp / 423Nm
Green line: Our tune – 254hp / 631Nm
The Towing Factor – Why We Recommend a Bigger Exhaust
This particular 79 Series is used for towing and wears heavy bumpers. That adds load and heat. While the stock exhaust is fine for normal driving, towing changes the game.
✅ A larger exhaust (e.g., 3‑inch) does not increase peak power – the turbo and injectors are still the bottlenecks
✅ It can add 3–5% more torque at low RPM – exactly where you need it when pulling away with a trailer
✅ More importantly, it lowers exhaust gas temperatures (EGTs) – protecting the turbo during long hauls
If you tow heavy loads regularly (caravans, horse floats, heavy trailers), we strongly recommend an exhaust upgrade for longevity, not just power.
79 Series on the dyno: From 191hp to 254hp
Going Further – Beyond 254hp (For the Crazy Few)
For 99% of 79 Series owners, 254hp / 631Nm is already a handful. The car pulls harder, tows better, and feels transformed.
But if you want more, the next bottlenecks are:
✅ Turbocharger – the factory unit has a flow ceiling
✅ Intercooler – heat soak reduces power on long pulls
✅ Heavy‑duty clutch – the stock clutch will slip with much more torque
At this stage, a 3‑inch exhaust becomes mandatory to manage the higher EGTs.
We have pushed a 79 Series further – 327 horsepower and 653 Newton‑metres – using upgraded turbo, intercooler, clutch, and exhaust.
However, after driving it for a few days, the customer asked us to lower it to 309hp because it was simply too much for their use case. That tells you everything about how capable this platform is – and how honest we are about what’s actually usable.
79 Series on the dyno: From 254hp – and beyond if you dare. (Link to video)
The Bottom Line (For Landcruiser 79 Series 1VD Owners)
| Setup | Power / Torque | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stock (SA model, no DPF) | 191hp / 423Nm | Factory baseline |
| Our tune – stock exhaust | 254hp / 631Nm | Safe, no smoke, transformed towing |
| Add larger exhaust | Same peak power, +3–5% low‑end torque | Recommended for heavy towing (lower EGTs) |
| Full hardware (turbo, intercooler, clutch, 3″ exhaust) | 309–323hp / 653+Nm | Crazy few only – we can build it, but you may ask us to turn it down |
No stages. Just honest diesel tuning for real work.
Ready for Your 79 Series?
If you own a Landcruiser 79 with the 1VD V8 and you want:
✅ A safe, no‑smoke tune delivering 254hp / 631Nm
✅ Expert advice on exhaust upgrades for towing
✅ Or you’re one of the crazy few who want 309hp+ with hardware upgrades
…reach out. We’ll give you a clear, no‑BS recommendation based on how you actually use your vehicle.
And if you’re not sure whether your 79 has a DPF (imported models) – ask us. We’ll check and advise on removal where legal.