OM-364

Background

OM 364: The Upgraded Bandy Engine

In the Fall of 1989, the Bandeirante underwent its second engine change, moving from the OM-314 (by then 25 years old) to the OM-364. By this time, the MB 300-series had enjoyed a 3-decade long run at the head of its class, and the OM-364 represented the final evolution of its 4-cylinder model.

Commonly thought of within the Bandy community as an upgraded OM-314, the OM-364 in fact more closely approximated a redesign. Among the numerous changes were a redesigned combustion chamber, simplified housing, thicker walls & improved crankshafts (resulting in increased load capacity), 3-ring pistons, a new lubrification system, and even a re-engineered exterior. Upon its release in 1983 (5 years prior to its Bandy application), it was heralded as “the most advanced engine series for the mid-range performance class” of its time.

The OM-364 was the torquiest engine ever featured in a Land Cruiser; a more efficient, elegant, and powerful motor than its predecessors; and one that remains highly coveted by Bandeirante owners & builders across Brazil. When turbinated and intercooled (a common upgrade among drivers of this generation of Bandy), the OM-364 receives a notable power boost, further modernizing it.

From the latter half of 1993 to the first semester of 1994, the engine was paired with the celebrated Toyota 5-spd transmission (the only 5-spd ever featured on a Land Cruiser; featured on all Bandies from 93-01), creating what is commonly held to be the Holy Grail of Bandeirantes.

1994 marked the final year of the Toyota-Mercedes-Benz partnership. Impending emissions regulations convinced the company to halt production of its 300-series run in South America, ending the OJ series of Bandies that had persisted since the vehicle’s inception in 1962. Bandeirantes, themselves, however, would continue to involve into the next decade.