learn me diesel SUV project

Hey guys,

I was recently handed down the family Prizm. This will be my new daily. I have the XJ which has served me really well, and will probably remain in service for the rednecky things I do.

It got me thinking... now that I have the prizm, it opens up the possibility of doing a medium/long term budget project. (It seems like projects with a time constraint end up costing 2-3 times more than necessary.)

I'm quite fond of the Cherokee form. Small/medium SUV, rugged, dependable. But I'm also very fond of my friend's Disco II. Awesome looks, amazing interior, but dependability and cost to run not so good.

I've never owned a diesel vehicle, and would like to have a go at it. It seems to me that diesel + medium sized SUV would go together like unicorns and glitter.

There seem to be some combos that are well paved... IE, suzuki samurai + TDI, toyota pickup + merc diesel, etc etc. And others that aren't really well paved but make for a good combo, k1500 + 4bt for example.

Anyone have any ideas? I know you guys always have the craziest (best) ideas.

D-max/4L80e from van into a 70's blazer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2HZeZVZ9s8

Isuzu 4JB1 is a bolt-in for any Trooper II

92-up Troopers were available overseas with a 4JG2 4 cylinder turbodiesel. There's all kinds of links out there on how to do it and the front cutaways are reasonably easy to find on eBay.

GM had several "SUV's" with a Diesel already installed. Blazers, Suburbans, 1/2 tons on up. Add turbo if it's not already there and go.

Buy a CUCV and have at it!

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/3759450648.html

http://worcester.craigslist.org/cto/3708584506.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/3742791389.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ctd/3732956060.html

4bt is too large for that without serrious modification to the unibody. If it was a full frame jeep, it would be easier.

Cummins ramcharger

/thread

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/3-0l-mercedes-turbo-diesel-into-1994-yj-835449/

fidelity101 wrote: 4bt is too large for that without serrious modification to the unibody. If it was a full frame jeep, it would be easier.

Couldn't run much of a hood either, Cummins is way too tall. Clearing the front axle would be a concern as well.

I would go for the om617 into the cherokee because it's been done, you can buy the transmission adapter, the engine bay is already the right shape for it, it's pretty much THE cheapest diesel to get ahold of, etc.

Basically it's the best combination of straightforward and cheap that i can think of to use an om617 in the cherokee you already have.

Vigo wrote: I would go for the om617 into the cherokee because it's been done, you can buy the transmission adapter, the engine bay is already the right shape for it, it's pretty much THE cheapest diesel to get ahold of, etc. Basically it's the best combination of straightforward and cheap that i can think of to use an om617 in the cherokee you already have.

This.

And then make all the powers with it.

Does the front sump om617 clear the front axle of the XJ without a major lift?

Iggy has a friend with a 4bt swapped Cherokee and I'm pretty sure there is a build thread somewhere. I'll see if I can find it. I know there are several 4bt swapped cherokees out there just check out 4btswaps.com

Depends what you want to do but Toyota Pickup + Merc Diesel is a good one.

Samurais can climb walls from the factory, no need to swap

ebonyandivory wrote:

fidelity101 wrote: 4bt is too large for that without serrious modification to the unibody. If it was a full frame jeep, it would be easier.

Couldn't run much of a hood either, Cummins is way too tall. Clearing the front axle would be a concern as well.

My buddy did one but had to build his own frame for the front end and swap to leaf springs.

My worry with OM617 would be that MPG would not likely be all that increased. Obviously torque would be better and you'd probably still 20's with 33's, but it not like you'll get 30mpg from it, unfortunately.

Mitsubishi Montero

My buddies 4bt Xj. Does as well as 21 on the highway. Better than it did with the 350 but not "diesel" mileage.

Hard to beat a $1500 trooper with a dead motor or trans plus a $2500 front cut jdm diesel for it.