diesel swap

JerseyBoy · May 31, 2009

if i dont sell my ranger i want to put a diesel in her. i have a 97 4x4 4.0 with a m50d-r1 trani and i wanted to know what i would need to do it and how hard it is to do. if any one has done it and has pics id love to see it thanks for the help

Captain Ledd · Jun 1, 2009

That's an unbelievably open ended question.

You'r probably going to be looking at an industrial diesel and modding it to get the HP up to a reasonable level. Lot's of people think about the Cummins 4BT, and I keep making the point that it's nearly 800lbs dry weight, let alone a tranny that can handle the torque. It'll make the weird weight distribution of a pickup that much worse. It's also almost 4L.

You could get a 2.0L-3.0L 4cylinder industrial diesel for a much more reasonable 4-500 lbs, and still somewhat cheap if you cruise Ebay or get lucky locally. Buy you're also going to be looking at an adapter plate.

VW diesels can work but the computers in them get really cranky when being transplanted and everything isn't just peachy perfect.

Others like the Mercedes swap have been done, and at the time of posting my reply, there is a diesel swap thread not too far down from this topic.
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22729

I'd start by studying the differences in the Diesel in your Chevy and Ford for small details.

What will the truck be used for? Will it be driven daily? Hard or soft? Mileage a concern? loooots of questions that need answers to.

rusty ol ranger · Jun 1, 2009

Drop in a 351W.

More power, cheaper, and eaiser.

later,
Dustin

MikeInIdaho · Jun 2, 2009

the 1.9/1.6l VW IDI TD motors are lightweight, compact, extremely reliable and completely mechanical. With a little money and ingenuity, they can be swapped into almost anything and modified for respectable power. The n/a versions of these motors are much easier to find (here in America) and have a nice, pancake flat torque curve.

The OM 61x.xx Mercedes-Benz motors are also indirect-injection and mechanically controlled. They weigh a little bit more than the VW motors, but are as close to being bulletproof as possible. The reliability of these motors is the stuff of legends.

You can also modify an early AAZ series VW TDI motor to use the Bosch VE rotary pumps found on the earlier TD motors, thereby eliminating most (if not all) of the wiring and computer gadgetry found on these motors.

The VW motors in particular (IDI and TDI) are very popular swaps into Suzuki Sidekicks and Samurais. There are a few companies (such as ACME adapters) that specialize in making swap kits for this very combination. I have also seen VW diesels swapped into LR Defenders, Toyota HiLux pickups and even a few mini coopers.

JerseyBoy · Jun 2, 2009

Captain Ledd said:
That's an unbelievably open ended question.

You'r probably going to be looking at an industrial diesel and modding it to get the HP up to a reasonable level. Lot's of people think about the Cummins 4BT, and I keep making the point that it's nearly 800lbs dry weight, let alone a tranny that can handle the torque. It'll make the weird weight distribution of a pickup that much worse. It's also almost 4L.

You could get a 2.0L-3.0L 4cylinder industrial diesel for a much more reasonable 4-500 lbs, and still somewhat cheap if you cruise Ebay or get lucky locally. Buy you're also going to be looking at an adapter plate.

VW diesels can work but the computers in them get really cranky when being transplanted and everything isn't just peachy perfect.

Others like the Mercedes swap have been done, and at the time of posting my reply, there is a diesel swap thread not too far down from this topic.
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22729

I'd start by studying the differences in the Diesel in your Chevy and Ford for small details.

What will the truck be used for? Will it be driven daily? Hard or soft? Mileage a concern? loooots of questions that need answers to.

no gas mileage dose not mater, the truck will not be a DD, it will be for show perpises and for riping clumps of earth out and throwing them to the moon!!

nccatfan · Jun 9, 2009

Captain Ledd said:
That's an unbelievably open ended question.

You'r probably going to be looking at an industrial diesel and modding it to get the HP up to a reasonable level. Lot's of people think about the Cummins 4BT, and I keep making the point that it's nearly 800lbs dry weight, let alone a tranny that can handle the torque. It'll make the weird weight distribution of a pickup that much worse. It's also almost 4L.

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I'm planning for the Cummins 4BT and I understand a LOT of fabrication will be needed. Can anyone tell me what the 4.0L V6 weighs and dimensions so I know what these Rangers were designed to handle?

Beanmachine7000 · Jun 9, 2009

I've looked at doing this a bunch, and decided that it just isn't feasible... Yes, it can be done, but for the amount of work and the gains, it just isn't worth it for the 'cool' factor... There are a few foreign diesels that would theoretically fit, but good luck finding one, much less paying for it and getting it to the states... You could try a small Toyota diesel, but most of them are NA, and the turbo ones are terribly hard to find... The Cummins 3.3 seems like the best choice, but it only makes <100 hp at it's peak... The 4BT seems ok, but it weighs way too much and only makes 120 hp... GM's 6.2/6.5 diesel is a good candidate, it makes more power than the 4B, and weighs about the same if not a little less... Turbo it and you can easily get 250hp/400+lb/ft reliably...

nccatfan · Jun 9, 2009

how can that little 4 cyl weigh so much? My Powerstroke/Navistar eng weighs about 900lbs. Maybe suspension swap from a 1/2-ton will hold it up? I hear the 4x4 V6 eng. crossmember is a good bit beefier too. Pretty much got my mind set on this, I just need ideas to make it work. Haven't bought any parts yet tho.

nccatfan · Jun 9, 2009

JerseyBoy said:
if i dont sell my ranger i want to put a diesel in her. i have a 97 4x4 4.0 with a m50d-r1 trani and i wanted to know what i would need to do it and how hard it is to do. if any one has done it and has pics id love to see it thanks for the help

Sorry for stealing your thread... figured we were in the same boat so I chimed in. I've not heard of any easy diesel swaps, tho. Sounds like a long, expensive road to achieve it.

nccatfan · Jun 9, 2009

The 4BT doesn't start with much power, but diesels are built with hidden potential. Diesel Power mag has an article on a 4BT in a Ranger making 700+ HP on fuel alone!!

Beanmachine7000 · Jun 9, 2009

nccatfan said:
how can that little 4 cyl weigh so much? My Powerstroke/Navistar eng weighs about 900lbs. Maybe suspension swap from a 1/2-ton will hold it up? I hear the 4x4 V6 eng. crossmember is a good bit beefier too. Pretty much got my mind set on this, I just need ideas to make it work. Haven't bought any parts yet tho.

Depending on which it is your Powerstroke weighs upwards of 1000+ lbs... The 4BT dressed weighs in at like 850 lbs IIRC... Also, there is no way you can make 700 hp RELIABLY on a 4BT... It's definitely not possible by just turning up the pump...

Ozwynn · Jun 9, 2009

rusty ol ranger said:
Drop in a 351W.

More power, cheaper, and eaiser.

later,
Dustin

I can get a Remmaned mil spec 6.2L on Ebay for $600 in its original shipping crate.

could not find a decent running low miles 351 around here for less than $850, plus Ford transmission are expensive.

$650 - Remmaned 6.2L mil spec crate engine ready to run minus accessories. (does include injector pump and manifolds)

$750 for a non wastegated turbo bolt in kit. (no intercooler needed btw)

$150 for an ARP Head stud kit to handle the 18 PSI boost that the non-wastegated turbo makes

GM Creeper 4spd ...... common as dirt and a dime a dozen

the Xfer case from the IFS Chevies is driverside drop.

my pick up has a Heath GL4 performance chip and I make steady power right up to 3300 RPMs (rev limiter defuels the engine and shifts the transmission at 3400) and can chirp the tires from 1st to 2nd, and 2nd - 3rd.

6.2 is a good choice for a ranger....... better than a 4bt.

I will see if I can find the link ........ seen mil spec mid 80's k5 blazers with low miles 6.2 on a gov surplus site for $150............ thats most of your parts for a 6.2L swap.

nccatfan · Jun 10, 2009

Beanmachine7000 said:
Depending on which it is your Powerstroke weighs upwards of 1000+ lbs... The 4BT dressed weighs in at like 850 lbs IIRC... Also, there is no way you can make 700 hp RELIABLY on a 4BT... It's definitely not possible by just turning up the pump...

I wouldn't try for the 700 HP either... just impressive that it's possible. It's a 1/4-mile racer.

JP85prerunner · Jun 10, 2009

There is always the VM 2.8L CRD out of the 05-07 jeep liberty. People bash them but we have owned one for 65000 miles and I love it. It is an incredible little power plant. Stock it makes 165HP and 295lbft of torque. I am waiting for my wife to get tired of it so I can steal the engine for my ranger. They are very simple to work the bugs out of and quite fuel efficent. We average 26 with mostly city driving. My only complaint is finding a manual transmission that mates up. Im not sure what it weighs but the liberty platform is very similar to our rangers.

Good luck.

nccatfan · Jun 10, 2009

I've got the 7.3L and oddly enough, specs I've seen weigh it less than the 6.0L (taken before accesories). Guess all the EGR equipment gets heavy.

Never was a big admirer of the 6.2L... all of 'em I've driven were rather gutless. Liked the turbo-6.5L tho. Didn't even know they were candidtes for a Ranger swap... that's a big V8!

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