KOHLER diesel swap to 2.3l 95 ranger

[changed_my_name]

what all would be involved in installing kohler kdw1003 in a 95 ranger 2wd? The transmission is gone so a new stock or alternative one would be needed regardless. It would be dead slow but very reliable/cheap to work on.

 

[RonD]

The kdw1003 is 23HP and has 36ft/lb torque, if it was "slow" that would be a HIGH compliment in a 3,000lbs vehicle

The 2.0l Lima was "slow" in a Ranger, at 73HP and 107ft/lb torque


You CAN do anything, just wouldn't do that, lol

You would need a manual transmission with custom adapter

 

[Roert42]

You would have to make some custom mounts for the engine/ trans, custom adapter for the trans( if not using a trans that was sold with this engine), custom drive shaft, custom wiring harness, throttle linkage.

Since I’m guessing it’s a tractor/ forklift engine, it probably designed with a very narrow rpm range for optimal operation. Would need to gear the rear and trans appropriately for the use conditions, so your in the proper rpm range while driving.
Probably will not be able to use stock ranger rear.

If you have heard of someone using this engine in a swap, any vehicle. They will be you best bet. Otherwise you are more or less starting from scratch.

 

[4x4prepper]

For the amount of money for that, you would be better off with a new or used Cummings such as the 2.8L. I looked into these smaller diesel engines and the only way to use them in an automotive application would be to drive either hydraulic motors (pumps) or to drive an alternator for an electric vehicle. As others have noted they have a very narrow RPM range and regular operating RPMs (about 2k) and maximum RPMs is maybe a 300 RPM difference.

 

[Roert42]

Would probably be way easier to set it up as a diesel generator running an electric axel. Probably way more efficient as well.

 

[4x4prepper]

Would probably be way easier to set it up as a diesel generator running an electric axel. Probably way more efficient as well.

Locomotives are diesel engines with electric motors, many submarines are, as are huge off road equipment. The trouble with the electric motors is if you use DC you need a PWM controller, it is not as easy as just sticking an on/off switch connected to a 12v or 24v battery bank.

I am planning on building an off road machine using a small diesel to run a pump and hydraulic wheel motors, but for a RBV with the diesel engine directly running a 4x4 drive train, , the only real choice, imho, is the Cummings. Though with time, money, and brain power just about anything is possible.

 

[Roert42]

Locomotives are diesel engines with electric motors, many submarines are, as are huge off road equipment. The trouble with the electric motors is if you use DC you need a PWM controller, it is not as easy as just sticking an on/off switch connected to a 12v or 24v battery bank.

I am planning on building an off road machine using a small diesel to run a pump and hydraulic wheel motors, but for a RBV with the diesel engine directly running a 4x4 drive train, , the only real choice, imho, is the Cummings. Though with time, money, and brain power just about anything is possible.

Still wouldn’t be terribly hard if you have experience in that sort of thing.

Although a lot of people do not.