Needing a shop for diesel conversion.

[1994Fivespeed]

I have recently recovered from a 10 year illness that almost took my life. I have had this ranger for a good fraction of that time. It is a 2wd 4.0 5spd. Rust free. Cheap insurance. With a very high sentimental value. The engine is doing ok but is making some lifter noise I believe. I would like to start hunting down shops that would be willing to swap in a small diesel engine. I'm not picky about the engine. Although I think something like a 4bt would be overkill. Like I said, very high sentimental value here. The truck is good for a drive to anywhere in the US or Canada.

 

[stmitch]

What's the budget?
What do you want from the swap when it's done (fuel economy, pulling power, etc)?
Where are you located?

 

[1994Fivespeed]

What's the budget?
What do you want from the swap when it's done (fuel economy, pulling power, etc)?
Where are you located?

Thank you for the response.

Budget:
The diesel option is basically plan B. Plan A is a overhauled 4.0 with aftermarket rockers and push-rods, bored, probably some other mods. I've priced around $3000 installed. So plan B is somewhere north of $3000. If someone were to lay out a solid plan for something like a ISF or a small CAT/Perkins motor, givin enough time & communication; I'm not exactly sure where to put the ceiling. The truck has history and I got time.

MPG:
I'm expecting MPG north of what a 4bt would get. Durability is my main concern.

Pulling Power:
None. Never going to pull a trailer.

Location
Ohio

I'm assuming there maybe Kubota and John Deere engines that work as well. VW and Benz probably have diesels that may work too. I just don't know. My hope is some shop owner reads this and feels he could do something with a motor he has laying around. There is 2-3 shops locally that I haven't checked with yet. Regardless I'll use this thread to show the build if it stays local.

 

[chucky2]

When I have the time and space I'm going to attempt a small diesel conversion myself, if I still have my Ranger. Seems the VW 4 cyl would be good candidates as long as you don't have emission testing. greengeeker has an ongoing thread, and I know there are a few others. Between engine, trans adapter, whatever else, you might be able to get it done in the $3k range, if you compiled enough information yourself to cut down on the 'figuring out' costs of a shop doing it. A Stage II type tune on a 4 cyl VW TDI would probably be all the power you'd need, and get you some pretty good mpg to boot.

 

[greasefittn]

diesel conversion

I have a couple of 5cyl Mercedes engines complete runners been stored inside since I took them out I drove both of them 15+ years each one 270k one 435k both run good I have a 4 speed stick from a 240 set up but you would like the m5r2 trans it has good ratio splits I have a 353 in my ranger but the merc engine fits ok to If you do the swap yourself, I'll bring one of them up to you for a couple of hundred plus fuel 24mpg from Norristown pa. ps also have a sd22T Datsun engine that I put a turbo on made my own kit , I bought that truck new in 81 rotted out in 10 years engine and trans has been sitting since 92 it had 97hp on the wheels with the turbo at 9 lbs {60 hp stock] find it a home