Topic: Diesel Conversions

[stan98tj]

how clean are the cummins diesels? do they spew a lot of black smoke? ive done a little research to see what ppl thought of the swap and many voiced concerns about the weight of the cummins. I wonder if it's all that much heavier then a 4.0l.

[Jeffy]

how clean are the cummins diesels? do they spew a lot of black smoke? ive done a little research to see what ppl thought of the swap and many voiced concerns about the weight of the cummins. I wonder if it's all that much heavier then a 4.0l.

Most of those issues were related to poorly maintained engines or the fuel which was high in sulfur.  Although, if you get on a diesel they will bellow black smoke but that's when you're really wanting to move.

Then again, what Cummins are you looking at?  A 6BT is pretty damn big in size and weight.  A 4BT is a bit lighter but still really heavy.

[stan98tj]

Most of those issues were related to poorly maintained engines or the fuel which was high in sulfur.  Although, if you get on a diesel they will bellow black smoke but that's when you're really wanting to move.

Then again, what Cummins are you looking at?  A 6BT is pretty damn big in size and weight.  A 4BT is a bit lighter but still really heavy.

i gather the smallest is the 4BT and yet that still has many people raising eyebrows in regard to the heavy weight. Of course if it's as heavy or a tad heavier then the 4.0 then ths may be a non-issue.  Other options may of course include toyota, volvo or other manufacturers' diesels but id like to keep it dodge/chrysler if i can.
Ive decided that i will refuse to swap in a 4.0, or v8 into my jeep. It came as a 4cyl and it will remain as such. Once i start sailing, im going to have a lot of time off when im back home and id like a project. Overhaul the 2.5l and try and make it the most powerful 4cyl it can be....or convert to diesel and tweak that. Im thinking no matter what i do to the 2.5l, i will be able to out perform it with a diesel.

[Jeffy]

i gather the smallest is the 4BT and yet that still has many people raising eyebrows in regard to the heavy weight. Of course if it's as heavy or a tad heavier then the 4.0 then ths may be a non-issue.  Other options may of course include toyota, volvo or other manufacturers' diesels but id like to keep it dodge/chrysler if i can.
Ive decided that i will refuse to swap in a 4.0, or v8 into my jeep. It came as a 4cyl and it will remain as such. Once i start sailing, im going to have a lot of time off when im back home and id like a project. Overhaul the 2.5l and try and make it the most powerful 4cyl it can be....or convert to diesel and tweak that. Im thinking no matter what i do to the 2.5l, i will be able to out perform it with a diesel.

You really need to look into what diesels are available and their specs.  I've mentioned before that the 4BT weighs in around 745lbs wet.  The 4.0L is 525-ish lbs and the 2.5L is around 300 lbs wet.  So it is not an optimal choice unless you're really going to beef up the front suspension.

You are not going to find a Chrysler/Dodge engine that will work.  The 4BT is an industrial engine, used for powering pumps and generators, not vehicles.  It's not DOT certified which can get you intro trouble.  Most other engines are going to be too old to swap in according to federal law.  Now many get away with them as not all states have state inspections, safety or emissions that would catch it.

Legally, a 2.8L Jeep diesel would be the most logical choice as it was used by Jeep and is 50-state legal.  Problem is it's computer controlled so you have to deal with all of that.  Then there is the faulty EGR valve which is an expensive fix.

I think the VW 1.9L is an interesting swap but it might be difficult to find conversion parts.  Most VW swaps I've seen are old 1.6L's without the computer.  Toyota never offered a diesel in the US, neither have Nissan nor Mitsubishi.  Volvo's diesels are OK engines but I haven't heard of too many swaps.  I think a VW or Merc swap would be a better choice.  I've heard the Merc was offered as a Diesel 300 up till the early mid 90's but I think the last US one was back in the late 80's...

[wolf]

The 4BT is an industrial engine, used for powering pumps and generators, not vehicles.  It's not DOT certified which can get you intro trouble.

the 4b and 4bt where used in vehicles, in the mid to late 80s for sure not sure if they continued into the 90s but they where used in GM P-30s and also in GM rv chassis

[sharpxmen]

the 4b and 4bt where used in vehicles, in the mid to late 80s for sure not sure if they continued into the 90s but they where used in GM P-30s and also in GM rv chassis

how come you have the same profile picture as bammerman?

[stan98tj]

the 4b and 4bt where used in vehicles, in the mid to late 80s for sure not sure if they continued into the 90s but they where used in GM P-30s and also in GM rv chassis

i thought so as well. which is why i thought it would be legal. AS far as the 2.8l Jeffy mentioned, i thought that was only offered for the international market, which would make me think i would run into a whole lot of red tape trying to get one imported and actually get away with installation..

[chardrc]

how come you have the same profile picture as bammerman?

that's one of those standard profile pics you can choose form if you don't have your own. apparently they both like the black and white yj

[sharpxmen]

that's one of those standard profile pics you can choose form if you don't have your own. apparently they both like the black and white yj

oops, i didn't know there was such thing - was wondering if both were driving the same Jeep

[Jeffy]

the 4b and 4bt where used in vehicles, in the mid to late 80s for sure not sure if they continued into the 90s but they where used in GM P-30s and also in GM rv chassis

They were special conversion done to Frito Lay trucks as they did not come from GM with the engines.  IIRC, they stopped in 1990.

[dwtaylorpdx]

The vans built by Grumman had the 4bt in the same era stock.
Looks identical to the GM strep van.

Dave

[Jeffy]

Another engine that seems to be getting more popular is the Isuzu 4BD1T.  http://www.isuzudieselswapper.com/index.html

The only question I have is what's the cut off for a 'Light-Truck' verses a 'Medium Truck'?  In CA, I don't believe you can put a medium truck engine into a light truck.  Although, I'm not certain on that.

[dwtaylorpdx]

I wonder if CA has the loophole WA has, In WA you can increase the GVW by paying a excise tax....
Of course there are the early Nissan Diesels and Toyota Pickups... 80's vintage....

Dave

[Jeffy]

I wonder if CA has the loophole WA has, In WA you can increase the GVW by paying a excise tax....
Of course there are the early Nissan Diesels and Toyota Pickups... 80's vintage....

Dave

Not sure on that.  I know the Nissan and Toyota Diesels were export only BUT since they're older then 30 years you can import them and register then in CA.  Still, you would need to either find a nice DMV or go through the referee station to get a new VIN issues by the DOT and then you would get flagged for having an engine older then the chassis.

Although the guy who originally had my hood and grill was going to register this YJ as a CJ but then decided to do it legally.

[Jeffy]

OK, I did some more research and it seems you cannot swap in a engine from a different weight class.  So that really limits things.  Not to mention light-trucks with small diesels.  The CA Legal Diesel is also an issue since there were 49-state diesels from VW into the 2000's that weren't legal in CA.  I think that still leaves the door open for a 2.8L Liberty engine as well as some VW's from the Bug and Golf.

I also read that for CA DOT, there are 3 basic rules you need to follow. 

• Donor engine must come out of the same year or newer vehicle.
• Donor vehicle must be in the same weight class as the receiving vehicle. There a lot of times the referee will ask for the donor vehicle's VIN or registration, to prove that you didn't get it out of a delivery truck, or a boat.
• The donor vehicle and engine must have been certified as a California-legal vehicle when sold new.