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Recommendation for Diesel Swap?

C

CJocho

CJ-8 Member
City
CHICAGO
State
Il
Anyone know a shop that can do a Diesel swap for me? I don't have the time nor the knowledge to do this myself. I do have $ which I imagine will be helpful. I've heard good reviews of a TDI swap into TJs but I have yet to see anyone do it in a CJ. Any help would be much appreciated.
 
Don’t know of a shop in your area. I did have a 4bt in a 1998 Wrangler. Jeep shook too much when at at idle. Was annoying. Power was ok. MPG was pretty good. While moving it was fine
 
There was a guy on here that did a Mercedes OM617 turbo swap that ended up getting totaled. When the right one pops up I going to snag it for mine.

1984 Mercedes Powered Scrambler Project

1983 Mercedes OM617 Motor Swap into 1984 Jeep CJ8-Scrambler This is my first build thread for my Scrambler. Hopefully this write-up helps other Jeep owners in determining if they want to swap in a Mercedes OM617 5 Cylinder diesel. I won’t go into a lot of detail about every process of the...
www.cj-8.com
 
I have a soft spot for the B-Series Cummins (4BT-6BT), and the R2.8 looks like a great little mill, even if having nothing in common with the B-series cousins....but if it weren't so foreign to adapt accessories, I'd personally look at the Mercedes. The OM617 is neat in its simplicity, but it's a dog. If money were no option, I'd do an OM606 (3.0L inline 6 from the E300 series Mercs) with a modified OM602 pump (mechanical piston style pump, similar to a Bosch P-pump). The OM602/606 is basically a baby p-pump 24 valve Cummins. Great power potential, great rpm range, still packages fairly nicely, smooth 6 cylinder vibe opposed to rattletrap 4 bangers....but adaptation is a bit of a nightmare, thanks to the German way.

However, that doesn't answer your question. As far as having a shop do the work for you, a 4BT cutout or a fresh R2.8 crate engine will be the best bets. The TDI has been done a lot, so it's not complicated.....however, it's not exactly intuitive. The 4BT is dead simple and has domestic OEM adaptation likely in the cutout if you source a Grummon type "bread van" with SBC or SBF adapter. The R2.8 is a crate engine essentially designed for swaps, and companies like Quick Draw Brand make is super easy to adapt to whatever transmission you want, so that takes more guess work out. If having a shop do the work, I would have a very hard time arguing against the R2.8 as the swap candidate.
 
Favor the Cummins...motor mounts and adaptor plate. Rest plug and play.
Mercedes 5 cyl. Doable with simular above mods biggest hang up for me is that the oil pan is backwards. Around here most motors are 250++ on the odometer.
VW TDI....rather run in a Sammy. 1.9 with mechanical pump would be my c first choice. High milage again..for my area.
 
There is a new option that has been looked at a bit. I really want to see some swaps and reports about the 3.0 duramax I6.

I have a friend in TX that is planning on swapping one into his TJ once it is over 25 yrs old (TX smog laws). He was originally thinking of an LS swap but is unable in his county due to the smog laws. Ironically he is able to throw a turbo on his 4.0 and make 320 hp to the tire.
 
I have the 3 litre LM2 in my silverado and tahoe. I LOVE that motor. But it's a complicated critter with little chance of being mated to a manual.

From what I've seen of the R2.8, it's a close to a bolt in swap as can be.
 
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What MPG would be expected with 355 gears and 30" tire with the R28 diesel? I'm expecting 14/15 mph on a gas engine
 
Interceptor said:
What MPG would be expected with 355 gears and 30" tire with the R28 diesel? I'm expecting 14/15 mph on a gas engine
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There's a lot more to it than just what you have listed, like weight and speed and drivetrain type, but most R2.8 reviews I've seen put them comfortably in the low 20's on MPG when swapped into Jeep style rigs. I think most of the Ultimate Adventure (FourWheeler media group) guys report upper teens to low 20's with the baby Cummins on fairly kitted out rigs.
 
Interceptor said:
What is big advantage in going diesel, off road low speed torque?
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That's one of the bigger advantages...especially when driving a manual. The low end grunt really helps pull through things rather than feathering the clutch. When paired with an automatic, the torque issue isn't as apparent and it is more a weigh in on mileage.
 
I can see a 6k plus difference going diesel and not gas on a build. What about, when it is time to sell, will the diesel bring 6k more against a gas vehicle? Or will it be the same value?
 
Cmath, how does it sound? We have a 6Bt in an old dodge truck. It’s great old engine, will go forever, lots of power, and sounds very cool and yes, loud.
When I get bored or need a new engine, I’m leaning toward the R2.8. When I rebuilt my 258 I had seriously Considered the 4bt but quickly figured out it was way to heavy and rough for my use (driving to town on game days and beautiful weather).
That said, it’s no fun if it doesn’t sound like a diesel. I drove a friend’s BMW with a diesel. Incredible performance and you could not hear at all. I’d want it to still sound cool but be able to hear the radio or talk on the phone.
 
Has anyone considered a Detroit diesel 6.5L? I saw one thread but not much info. Designed to fit in same space as V8 and they still make parts since they are being put in humvees. I know it doesn't have best reputation but I also have seen later models have better reliability/weak points are known and can be reinforced.
 
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