Diesel XJ - I'm all searched out!

[Spaz_Soldier]

This would be what I do if I get a $30,000 scratch-off winner. Lol. I could do a lot of the cutting, fabbing, measuring, welding, etc. myself. That would really diminish the price. I would just need someone to wire and do any of the specific little details I'm not a professional with.

 

[89gmctd]

What is needed to do this is the complete wrecked KJ CRD - all the modules on the wiring harness must be present and accounted for when the Ign switch moves to START, so you would need to swap in the complete wiring harness\module assembly with the engine and drivetrain - the computers don't care what sheetmetal surrounds them, but all must be onboard and talking in order to deliver the functions

However, the State DOT does care what sheetmetal surrounds the drivetrain, so at inspection time, the computer reads your gasser VIN and sets up the parameters to read the all the sensors in the vehicle that was designed for gasoline combustion - and that's when the fit hits the shan...............

'05 KJ CRD Limited
Pricol EGT, Boost, Rail Pressure, Trans Temp
Inmotion SII; EDGE Trail
SEGR; Provent; Magnaflow;
Suncoast T\C, Transgo Tow'n'Go switch;
Cummins LP module, Fleetguard filter, Filterminder
2.5" Daystar f, OME r; Ranchos; K3199's, Al's lifted uppers
Rubicons, 2.55 Goodyears
Four in a row really makes it go

 

[casm]

However, the State DOT does care what sheetmetal surrounds the drivetrain, so at inspection time, the computer reads your gasser VIN and sets up the parameters to read the all the sensors in the vehicle that was designed for gasoline combustion - and that's when the fit hits the shan...............

True, but that's one good reason to declare the swap to the DMV or other equivalent local authority. I'm not aware of any state that prohibits a gas-to-diesel swap - even CA doesn't make it particularly easy, but will allow it provided it's done to their requirements.

One other good reason for declaring the swap, even if you live in a no-inspection state, comes down to legality - it's generally not permissible to run a fuel in a vehicle other than the one it was designed for without declaring that it now runs on something else. Whether or not you'd get nailed on that is another matter, but it does bear mentioning.

 

[jeeptech1]

as a chrysler tech is see the 2.8s every now and again. imho i hate them. they are peppy but not power houses either and they are oil leaking piles! they like to leak oil through the turbo and into the intercooler where they eventually blow out the intercooler hoses. trust me its not uncommon to see these libertys with 60k and an engine coated in oil. they still run good but they are more complicated than a cummins 6.7! honestly i wouldnt swap one in anything and am happy they never put them in the wranglers.

 

[casm]

trust me its not uncommon to see these libertys with 60k and an engine coated in oil.

Sounds like the average 4.0

honestly i wouldnt swap one in anything and am happy they never put them in the wranglers.

It's the diesel option in the export JKs. TJs didn't receive them, AFAIK.

 

[FunkRider]

The 4BT would be my choice for for a Waggy for sure. I think your best swap is a tweaked VW.

 

[jeeptech1]

ya, thats true but the 2.8 is worse! "It's the diesel option in the export JKs. TJs didn't receive them" correct. there were a lot of people here in the us that wanted the 2.8 in the new jk. still glad they didnt do it.

 

[DieselSJ]

However, the State DOT does care what sheetmetal surrounds the drivetrain, so at inspection time, the computer reads your gasser VIN and sets up the parameters to read the all the sensors in the vehicle that was designed for gasoline combustion - and that's when the fit hits the shan...............

My 1987 Grand Wagoneer shows up as a diesel in the AZ State smog system. It was easy - all I did was ask.

 

[Spaz_Soldier]

Wow. Nothing for a week and now a lot. Lol. I'm no engine mechanic but wouldn't all you need to take care of the oil problem be better gaskets and seals where they notoriously leak from? Does anybody know the Virginia laws on a swap? I've tried searching the LIS Code of Virginia website, but that's just a maze of technicalities and bs.

 

[chpmnsws6]

It sounded like he was talking about internal leaks in the turbo. If so, a trick we've used in the gasser world was to put a nitrous jet in the turbo oil inlet fitting to reduce flow. Excess pressure blows turbo seals in no time.

 

[Spaz_Soldier]

Oh...I knew that. :dunce:

 

[casm]

Does anybody know the Virginia laws on a swap? I've tried searching the LIS Code of Virginia website, but that's just a maze of technicalities and bs.

The long and the short of it:

Yes, it's doable. You must install an engine certified for road use in the US. The vehicle needs to be able to pass inspection per the standards of your county of registration once completed. The conversion may not disrupt or disable any other legally-required equipment.

This is based on a phone call I had with the DMV a couple of years ago, so take it for what it's worth. I would strongly recommend speaking with them as the above is literally the extent of my recollection.

 

[BlueGerbil]

Regarding the Euro-Diesel-XJs: Stay away from them, the 2.5l engine built by VM in italy is just crap. It has tons of thermal problems combined with low power output. I think the 4.0 is ideal for the XJ, perhaps stroked to 4.7.

Get a daily driver with a better mileage and leave that poor 4.0 alone... :wave:

 

[FunkRider]

http://www.overlanddiesel.com/Diesel_Conversion_Photos/Pages/The_Chief.html

I 6bt is overkill but still mmmmm

 

[russellUK]

the euro diesel is fine, i have one! the 2.5lt turbo engine does only have 120bhp but torque moves a car and power (bhp) sells a car. the euro diesel has over 220lb/ft @ 2000rpm, great at pulling at low revs

as for reliability.... they do suffer neglect, when there not serviced they tend not to do more than 100,000 miles, the heads fail due to lack of anti freeze, they use the same engine in some of the london taxi's

 

[casm]

the euro diesel is fine, i have one! the 2.5lt turbo engine does only have 120bhp but torque moves a car and power (bhp) sells a car. the euro diesel has over 220lb/ft @ 2000rpm, great at pulling at low revs

Exactly. It's slow but it'll pull stumps up.

as for reliability.... they do suffer neglect, when there not serviced they tend not to do more than 100,000 miles, the heads fail due to lack of anti freeze, they use the same engine in some of the london taxi's

From what I understand, the trick is to convert to the 4.0 radiator, fit a turbo timer, and just keep up with regular maintenance. Friends of ours are still running their '99 XJ van with close to (if not over) 300,000 on the clock and this is pretty much the way they've approached it.

 

[XJ01-08]

4BT is possible.... there are some floating around in Wranglers. But its probably not the most practical choice.

They are very heavy and you would have to do a lot of modding to fit in a larger radiator to keep it cool.

I doubt youll need a new radiator, you should've seen the pathetic radiator in the step van I got my 4bt out of.

XJ <> TJ/YJ/CJ

4bt is very tall. The couple that I have seen in XJs required 8+" of lift for the pan to clear the front housing.

4.5" is the minimum i've heard on 4btswaps from the guy that put one in his MJ

 

[Spaz_Soldier]

I wish the Cummins was easily doable. But, it seems my best bet is the CRD. I've heard about the engine's reliability issues, but it seems like nothing that can't be stopped with a little preventative maintenance. Power output seems pretty damn good with it, too.

 

[XJ01-08]

I wish the Cummins was easily doable. But, it seems my best bet is the CRD. I've heard about the engine's reliability issues, but it seems like nothing that can't be stopped with a little preventative maintenance. Power output seems pretty damn good with it, too.

My mom has the CRD its a pretty good engine, the only trouble i've had is the damn EGR. Keeps getting sticky im assuming so I just unpluged the MAF sensor that controls is and it runs better then when the EGR is working. That and oil in all the intercooler hoses but thats the damn crankcase breather. on lostjeeps they got alot of info on the CRD engine

 

[Spaz_Soldier]

EGR? I don't know diesel engines...or engines at all?