Diesel conversion

Ridgerunner

Ridgerunner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Location
Fuquay Varina, NC
I am thinking about a Diesel conversion on a 88 Grand wagoneer. is there a was to change the title to say it uses diesel fuel? I have heard about this being done in other states but not sure about NC.
 
Yeah, it can be done.. I was contemplating doing it to the FJ when it was on propane, but it wasn't worth the effort.. but it can certainly be done.
 
For sure it won't go through emissions, but I have a feeling they'll want to know what year engine you've got - maybe some sort of visual?

For gas motors, technically, it's supposed to be the same year or newer than the vehicle it's going in, dunno if that goes for a diesel too.
 
Well that seems to be good news now I just have to figure out which diesel I want to use.

6BT 12v Good but won't fit
4BT Mabe but $$$?
6.2 will fit better. cheaper cost and easier to convert, but lower power,
6.5 more power but I will have to relocact my heater core
6.6 Durmax Lots of $$$ and same issues as the 6.5
7.3 power stroke mabe too big and heavy

I plan too keep this GW Stock except for the diesel conversion. it has 2.72 gears so I think that a overdrive might not be needed. If I go with a 6.2 I could run a 700r4 I think.
 
I would say the 4BT or the 6.5. I have had great luck with my 6.5 but if you keep looking you can find the 4BT for a good price. The fit would be easier too. The 6.5 would have plenty of power in a GW though.
 
The Nissan SD33T came in Scouts and in those weird CJ-10 military airport tug Jeeps you see at gov't auctions. It is a 6-cyl 3.3L. Some were non-turbo in Scouts.

I just pulled a turbo one out of a Scout and plan to swap it into an older CJ-5. The motor mounts are very universal and seem like they would be easy to adapt to anything. It also had a mount for a York compressor on it already.

Since it came in the CJ-10s, I guess some Jeep auto must fit behind it.

Carl, I have it sitting at my house in Apex if you would like to come take some measurements. But look up the weight online - it sure seemed heavy for only being a 3.3L - my tractor would barely lift it. It is *at least* as heavy as a 6.2L, maybe heavier.

Also look up the horsepower/torque ratings online and see what you think - might not be any better than a 6.2L
 
thecarman said:
Since it came in the CJ-10s, I guess some Jeep auto must fit behind it.
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IIRC, (have seen several in person) they use TF727 trannies with some bastardized TCs... no shifter and locked (via bracket) into low-range...

What are the requirements for ADDING a turbo to a diesel? Similar to gassers that the compression ratio needs to be lowered or the boost be hamstrung to keep from blowing the heads...
 
Caver Dave said:
IIRC, (have seen several in person) they use TF727 trannies with some bastardized TCs... no shifter and locked (via bracket) into low-range...
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I think it's the 208 T-case behind them, and like you said, locked in low range.

Caver Dave said:
What are the requirements for ADDING a turbo to a diesel? Similar to gassers that the compression ratio needs to be lowered or the boost be hamstrung to keep from blowing the heads...
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Diesels are more receptive to adding a turbo. You can do it with no internal mods. Banks offers kits for the 6.2L, and I know ATS had factory add-on kits on the 6.2L and 7.3L that you could buy on brand new vehicles from the dealer in the early 90's.

You might not be able to raise the boost as much as the factory engines that have a little lower compression, but a turbo added on to a diesel is still is a big improvement over non-turbo.
 
IIRC the SD33 and 33T that came in the scouts had either 727s or T19s behind them.... from what ive read about them, the 6.2, 4BT, and SD33T all weigh around the same, and all put out around 100-120 hp stock.... The SD33 that came in scouts before 1980 were NA and they only did around 80 or so HP
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
from what ive read about them, the 6.2, 4BT, and SD33T all weigh around the same, and all put out around 100-120 hp stock.... The SD33 that came in scouts before 1980 were NA and they only did around 80 or so HP
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The 6.2 put out 145-155hp stock.

Your numbers sound right for the 4BT and SD33T, but since they are turbo, with minor mods they might match and beat the power of a stock 6.2. (I know the 4BT will, not sure about the SD33T)

Not much can be done to up the power of a stock 6.2L significantly without adding a turbo. You can add more fuel, but without more air (which a turbo would provide if it had one), it's not going to do much except smoke, waste fuel, and raise EGTs.
 
thecarman said:
The 6.2 put out 145-155hp stock.



Your numbers sound right for the 4BT and SD33T, but since they are turbo, with minor mods they might match and beat the power of a stock 6.2. (I know the 4BT will, not sure about the SD33T)
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I thought the J code 6.2 was the most powerful and it was around 130hp i thought, but they coulda been underrated, or im just wrong....

I have heard of 4BTs doin 300hp without a ton of work (theyre basically 12V without 2 cyl)



http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=1179786&convertTo=USD

just came across this.... if u were considering a SD33 here would be your whole drivetrain
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
I thought the J code 6.2 was the most powerful and it was around 130hp i thought, but they coulda been underrated, or im just wrong....
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From a 1982 GM Brochure - it shows 130hp
http://www.tocmp.com/brochures/GMTrucks/1982/pages/1982 Chevy Suburban-08_jpg.htm

From a 1990 GM Brocure - it shows 145hp (C-code) and 155hp (J-code)
http://www.tocmp.com/brochures/GMTrucks/1990/pages/1990 GMC V-Jimmy-08_jpg.htm

paradisePWoffrd said:
I have heard of 4BTs doin 300hp without a ton of work (theyre basically 12V without 2 cyl)
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From what I have read, for a 4BT 150hp is easy, pushing 200hp is reasonably do-able, but pushing 300hp would take some serious mods. A 300 hp 4BT would be like a 453hp 6BT.
 
Ridgerunner said:
Well that seems to be good news now I just have to figure out which diesel I want to use.
6BT 12v Good but won't fit
4BT Mabe but $$$?
6.2 will fit better. cheaper cost and easier to convert, but lower power,
6.5 more power but I will have to relocact my heater core
6.6 Durmax Lots of $$$ and same issues as the 6.5
7.3 power stroke mabe too big and heavy
I plan too keep this GW Stock except for the diesel conversion. it has 2.72 gears so I think that a overdrive might not be needed. If I go with a 6.2 I could run a 700r4 I think.
Click to expand...
Carl,
Sounds like a nice project...I think the 6BT will fit. Not sure if you saw this, check it out... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8q4KPP3N2U
Perhaps someone smarter than me can figure out from the vid what tranny was used.
 
Saw some additiional info on the youtube site indicating it was a t176 manual. I might be wrong, but it looks like he added an adapter.
 
Since it is pre-OBDII there is no emissions test. I don't see why you would need to want to change the title to say diesel?
 
Bump! Any action on this lately? I am trying to do something similar in the same part of the state. 88 Wagoneer, 96 6bt, and the trans/transfer case and axles out of an 06 f350. With the exception of a purchase of adapters from Destroked I'm ready to get this thing rolling idea wise anyway..
 
6BangBronk said:
Have no idea why my browser can't find this but I'd be tremendously interested to get a website link / phone number / anything.

If I google it comes up with a Williams Automotive Solutions that specializes in BMW's.
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It might be because this thread is 8.5 years old, LOL.
 
I heard that there was a guy in apex that does the cummins conversion on fords typically with the 6.0L. Yeah I saw how old it was and was hoping the guy that started it lives a couple miles from where my shop is. (hoping he could/would be able to lend a hand or let me pick his brain...)
 
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