diesel conversion

:rolleyes: I have a 91 explorer with 235,000 kilometers or146,000 miles. I have maintained it perfectly . I would like to find out if is possible to put in a smaller diesel engine . Has anyone ever seen or heard of this type of conversion done ? I have been thinking maybe a mercades diesel !

:huh:

wow.. that would be one hell of a conversion...

............why?....

Engine or Transmision is sure to die soon at this high mileage . The rest of the driveline is perfect . The Explorer is the right size and weight . Diesels get great fuel economy with long life . Also keep running under water . Not that I will ever need that .

First off, if your X has been maintained as well as you say, then 146,000 miles is nothing. My parents' '93 Sport has 207,000 and is still pretty solid. Seriously, you dont have that high of mileage.

Second, I do like the diesel conversion idea. Like has been said already, that would be one hell of a conversion, especially if you dont use Ford parts. A powerstroke would kick ass, but it wont fit in the bay of an Explorer. A 302 barely does. That reminds me, a 302 would be alot easier and cheaper. It wouldnt get the economy, but it would have a load of torque.

You could find a earlier model Ranger, with the turbodiesel that would be easier to install..........I don't know how many there are out there, but a lot of states have used them for DOT vehicles until they were dropped. I believe this to be a Mazda unit that was pretty reliable. You can also check with Advance Adapters on what would fit. The VM Italian
built Turbodiesel installed in a few Jeep Cherokees in 86-87 for the US and have been available in export markets since then is a possible fit too.
I have had good luck with my 4.0 but would n't mind one, just too much hassle to do it for me. If the Jeep VM will fit up to the transmission, I think they have been available in Canada since 87 in Jeeps, could be wrong.

I am currently looking into retro-fitting my '85 CJ7 with a newer, more reliable diesel powerplant. As my quest for information continues, I have since enlisted the efforts of other Jeep owners interested in doing the same:

http://www.jeep2diesel.org

So far, I haven't made up my mind as to what engine to select for my transplant, but it'll have to be a clean-burner to get certified here in CA. (Probably a small Mitsubishi, or Isuzu.) Many have opted for the Cummins. If there are others interested in a similar conversion, feel free to visit our non-commercial web site.

...Dave

ISo far, I haven't made up my mind as to what engine to select for my transplant, but it'll have to be a clean-burner to get certified here in CA. (Probably a small Mitsubishi, or Isuzu.) Many have opted for the Cummins. If there are others interested in a similar conversion, feel free to visit our non-commercial web site.

Sorry, but here in CA your engine has to be built by the same manufacturer as the vehicle it is going into. No Mitsu or Isuzu for you. A Cummins was the first thing that popped into my head since Jeep is part of Daimler-Chrysler and therefor from the same manufacturer.

You may be right about this, unfortunately. But I've heard so many conflicting stories over the years here in CA (including from mechanics, DMV officials, and CHPs), that I've learned to take everything I read/hear with a grain of salt. But I do appreciate your trying to spare me all that work for nothing.

I don't scare-off easily though, and I'm determined to pull this conversion off, if it means finding a loop-hole, or even (eventually) changing the law itself. (I looked into this conversion back in 1990, and I got numerous conflicting tales from various officials, mechanics, etc. What I have yet to lay my hands on is something cut and dry in writing. If you know of such information you can cite, please do so, as I have alot of legal research ahead of me.) In years past, any radical engine modifications (including non-factory turbo-chargers) in CA have required the vehicle owner to perform some rigorous testing (including a dynomometer) to prove its compliance.

Things are changing now, and new options are being considered. (Retrofits involving cleaner-burning engines could be considered in future. They already are to some extent, in various forms. "Governator" Schwartzeneggar is already proposing a bill to retrofit older diesel engines.) Maybe the foilks in Sacramento just need a little persuation?

...Dave