1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee turbo diesel

[~Sean~]

Hi, new to the forum... Looking to speak to you all about a future project I have in the works. I want to take the 4.0L 6 out of my Jeep and replace it with a 4 cyl turbo diesel. I want to get rid of the automatic and replace with a 5 or 6-speed. The TD was available for the Jeeps, but only in Europe. The 5 speed was also available here is the U.S. but is very rare to see. I would like to speak to someone who has the time to field my questions about this conversion/swap. (Will the AX15 bolt up to a diesel, etc.)

I know this much: The AX15 was only offered in the ZJ Grand Cherokee in 1993, and only with the six-cylinder.

TIA for any wisdom.

~Sean~

[Karsten]

Whatever you do, stay away from the diesel that was offered in Europe ! Not worth a crap and cracking heads on a weekly basis

[Sleepycummins]

6bt for the win, alot will say to go with the 4bt but you are going to end up spending just as much for a 4bt in the long run...

[Karsten]

Stuffing a 6bt in there will make the Granny flip over the front end

[92turbospirit]

I know they offered a diesel in the jeep liberty?? And ive seen one with a 5 speed or 6? Not sure but there was one at the dealer the other day, until they sprayed starter fluid in it...... Then it went Caboom!

[Shel-Game]

Isuzu 4BD-1t. It's a 4.0L (I think) Turbo Diesel straight 6. Used mostly in the NPR Cab-over trucks. Probably a much better fit than 6BT or 4BT Cummins.

[mopardad1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shel-Game Isuzu 4BD-1t. It's a 4.0L (I think) Turbo Diesel straight 6. Used mostly in the NPR Cab-over trucks. Probably a much better fit than 6BT or 4BT Cummins.

much lighter too!

[rockslinger]

Yeah I heard the isuzu diesel is a really good one, better for a Dakota diesel swap than the cummins 4bt, so it might be better for a jeep as well.

[commemoratives]

The 4BT is pretty heavy.

I am pretty sure the two diesel export options were the Renault version of the PRV diesel. PRV was a cooperative Peugeot/Renault/Volvo group. Considering the three brands I would suggest it could lead to nothing but heartache.

The second export was a VM Motori diesel. Not sure if it is the same unit used in the CRD Liberty, but you might find one in Canada. Probably hard to import from any source.

The Isuzu would probably be the easiest to source. Any way you look at it this will be a challenging swap, but cool when it is done.

[Karsten]

The diesels used in the Cherokee and Liberty were VM Motori (2.5, 2.8, 3.1) and the Mercedes 5-cyl (2.7) in the later Grand Cherokees.
The VM are prone to cracked heads around every 50k mls, so stay away from those as far as you can. Those are the only SUVs in Europe where the diesel is less desirable and cheaper to get as used ones than the gas variants.
The 3.0 V6 Mercedes Diesel, coupled to the 5-speed auto, would be a killer swap

[Shel-Game]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockslinger Yeah I heard the isuzu diesel is a really good one, better for a Dakota diesel swap than the cummins 4bt, so it might be better for a jeep as well.

Look on YouTube, there's a bunch of Jeeps (CJ's + Wranglers) with that swap...

[The Pope]

You need to consider just how much work your willing to do. Most of these options will work with massive fab work and wiring.

The 4BT can use the 6BT rear plate. They Jeep can fit the 6BT trans. That leaves fuel and mounts and the little stuff basically. The 4BT can be turned up like my 6BT, super cheap and easy. Then like the 6BT run for ever. Shifting a diesel is great pulling a trailer, sucks big time for speed. I don't care who you are, I load up the turbo and hammer it and go right through the gears. A stick = slower truck unless really towing weight, a Jeep doesn't need to pull 20K so I'd think auto trans.

I also don't think the weight between a 4.0 all iron and a 4BT are that far off. The 4.0 is really heavy lol.

So again I'd really think about how much time your willing to spend on this, 4BT auto is the fastest way to a diesel Jeep.

[Sleepycummins]

No wires for a 6bt or 4bt you can use your stock sending units for the dash. As far as trans a th400 would be the cheapest/best to arund 300hp, as the Tfs get expensive to build... 4bt weighs in around 800lbs wet and a 6bt is 1200 lbs wet... That combo would be great for a 4x4 off road rig...

And a standard ISB is good all the way to 12s, the problem is when you finally get a double or triple disk clutch well enough to hold the power you have a hundred lb hunk of metal you have to speed up and slow down every time you shift... And if you have a large improperly sized turbo it will fall out of boost on every shift so you have to build it back up, the key is to not lift when you shift and pull the shifter back like your going to snap it off lol.

[Sleepycummins]

6BT Turbo Cummins Wrangler TJ - YouTube

[Karsten]

Bear in mind that any 6bt would rip a stock Dana35 or even the weak alloy Dana44 in bits and pieces right above idle.