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65 CJ-5 Diesel Conversion

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by 4x4fantic, Jan 26, 2016.

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  1. 4x4fantic

    4x4fantic New Member

    I am trying to figure out which diesel conversions engines would work in my 65. I thought about a cummins 4bt an om617t and a kubota v2203 . Any help would be appreciated .
     
  2. tymbom

    tymbom Member

    The 4bt weighs more than the Big Block in my truck... The Kubota, Volkswagen, and Mercedes are all good options. I think the Volkswagen makes more hp than the Kubota. The Mercedes is a straight six, so you might need the longer fenders and hood of an intermediate CJ5...
     
  3. 4x4fantic

    4x4fantic New Member

    While the 4bt may be heavier part are relatively cheaper through what i have found.
     
  4. colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    I looked it up...a 4BT weighs 745 lbs! Way too heavy for an early CJ (barring serious structural modifications).
    I think a Dauntless weighs 350...
     
  5. uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    Over on the CJ2 page there are a few people that have or are doing diesel conversions. I don't believe a 4bt is beling used at all, usually Kubotas and such. In odd moments I have thought of pulling the little four cyl Mitsubishi diesel out of my motorhome and putting it my Chevy van and replace it with a 4BT. A neighbors friend did a 4BT in a Chevy truck and while the engine worked well he just didn't manage to figure out a few simple things like anchoring the steering column back in as my neighbor found as he drove it home from the kids wedding. Sean is a nice kid and has a good heart but not hitting the top on the IQ chart
     
  6. 4x4fantic

    4x4fantic New Member

    Well I have worked at a metal fabrication and welding shop and I am a licensed welder so mods are not an issue. However I am building this to perform both highway and offroad. I have an adventure trailer that I built and my 95 150 was just totaled.
     
  7. 4x4fantic

    4x4fantic New Member

    I already have a 3 in skyjacker lift kit coming. New dashboard which I am gonna fab a radio into it as well as a glow plug light,and fuel kill switch
     
  8. nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    That 3" lift will not hold up to that kind of weight. Neither will the front axle, front half (and possibly back half) of the frame so plan on building a complete custom frame and re-engineering the suspension.
    Can you narrow axles? That's what you're going to have to do to get one to hold up in the front. 3" tubed 1/2" wall Dana 44 at the minimum. Dana 60 would be better. What transmission, transfer case, and rear axle are you planning on using? The stock ones won't hold up to that weight and torque.
    Lloyd Novak (Guy who started Novak Enterprises, the Jeep adapter folks) had a saying that went something like "just because you have an engine does not make it a good swap".
    Lots of truth to this.
    Just because parts are relatively inexpensive for the 4bt does not mean it's a good swap candidate in an early CJ.

    A smaller, much lighter engine would be a better choice. One of the first JP magazines had an article of a guy who put a small Isuzu diesel 4 cylinder in a flatfender. Something like that could work well as they were relatively small, lightweight, etc.
     
    truckee4x4 and millennium falcon like this.
  9. 47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    The Fhead that the cj5 was designed to use weighed in at 470lbs. Hurricane Engine Specs on The Jeep CJ3B Page it had about 70 HP. A dauntless weighs around 375 and was rated around 160 hp.

    power to weight is an important consideration. As Nick has stated, the weight of this engine is such that to use it there would need a complete redesign of the frame and running gear to support it. Seems like a lighter engine would be a better choice.
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2016
  10. 4x4fantic

    4x4fantic New Member

    Well Nick I haven't set in stone the transmission to be used yet as I am doing research on the conversion. This would be my first engine and transmission conversion. Although I did fab my work truck 99 f350 7.3 to use mrap axles. I can fab axles if I need.
     
  11. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    The VW TDI transplant into a YJ or TJ looks like an impressive package. COTY Built | Jeep TDI Conversions They claim that the TDI engine is lighter than the OEM AMC 150 that was used in these Jeeps, which should put it in the less-than 350 lb range. With your skills, it should be straightforward mating the VW to whatever transmission you choose...
     
  12. 4x4fantic

    4x4fantic New Member

    I have read of people using an sm465 or a t18 though.
     
  13. gunner

    gunner Member

    Guys who have put diesels in jeeps are a creative bunch, no doubt. But can a diesel conversion ever really pencil out? Sure you save 50# (maybe- but only with the right engine) and get better mileage, but the costs thrown around by this COTY bunch are what's really impressive (and not in a good way). Seems that direction is best suited to someone who has the bucks, wants bragging rights and is ok with endless tinkering. Meanwhile, a 4.3 vortec conversion is just about impossible to beat all the way around. It's been mentioned a thousand times on this forum: if you need an affordable, fuel injected 160hp in a small space with heaps of easily adapted trannies, power steering, etc and easy parts sourcing, it's a top choice. Not the only one of course, but diesels reside in a place of their own. I looked into diesels a couple years ago for the DJ, since it was a wore out engine to start with. But it got to be difficult to justify the engineering and cost. I rebuilt the 4 banger but should have done a- you guessed it- 4.3.

    Consider this: shops don't generally convert engines like the 4.3 since joe schmo can do it himself with help from the forum and a friend. There's no money to be made there- it's that straight forward. On the other hand the diesel conversion is difficult enough that professionals can get involved and make a good living at it. Simplicity vs complexity and at the end of the day, the driveability is pretty much the same for a fraction of the cost. You can buy a lot of gasoline with the X,000 dollar savings.
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2016
  14. 4x4fantic

    4x4fantic New Member

    This is a full rebuild anyways body is off the frame so it isnt a huge amount of savings. I got it from my old neighbor for free cause he didnt want to tow it
     
  15. ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Just my 2 cents, but +1 on a (turbo diesel) VW. I'd begin my research in that area.
     
  16. jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    I wouldn't even think of using a 4BT in an early CJ without replacing every other component in the Jeep. Sure you can make stupid amounts of power relatively easily with a 4BT, but the rest of the chassis and drivetrain will tolerate it once....the first time you hit the go pedal.....for about 3 seconds. They're a huge motor. I've seen one easily snap a pinion clean in half in a Dana 44 in the front of an early Bronco. If you want part snapping torque, go for it. If you want some thing reliable that won't require upgrading everything else in the jeep including the frame, then find something a little smaller.
     
  17. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    You'll never never never ever be able to find one but for an easy bolt in Mitsubishi had a diesel based on the F-head called the KE31

    [​IMG]





    Even sounds right :)

    H.


    EDIT- By Golly- I found one for sale!

    ENGINE MITSUBISHI KE31 | JSSR AUCTION
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2016
  18. oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    man that was cool
     
  19. oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    the nice thing about the 4bt is that you only need one wire to make it run. i was thinking of going this route but am going 4.3. the mods that would need to be done put that right out the window.
     
  20. uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    I was over at a truck show and saw a '58 Buick wagon with a 6BT in it. I wonder how it ran down the road?