Diesel swap: help needed

[TheGanzman]

Not relevant to diesel conversion, but my longterm plan is to eventually convert mine to two wheel drive and 100% electric - much like the RAV4's that Toyota built several years ago. The VX - sans rear seat - makes the PERFECT candidate for an electric conversion. Lots of room behind the seats for a battery bank, full frame construction, (already) heavy duty suspension, and ultimately, a good roof platform for solar panels. The battery technology is getting better/cheaper/faster quite quickly. Look for substantial "energy credit(s)" - especially here in California - in the coming years, as we continue efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It was all part of my "master plan" in actually picking the VX in the first place; I'm looking forward to this project in a few years!:bgwg:

[Joe_Black]

The weight of the VX is the killer in an all-electric application since mass is the enemy of efficiency. My fantasy electric is a VW Vanagon: unibody construction for light-weight strength, plenty of room, phenomenal underbody space for simple full length drop-down battery trays to optimize balance and lower CG, existing transaxle for simple bolt-up motor mounting with existing electric systems (either AC with regen or DC), and best of all you can make a "safari roof" of solar panels the full length of the Vanagon to not only provide supplmenary power and off-grid charge but passive cooling just like on older Land Rovers. You could even get radical and use two motors with a Vanagon Synchro for AWD!

[vt_maverick]

... My fantasy electric is a VW Vanagon...

Wow, that's a pretty sexy fantasy there...

But hey, get it right and this could be you:

[imfraeglasgow]

The weight of the VX is the killer in an all-electric application since mass is the enemy of efficiency. My fantasy electric is a VW Vanagon: unibody construction for light-weight strength, plenty of room, phenomenal underbody space for simple full length drop-down battery trays to optimize balance and lower CG, existing transaxle for simple bolt-up motor mounting with existing electric systems (either AC with regen or DC), and best of all you can make a "safari roof" of solar panels the full length of the Vanagon to not only provide supplmenary power and off-grid charge but passive cooling just like on older Land Rovers. You could even get radical and use two motors with a Vanagon Synchro for AWD!

Hey man I just bought my first VX, thinking of doing a swap. I found this guy with a 97 4bd2 with 37,000 miles witha jatco and he was asking 4500. Has all the accessories for going in an isuzu box truck and what not. I was just curious if it will be a eligible swap. A lot of people say the 4bdt1 is the way to go but from what I've read the d2 is pretty much the same. I am also thinking a northstar swap, what transmission would you suggest if I was to go the v8 route?
Thanks