Diesel Conversion

[Joe_Black]

I'm generally not into doing something to a production vehicle that can't be put back to original very easily. That's why I'm primarily researching the Isuzu diesel rather than some other make, like the Mercedes OM617. With a diesel from a late-model Trooper you would use existing mounts and most linkages. Basically, it's a plug-n-play swap. Down the road you decide to go back to gas you can just swap it back, provided you've kept the original engine.

But for those who have real-world diesel experience, once you make the change it makes little sense to go back. The increased performance and economy will just overide the programming we've received here in the US about gas engines.

So far I've located 4 available engines and a few 5-speed transmissions, but am waiting for word back on a closer source for better pricing and an automatic. My wife's VX will likely get the auto while I'm getting jazzed for the 5-speed.

A local restaurant has contacted us about collecting their used oil and another friend who has a Golf TDI is interested in helping with biodiesel production, so we may end up with a collective effort. I recently picked up 12 55-gallon drums for collection and have just about everything else needed to start up, so am getting more and more excited about freeing myself from the grip of "big oil".

For the doubters, check out some of the crazy Finns and their hot-rod diesels...

http://www.saunalahti.fi/~hecekiel/dieselboost_demo.mpg

http://students.tukkk.fi/tuukka.simo...t/kiikala.mpeg

http://students.tukkk.fi/tuukka.simo...ukiihytys.mpeg

http://students.tukkk.fi/tuukka.simo...kiihytys2.mpeg

http://students.tukkk.fi/tuukka.simo...videot/std.wmv

http://students.tukkk.fi/tuukka.simo...liukasta2.mpeg

http://www.kolumbus.fi/sallatoimi/ep/veto1.mpg


If after looking at some of these videos you don't think diesel=performance then don't drive too far, you might fall off the edge of the world.

[mbeach]

Joe,
You should contact the guys with the SCCA Rally BioDiesel VW Golf TDI. They are huge biodiesel nerds and were eager to share all of their knowledge.
I met them at the Columbus (Ohio) Auto Show a couple of years ago. They were super-excited about their car and had just come off a fairly successful season.
I got to really check out the car (which still had race grime all over it) and I believe that they gave me some freebies as well (soypower stickers and a Kumho lanyard).

[Joe_Black]

I linked an article on them a little earlier, neat story. We had a guy bring a Gof TDI out to a recent rallycross at my place and he gave a couple GTI's a serious run. It's a quick car and apparently Banks has some tuning items for it too.

I picked up a 1st-gen Toyota MR2 last month and am seriously thinking of putting the VW 1.9L TDI in it. It'd be a real screamer and would launch like a rocket!

[ameetw]

So far I've located 4 available engines and a few 5-speed transmissions, but am waiting for word back on a closer source for better pricing and an automatic. My wife's VX will likely get the auto while I'm getting jazzed for the 5-speed.

Could you tell me which engines are you looking at?

[Joe_Black]

I'm most interested in the 4JG2 intercooled turbo as used in Troopers and Rodeos through around model year 2000. The other diesel is the 4JX1 intercooled turbo, used in the latest Troopers, but since it's an ECU-controlled common-rail engine there isn't as much "shade-tree" tuning capability. I haven't gotten any solid info on the transmission models these engines use though.