Jeeps and Diesel

It's been just about 20 years since Jeep last really offered a diesel in a Jeep. Back in the mid-80's, the Cherokee came with the option of an underpowered, but very economical, 4 cyl diesel. Available with either the five speed manual, four speed manual or three speed automatic, the diesel engine was the Renault 2.1 Litre Turbo-Diesel. Most of the Diesel Cherokees were sold in Canada and Europe. If you could live with the lackluster acceleration that less than 100 hp provided, you'd be very happy with the 31+ MPG the motor provided in your 4WD SUV.

Today, it's easy to find a Jeep Liberty diesel - provided you have a deep wallet and are patient. There's precious few of these great trucks riding around right now. Given the fickle public's aversion to diesels (created by the crap products GM turned out in the early 80's), Jeep was aiming low with production runs of well under 10,000 units allocated to Canada, for example.

Add in the fact that this option, the Liberty 2.8 CRD (Common Rail Diesel) is only avialable in the up-line Limited model, and you have the reason for that low number - exclusivity guaranteed. At almost $40,000 Canadian, before taxes, etc., that's one mighty expensive Libby.

If you were lucky, and lived in Europe, you'd have a hand full of diesel motor options to choose from - units designed for everything from top fuel economy to top torque and towing. Alas, North America is slow to this dance. At least, the manufacturers are...

DIESEL ENGINE SWAP TIME

Let's say you want to be a bit different. Let's say you want to swap that tired old 2.5 4 cyl in your YJ for something different. Sure, you could drop a 5 litre in there, or maybe a Dodge 318. Lot's of power and lots of fuel, too.

If you've got some money (more than a normal V8 swap, less than stuffing a Hemi in a TJ), maybe you should condsider a diesel for your swap. We don't mean go out and find on of the old, ratty Renault 2.1 litre units - you'd probably never find one anyway.

Look to newer technology. Borrow from the Suzuki guys - VW's 1.9L TDI motor is the hot swap for Samaurias, so why not in your MB, Willys or YJ? It's not going to make it a drag machine, but it offers plenty of torque for daily driving and offroading, plus it'll still net you over 30 MPG.

Not convinced - how about this. The VW TDI's came with 90 HP & 177 lb/ft of torque stock (the 1998 - 2003 models). With only a few cheap mods, these motors can reliably put out 125 hp and 270 lb/ft of torque - that's V8 territory for torque! Diesels are, as many now know, easy to make power with. They're built tough enough to handle it, too. AND, the low-rev nature of them ensures the torque is available down low, right where you want it.

At this point, though, you'll be pretty much on your own. We know of no one who's done such a swap, so everything would be custom. But, that's what building your Jeep is all about anyway, right? If you've got the skills, the time and the money, the parts are avialable. This is definitely not for novices.

If you've just got to have one of the OEM motors supplied to the European marketplace, start with these guys - VM Diesel Specialists. They're in the UK, but no one knows Jeep diesels like they do.