Diesel Limited?
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1978 CJ-7 304 / TH 400 / Quadratrac 32 in Mud Terrains
Diesel Limited?
- Thread starter Petescj
- Start date
Torxhead
Always Off-Roading Jeeper
From what I understand Pete, the diesel is a poor performer on the street with super low gears to haul heavy loads around. Seems like you have enough projects, have you considered a Jeep trip?
thistle3585
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- 1979 Jeep CJ5 with '72 304 V8, MC2100carb,T150 trans, AMC20 rear diff with locker, Dana 30 front diff, Dana 20 Tr Case, Procomp Springs, Gabriel Ultra shocks.
We have a bunch of diesel conversions in my area since Cummins is a local company. I was thinking about putting one in when my 304 blew up. I decided against one because 1. too much low end torque for street use, 2. the exhaust is terrible and 3. the vibration is worse than an AMF era Harley. Keep in mind that my Jeep is a daily driver. The ones I've seen were more of a novelty and were swapped in because the owners were Cummins fans and not Jeep fans.
Saddle Tramp
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When it comes to low end torque nothing beats a diesel of course so for grunting planes around a tarmac it just makes sense. Scout used the Nissan diesel motors too right up to their demise in 1980.
thistle3585
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I would rather do the Cummins 4bt swap if I were to do a swap, tons of low end torque to pretzel your AMC20 with, narrow rpm range and nasty exhaust smell though
My family is a Cummins supplier and I was visiting Cummins when they were testing the new engines that eventually would go in to the Dodge truck back in the late eighties. No pretzling of the axles but there was a huge bin of twisted driveshafts. The 4bt is what most people swap in but they are coming out with a smaller engine next year.
thistle3585
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They first started testing them on some really small trucks and cars. I know they had a half dozen trucks about the size of an S-10. Even today, I'll make a delivery to a plant and there will be a couple dozen trucks, semis, tractors etc sitting in the lot for testing. They strip all the company markings and logos off them and put this weird multimedia wrap on them so you can't identify the make. The wrap hides the shape of the body in photos..thats pretty crazy, the driveshafts out of my 80s Dodges were like 4" in diameter
007
Crazy Sr. Respected Jeeper
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- #1 - 1977 CJ-7 Renegade (Daisy Jane), Levis trim, 304, TH400, BW1339 (MM), D30/Auburn Max, AMC20/Trac-Lok/G2's, 4.88's, 33" BFG MT KM2's, Edelbrock Performer intake, Holley Sniper 4bbl EFI, MSD6, MSD ProBillet distributor, OME shocks, 4" ProComp lift.
#2 - 1984 CJ-7 Laredo (The Texas Hooker Project - Incomplete/Undecided)
I have an old 80 GMC half ton with an 85 Goodwrench DX 350 diesel (some call it the Olds diesel) in it. The engine has about 50k on it and runs fantastic. The DX engine was the later (last) one that came with longer / stronger studs and bolts and didn't have the problems the original ones had. That old truck gets 25mpg on the highway and it's running a bit rich.
Anyway, I'm giving serious consideration to going diesel when I pull everything out of this CJ7 and build my CJ8. Either use this 350 or a 4BT. I have 2.72 gears so low-end is my friend. Vibration is manageable with the 4BT and being able to put a turbo on there helps even more...and I LIKE the smell...
thistle3585
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New Cummins engine for Nissan truck. Cummins Engines
007
Crazy Sr. Respected Jeeper
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- #1 - 1977 CJ-7 Renegade (Daisy Jane), Levis trim, 304, TH400, BW1339 (MM), D30/Auburn Max, AMC20/Trac-Lok/G2's, 4.88's, 33" BFG MT KM2's, Edelbrock Performer intake, Holley Sniper 4bbl EFI, MSD6, MSD ProBillet distributor, OME shocks, 4" ProComp lift.
#2 - 1984 CJ-7 Laredo (The Texas Hooker Project - Incomplete/Undecided)
RAM has a new V6 diesel available in their 1500's next month. It's a 3.9 with 240HP and 420FTLBS torque and is to get >25MPG.
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hole
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Pete, I would'nt hesitate to put a 4bt in a CJ
cj7inthetwigs
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Kane
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Pete the Nissan diesel is aweful. I drove a jeep tug in the air force for four years. It had terrible power.
hole
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Bruiser Diesel Jeep - Six Foot Ledge BFE, Moab - YouTube I know, not a CJ but you get the idea