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Dropping a Diesel

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gear_dawg
gear_dawg
0
Joined: 01 Sep 2004, 23:50
Location: Texas

Dropping a Diesel

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I was wondering what it would take to put a diesel in my small ford ranger truck. I know that legaly I would have to re-register the truck as a "foreign" vehicle. I also know that I would have to do some work on the engine mount or supports. There may even need to be a new tranny and rear-end to the truck for this. Seems like too much work to drop a 3 or 4 cylinder in it. Would any of you have any info or suggestions asides from buying a Suzuki?
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
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pyry
pyry
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Joined: 04 Jul 2004, 16:45
Location: Finland

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get a 6cyl tdi engine? you need new gears anyway because of the rev differences and torque
four rings to rule them all
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Ted68
6
Joined: 20 Mar 2006, 05:19
Location: Osceola, PA, USA

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What year Ranger do you have? What engine were you thinking of? What will you be using it for, commuting, towing? Do you have the Ford 7.5" differential? Which transmission do you have?

There aren't many good diesels to choose from here in the states. The only one I would suggest is the 4-cylinder VW TDi from the Golf/Jetta. But that is for fwd and would need alot of modification for this rwd application, yet not impossible. You also have the clutch/flex plate/bell housing issues to address.

Gearing should be fine, as Ford truck engines will run out of breath at around 4000 RPM anyway. If you have the 7.5" diff, as you should, go with the 3.45:1 or 3.73:1 r/p set. One of which is probably in there anyway.

Or, stay all Ford and go with a 7.3 liter Power Stroke Turbo from a wrecked F-350. You should pull 30 mpg and do wheel stands in that little Ranger. Besides, they are dirt cheap and dead simple.
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bhall
bhall
244
Joined: 28 Feb 2006, 21:26

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I think a PowerStroke would make a Ranger stand on its nose. :lol:

...but I'd love to see it.
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Ted68
6
Joined: 20 Mar 2006, 05:19
Location: Osceola, PA, USA

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:lol: :lol: :lol:
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gear_dawg
gear_dawg
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Joined: 01 Sep 2004, 23:50
Location: Texas

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The year is 1994. its an XLT. I currently have a 2.3 gas. It has a 5 speed auto with a shift kit in it. I do not need to tow anything but on the rare occasion. As for the rear. its a stock rear from what I know. :?: My biggest concern is when I go to get my safety sticker at the local lube shop.

I have also heard you can do a conversion of your engine but that would take a new block or something along with with crank, pistons, connectors and wrist pins maybe even a timing kit.

Do I really need to reregister the truck? I would like to do the least work possible. I would like to go with the conversion kit.

I would do this for commuting and the fuel consumpition. As a 4 banger it would get about 30-45mpg. Thats why I was thinking of a 3-cylinder.

Not to mention it would have some real torque power! :twisted:

Gear

PS. I hope to get a new job soon. This would help with money matters.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
And all things that were created were created through Him, and anything that was not created, has not been created. John 1:1-3
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Ted68
6
Joined: 20 Mar 2006, 05:19
Location: Osceola, PA, USA

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Seriously, you can buy alot of gasoline with the money you'll spend on a custom engine swap.

Say you gained 8-10 MPG (doubtful, as you have the twin plug 2.3 already), how long would it take to offset (payback) the cost of the new engine and custom bracketry, etc. Also, your 5 speed auto is really a 4 speed which splits second gear electronically on the torque converter. So now you have the choice of adapting the electronics to the new engine and current trans, or a new trans to go with the new engine.

Trade it for a good 5 year old stone stock Civic.
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bhall
bhall
244
Joined: 28 Feb 2006, 21:26

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Unless you want to do this as some sort of pet project, I'd have to agree with Ted on this one. You're going to spend a lot more money than the truck is worth.

Though, being the former owner of a '91 Ranger with the 2.3L, I totally understand your quest for more power and better gas mileage. In stock condition, I never got more than 19 MPG; and in overdrive, the truck had no power at all.

I would, however, recommend a Gibson Performance cat-back exhaust as an economical upgrade. I put one on mine and gained 2-3 MPG and a few horses on the high end. They're not too loud either.
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Ray
2
Joined: 22 Nov 2006, 06:33
Location: Atlanta

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Don't know if this has anything to do with this discussion, but here goes.

I have a full size, 2003 extended cab Silverado (not of Ford of course) and when I put an intake, a gibson exhaust and headers on it, I got better power and mileage. It went even better when I lowered it 3" front and 4" in the back. It knocks down about 22-25 mpg on the highway with a good tailwind. So a few mild engine upgrades and lowering would help with the handling, mileage and power. I can still tow too, it just looks funny. You should have seen the looks I got in the heart of Texas pulling a 2500 pound trailer cross country with a lowered truck! :lol:
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Ted68
6
Joined: 20 Mar 2006, 05:19
Location: Osceola, PA, USA

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Okay, I'm bored. What else could we do to increase the mpg of this truck?

High flow intake and exhaust, lowering. Good start. How about one of those light weight fabric bed tonneaus, the fiberglass are too heavy. Remove shift kit (you sure that has a 5 spd auto in '94). Remove rear bumper and hitch, bug guards, mud flaps, push bars, running boards, passenger door mirror, front license plate. Clean the fuel injectors. New plugs, wires, etc. Taller and narrower hard compound tires on light weight wheels. Electric radiator fan, if not so fitted. Aluminum drive shaft. Switch to a 2.73:1 r/p in the diff. Smaller, lighter battery. Use the lighter space saver spare from a Mustang or Crown Victoria. Fit a 210 degree thermostat....
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Ciro Pabón
106
Joined: 11 May 2005, 00:31

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What about NGV (natural gas)? It is expensive in your area? Where I live is dirt cheap, by particular reasons... Here, the conversion kit and installation costs around U$1.300, but you regain the money in a year or so, because of the price differential with regular gas.

I find that in California (July, 2005) NGV price was equivalent to 1.78$ per "gallon". Besides, if you ask your DMV for a sticker, you can use HOV lanes without any passengers... this sounds too good to be true.

If your home natural gas is cheaper, you can buy a gadget to charge the car at home: http://www.myphill.com/

I have not the slightest idea if buying this device is cheaper in the long term than charging your car at the station, but I'm finding out for the Colombian market and I'll post something later.
Ciro
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gear_dawg
gear_dawg
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Joined: 01 Sep 2004, 23:50
Location: Texas

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First to say some good news.

All I have to do is get the conversion kit installed, then go to the register counter and pay a $33 fine for a new title or registration certificate with diesel written on it. I would also have to keep my conversion kit reciept in case of getting pulled over.

Then Again, this is good news: http://media.ford.com/newsroom/release_ ... ease=23912

Next would be the possible cost, which is very high.

Well well see where this goes...

Gear
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
And all things that were created were created through Him, and anything that was not created, has not been created. John 1:1-3
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Ted68
6
Joined: 20 Mar 2006, 05:19
Location: Osceola, PA, USA

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Waht conversion kit are you talking about?
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Ray
2
Joined: 22 Nov 2006, 06:33
Location: Atlanta

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From Ford to Chevrolet of course!!!! :lol: :lol:
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Ted68
6
Joined: 20 Mar 2006, 05:19
Location: Osceola, PA, USA

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Hethan!!! :lol:
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