well, since we have a few experienced VW gearheads I figured this would be a good place to ask...

I've had a fair amount of inquiries for what it'd take to swap a VW diesel into an S10 or Ranger. and I have no idea. none of them from the 4.3L/4.0L trucks but the smaller V6 and 4 banger trucks. those things are pretty common around here for commuting and parts running/delivery trucks. I'm thinking a bomb'd VW would be more powerful than the 4/small6 gassers with way better mileage...

transmission, saw on the samurai conversion site that there are adapters to the yota trans, anything for a 2004r chevy or the 5 speed?

 

I would have to be at least a turbo vw. I had an 82 vw pickup and that thing was dog. Those pickups are little smaller then the s-10 or ranger. If you went with on that was turbo and intercooled I think that you would have enough power. What year s-10 or ranger and what year vw. If you want fuel mileage look at the cummins 2.3 and 3.3, they might be an easier swap. vw is a high turning engine, they will turn 5000 with no problem. You best bet would be to see what you gasser is turning at what speeds. If it is trun high rpms then the vw is best bet, but if it is low I would go with the cummins.

The main reason I would go with the cummins is because my vw gave me nothing but mickey mouse problem one after another, which I didn't mind because of the fuel mileage but when they started to get more seriuos I sold it. I have heard of cummins engines running a 1000000 with no problems with the engine and that is why i am a cummins fan.

 

It would be alot of work to convert S10 to VW power. A Isuzu 2.2 diesel is basically a easy swap to S10 but not as good MPG as VW. I just bought a VW pickup cheap and want to put a TD engine in it.

 

A 1.9 TDi might be underpowered. The Isuzu is a good bet, also look at Japanese sourced Toyota/Mitsubishi/etc. for possibilities.

 

the 2.2L 4 banger in the S10 is in the low 100's for HP and mid 100's for TQ...A TDI mildly modded wouldn't be a rocket like the 4.3L V6 but it'd be WAY better than the 4 banger and get at least twice the mileage.

kinda dropped the ball on looking into this, you've piqued my interest in finding some more out...a VW pickup with the TDI would be awesome, too! I'm a fan of those lil trucks, don't see 'em very often, though.

 

The S-10 is going to be too heavy for a 1.6 n/a or td. Early 80's S-10's had the Isuzu diesel ahead of 5-spd manual trans. Not a speed demon or heavy hauler, but IIRC it did accomplish highway speeds safely and stayed in the mid-high 30's mpg's.

If you must do a vw diesel, due to weight of the S-10, I'd have to vote for converting a TDi to manual pump. You better have deep pockets though, or a complete donor car.

 

a upgraded turbo, like a VNT 17 Hybrid or VNT 20, plus Big injectors ,and finally a good tune of the computer will put the engine over 200 horsepower and upper 200s in torque.

the only problem is that the mods are gonna cost about 4 grand and you are gonna have to pick a transmission since VW is Front Wheel drive and get adapters for the tranny.

I would pick the 1.9 liter TDI before 2004 since there are more mods for it. you can pick the engine i have but it is a lot more troulbesome because it has different injection system.

 

if i was you i would do a cummins 4bt engine in the s-10 looking at the weight of a vw and a s-10 there is a difference there and the fuel mileage isn't going to be as good as a vw and it might be under powered.

i would look more into the vehicle weights.
i know there is a ranger is KY with a 4bt that is getting like 30 something mpg

 

yeah 4BT is a good idea and very easy but i think he was going to be different and have a very cool little truck

 

i just checked some weights the new jettas weigh about 3300 lbs my 87 s-10 blazer weighs 3100 so a newer vw engine would work. but another thing i just thought about was that the vw engines are all front wheel drive where as the s-10's are rear wheel drive