I forget where it was but I believe I found some bellhousing adapters for putting the TDI engines on a rwd trans, maybe it was for the 'yotas.

I was thinking about the older body s10, even though I'll never drive one again without a cage, there are other people interested in driving them, I had a reg short bed (turned into a short cab, no front clip...) but the curb weight for the 90-93 trucks are 2635, 2773 and 3024 for reg short, reg long and ext cab, respectively.

A VW diesel would do fine stock in one of these, especially with a 5 speed. it wouldn't compare to a 4.3L v6 but it'd blow the 4 cylinder and 2.8L V6 away...those things are small, smelly turds.

 

That would be ACME Adapters. They have been around a good while, and with a good track record, and a good product. They started with the adapter for mating the vw 4-cyl (gas/diesel) to the suzuki trans, and then to the toyota trans (22r/22re motors). There are a few conversions out there using the toyotas, from 2wd pickups to 4wd 4Runners. All turbo applications.

 

I know there are plenty of people with 4wd toyota's with 1.9 tdi's powering them. An S-10 would be OK if it was kept low with a small tire. Some GM T-5's have similarities to some Toy trans. I know there is some bell housing swapability between them look on pirate4x4 for a thread on it. Those 2.5's may have been rated higher but they felt like an anemic 75hp wound tight, and 2.8's weren't much (if any better).

Moral:
1.9tdi + Acme Adapter + Toy Bell + Gm Trans + Work and a few $$$ = S10Tdi

 

I personally never looked for an adapter for my vw swap into my 96 s-10, but it's fairly easy to build out of t-6061 stock... And for the question of being more powerful than the factory 4banger, it is way better power and mileage... I get 32 mpg with 4:11 gears and the factory 5 speed, without cutting it any slack at all on the go pedal....

 

the 4bt is a great engine, a bit much for a ranger s10 though. the vw, even the 5 cyl is too small. so what to do??? The BENZ engines are about perfect for this swap. they came in cars that are about the same size as an s10/ranger. Last forever, and are ez to come by . I see engines w/trans come up on craigslist all the time for about a grand. The 4bt would make a fair hot rod diesel, they weigh quite a bit more than the MB though. VM also makes a great engine for this swap, good luck finding one though. The MV would be the best choice though. Factory in early Jeep liberty's, and some GM full size. The ginnies buils what is considered by most to be the BEST small diesel engine, GM jikes it so much they bought into the co. But again, good luck finding one. Hope this helped

 

I installed a 1984 Mazda diesel in an s10 andit fit very well but he mileage and power were not great

 

armbri-- i was thinking about doing the same conversion with the mazda diesel -- what was the ultimate problem -- hp?

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I'm bringing this thread back to the top as I am interested in doing a swap into a 95 gmc sonoma/s-10. It has the T-5 in it, has anyone found an adapter for the TDI to the T5?

Thanks, Dave

 

I used the Mazda motor and transmission and the Mazda rear end to get it geared low enough In the Mazda I could get 50MPG and it would go 130 KM per hr about 75 mph Power was not great un loaded In the s10 I was getting 40 MPG My next attempt will put a vw diesel on a tracker frame with a s10 body I have the adaptot to go to the tracker tranny
brian_elaine6820@yahoo.ca

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have put a Mazda diesel in a s10 using the Mazda tranny and rear end It got about 40 MPG canadian but power was not great but the install was straight forward I had to take the Mazda alt off which also housed the vacumn pump for the power brakes so then I had an s10 with no power steering or power brakes The novilty soon wore off and I sold it I was getting 34 MPG with the gas engine That would start without glow plugs

 

Interesting -- What would account for the 10mpg lost if you were essentially using all the same mazda running gear?
You were able to get 34 mpg with the gas S-10? was that with a 4cyl?

 

a late 99 1.9t will work fine in a s-10 use a 373 or a 410 rear end upgrade your turbo