VW In An S10/Ranger...?
 

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.

Vw-S10 conversion
 

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

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

s-10 vw swap
 

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 Germans can build an engine!!!
 

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:c:

s10 diesel conmersion
 

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

Use the VW tdi, it will be perfect.

A prime example in a Ranger that runs great, with PLENTY of power for a Ranger/S10 sized truck:
TDI Ranger Build - TDIClub Forums