I love the idea, but, might the VM's management system be too picky and data-hungry? My daughter's Liberty CRD is an awesomely jolly little truck, and I sometimes fantasize about that engine in an 80's-vintage Jeep Comanche, but, don't have any idea how to make it work. If you do it, let us know!

------OOPS! My bad! Didn't see "page one" of the thread until after I posted. Now I'm going to be "watching" eBay for used Zambonis, with VE-squirted VMs.

 

Why does it seem that all the small-Diesel conversions are into pickups? If I ever dive into another, I'm thinking Bronco II. How much more tweak-power might you get from this one? As points of reference, the stock common-rail 2.8 in the Libby claims 160HP and 295TQ, and is pretty joyful. 95'd be kind of slow, but 225 is still respectable. Does it govern out at pretty low RPM? I guess the spring kit for a VE would help that.

 

Well I finally got time to work on it tonight. So I decided to pull the oil pan and see what I had, here's what I found
the mains are the same as the v2203 kubota
oil squirters!!!!

 

But unfortunately it has alot of sludge in the oil pan and the pickup was pretty clogged and turning the motor over by hand upside down I could really hear the blowby on cyl 1 and cyl 3 that explains the rough starts so it looks like I will be doing a full rebuild before it goes in. The full rebuild kit is about 1500 for new liners pistons rings all the gaskets head bolts new bearings oil pump and water pump from vm. so i will make the adaptors while I wait for my parts.

 

If you're like me I just feel better when I go through an engine before I put it in something. Just makes me feel better but can get in your pocket!

 

Well I was doing some research last night when I discovered this engine has a big brother. A cummins/mercruiser d4.2l 300 hp is this engine in 6cyl! The engine is a vm all the same parts as mine same liners mains Ect and was sold as a cummins marine division up to 350 hp. So if that motor can achieve 300 hp reliably mine should be able to achieve 200? 4bt and 6bt this basic principle applies.

 

Well apparently I get to call it a cummins swap. The engine is sold as a mercruiser d2.8l. And is badged as a cummins. So I think I get to call it a cummins ish swap. This way I at least have a recognizable name. I know its nothing more than a name but not having to explain what brand it is to everyone would be kinda nice.

 

It's in the cummins manual as a qsd 2.8 200 hp but its usually 165 in most boats

 

I wonder if you can get that front acc. drive form that marine app, that would be sweet!

 

Tear down

Huge intake ports