Added this to an old thread I had in the Misc. section, but thought I'd start a new one here. I had a 1986 Jeep Cherokee diesel with the 2.1L Renault. I'm getting rid of the Renault and am working out a swap with something else. I want to keep things simple, so I'm sticking with either a VW 1.9TD (AAZ), Toyota 2LT, or a 4BD1T/2TC. They all seem to cost around the same, give or take, and all have companies that can supply adapters. Originally, I just planned on the VW using the Acme adapter + Toyota bellhousing. Then someone suggested I might consider the Toyota 2LT as an option, as well, as it wouldn't need the adapter but just the bellhousing. Then someone else recommended the Isuzu as I could use an adapter from isuzudieselswapper.com to make the Isuzu resemble a Chevy and an adapter from Advance Adapters to make that mate up to my AX5.
Any thoughts? Here's how the pre-labor costs seem to break down:
Toyota 2LT Engine: $2500 (though I've seen them as low as $2000 from time to time) Bellhousing: practically free TOTAL: let's just say $2600
VW 1.9TD Engine: $2500 Acme Adapter: $575 Toyota Bellhousing and G-series input shaft: practically free TOTAL: let's just say $3100
Isuzu 4BD1T/2TC Engine: $2500 IsuzuDieselSwapper Adapter: $680 Advance Adapter: $455 TOTAL: let's just say $3700
The only fabrication that will need doing, it seems, is the motor mounts to get it into the Jeep, but I'll be using stock transmission and transfer case and everything else, so that should cut down significantly on labor costs. Also, the engines are all mechanical, so no ECUs and complex wiring harnesses...right?
So, which is the best application for my project? The VW is fairly weak in its stock form (but not too shabby), but can be tuned quite a lot and there is a lot of aftermarket support and parts availability. The Toyota is also on the weaker side, but I've read about it being tuneable, as well, and very reliable. Parts are a little harder to find, though. The Isuzu has good power right from the get-go, is reliable to a fault, and with all the NPRs on the road, shouldn't be too hard to find parts. Right?
This is more of a DD rig, not a rock crawler, so I don't need monster torque numbers. The primary considerations will be reliability, fuel economy, and veg-oil suitability.
