What's a good, small 4wd in Diesel?

[fisherman66]

I just recently came across bio-diesel. Very neet stuff. Hope the oil lobbyists don't kill it for general use. It sure would reduce our dependence on Saudi "diplomacy" oil.

 

[Ivy Mike]

You can drop an old VW diesel into a Suzuki Samurai (or later Sidekick I suppose)
http://www.rocky-road.com/diesel.html

The main reason we don't get mainy diesels here is because our diesel quality is not as good as that found in Europe. Higher sulphur content is the main problem.
Fear not though, with the upcoming increase in quality (new fed emissions standards) we will see more.

BMW has to make some of the best passenger diesels around.

The other thing I noticed is that if you look at the diesels going into American trucks, you'll notice they are mostly commercial diesels. This is why they are so damn expensive (not to mention profit margin)

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Ford had cut a new deal with International for a small V6 diesel in the 4 to 4.5 liter range for the F150 for 2007, but they backed out of the contract not long ago. The specs looked pretty good on it, too. Just today I heard that MAYBE Ford is back at the table with International on the deal, but it's still very much just a rumor.

Me, I remember the little Perkins diesel engine that Mazda had in their B2000 years ago. It was based on a litttle 1800 cc marine diesel engine and would last forever. The pocketa-pocketa-pocketa sound always reminded me of a little Gulf trawler. It's a shame it went away. Had triangular vent windows, too. Just the thing for a hot evening.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[TallPine]

The other thing I noticed is that if you look at the diesels going into American trucks, you'll notice they are mostly commercial diesels.

Well, since most of those American diesel pickups (in MT, anyway) are being used to pull big gooseneck stock and flatbed trailers, there is good reason for that

The old 2-ton farm truck is basically dead, being replaced by pickups and trailers now (lower insurance and versatility are some of the reasons).

 

[walking arsenal]

Two mountain bikes and a pack of cigarettes.

 

[0007]

A few years back I was working in Taiwan and happened to see a Mitsibushi van that had four-wheel drive with a turbo-diesel. I asked about them and was told they were the only things that would make it up the mountains during the winters there. Seemed like a seriously thought out vehicle to me.

 

[Gordon]

I have put a Cummins 4cyl in a "Jeep" rock buggy . It was incompatible with any gearing we could find and wouldn't get out of its own way as it was HEAVY. I put a 3.9 Izuzu turbo diesel in a jeep 20 years ago, better than the one above but still wasn't that great. I put a 1.8 Turbo VW diesel in my Suzuki Samarai put it doesn't produce much more horsepower than the stock motor, althougfh double the torque. I put Dana 44 axels in it with an exterior cage and I am still a snail at the trail heads so it is gonna be replace with something around 150HP and LIGHTER. The new Liberty diesel would do it I'm sure, but can't find a used one yet.