Thanks for the interest in my projects! The SD33 engines are Nissan built for a vehicle called a Nissan Patrol. They look like land cruisers to me and I think they're mostly found overseas. Domestically the engine was used in many forklifts and of course the International Scout II. AMC also used the SD33 in the CJ10. CJ10s were trucks sold overseas and they were also sold to the U.S. military as "tow pigs." In high school I almost convinced my father to buy a CJ10 towpig. I did get to drive it and look it over well. The engine fit perfectly in the space normally occupied by a 258. Externally the motor looks extremely similar and has similar dimensions. I was very surprised actually to learn recently that the 1980 Turbodiesel Eagles use a different engine. I had always assumed that AMC used the SD33 like they did with the CJ10. In fact I’m sure they would have if AMC did make a diesel Eagle, but those 1980 conversions were done by an outside company in similar fashion to the Sundancer convertible.
In reply to "Baskinator": Another Eagle SX4 in Schwenksville?! Dang dude that's awesome. I would gladly help you keep it on the road. I've driven mine for many years without ever passing another SX4. I grew up in Perkiomenville but my current apartment is actually on Main Street in Schwenksville. Email me at
[email protected] so we can make arrangements for me to see your Eagle next time I’m home.
In reply to "txjeeptx": Even though the NV4500 shares nothing in common mechanically with the 3550, AX15, or T5 I do consider it related just because it’s the biggest transmission I’m aware of that easily adapts to Jeep transfer cases. It completes the list of manual transmissions that may end up in our Eagles. I’ll end up putting a NV3550 behind my 401, but realistically I will be severely limiting the potential of the engine. A 401 belongs in a one ton truck or bigger. For the size of the vehicle, suspension, axles, brakes and transmission a 360 would have been plenty. To actually benefit from the 401’s potential performance I will eventually install a NV4500, hydraboosted caliper conversion on a custom built narrow Dana 60, with a pneumatic shock assist on the rear leaf springs. If my fabrication skills are up for it, I would also like to narrow and install the heavier front axle, control arms, and suspension from the front of a Chevy truck. I don’t want to just put a “401” sticker on the side of my Eagle as empty bragging rights, I’d like to routinely tow some fairly large trailers and boats.
The NV4500 is literally twice as heavy as a T5 and rated at 460 ftlbs versus the 300 and 285 ratings for the NV3550 and AX15. Since the SD33T only puts out about 150 horsepower, which is less than a 4.0 but much more than a 258, I would much rather have the 3550 behind it. Unfortunately the SD33T bellhousing requires a very long input shaft and until recently only the International Harvester specific T19s would fit. In the Scout community there is one guy who has made a custom input shaft and adaptor kit to modify a NV4500, but that kit isn't available for an NV3550. I wish it was.
I am aware of the axle limitations. I own eight Eagles now and I have cut up six other Eagles so far. I have several front axles of each gear ratio. In the rear I’m using Cherokee Dana 44s. The rear calipers and axle shafts from Grand Cherokees with a Dana 44 can be adapted to replace the Cherokee drum brakes. In Pennsylvania there is no tailpipe test for vehicles 1985 and older, but a visual inspection is still required. To get the emissions sticker there must be a feedback system to the catalytic converter for all 6 cylinder vehicles. For this reason all of my project cars started life with an Iron Duke 151, SR4, and 3.54 gears in them. I will never need to worry about fabricating a Pulse-Air System or Air Pump system because the sticker on the firewall says it didn’t have one from the factory.
I plan on using the original crossmember and extending it in a similar fashion as “tougeagle” did with his Caroline. There are pictures in this project section of the website. He did have a vibration problem with one of his bolts but I will try to use the original rubber support instead of poly spacers.
I use 235 size tires and 3.55 gears for all my Eagles except the six speed, which is better matched to 3.07 gears because of its lower first gear and overdrive. The NGS370 has a 4.46 first and 0.84 overdrive versus the 3.83 first and 0.79 overdrive in the AX15. The NV4500 actually has the lowest first gear and highest top gear of all at 5.61 and 0.74 so it also works well with both 3.55 and 3.73 gears.
For the record I will never, ever, consider putting a solid front axle under an Eagle. It’s just wrong on so many levels. I will also never put my Eagles in two wheel drive. They were designed to be all wheel drive. Go buy a Spirit or Concord if you want to drive in two wheel drive. If you want a solid front axle buy a Cherokee. Honestly since adding the low range transfer case I’ve never gone anywhere with my stock Jeep Cherokee that my Eagle couldn’t go and get there faster. Over the years I’ve spent so much time and money repairing my Eagles that I do take much better care of them now. For that reason I also own a CJ8, a Cherokee, and a 2006 Unlimited Rubicon. They are nice vehicles to blatantly abuse but when it snows or rains hard you’re in for a terrible driving experience. They force you to drive slowly and to contend with steering feedback. The CV joints, all-wheel drive, and low center of gravity is exactly why I immediately ditch my Jeeps for my Eagles as soon as I actually need to travel quickly and safely.
-Dave Spillane-
Topic: Diesel SD33T NV4500 SX4 (Read 48641 times)