Diesel SD33T NV4500 SX4

[captspillane]

Here are some pictures I found online. The engine I am rebuilding to install in my Eagle needs the three components that make up the bellhousing. If anyone sees a diesel Scout in a junkyard please get those three parts for me. The last picture is a 258 to compare with the SD33T. They both look quite similar inside a CJ engine bay.

[carnuck]

The Nissan is a tad longer though

[shanebo]

This definatly sounds like one of the most probable diesel swaps for an eagle I have seen. Its hard to tell by the pics, but it dimensionally looks very similar to the VM diesel used in the Eagle TDI...and its probably 10 times more reliable. Im really looking foward to following this post...eggs for thinking outside the box!

[captspillane]

I looked at the pictures here on the Nest of the Rollguy's Diesel Eagle, and the VM looks like its the worst possible candidate to try to shoehorn into our engine compartment. Those conversions were not done by AMC and I'm not impressed by them, even if I would trade my left foot to own one. I'm fond of reminding people that AMC chose the SD33 for their CJ tow pigs, some motorhomes, and a handful of full size Jeeps exported to Japan and Australia. I'm confident that AMC would have chosen the SD33 if they ever put a diesel into a production Eagle. It fits quite nicely in lieu of the 258.

They are incredibly robust motors. One infamous Scout motor has 700K miles on the original engine and still runs (barely). The engine comes with a sleeve at each cylinder that gets replaced during rebuild. Its hard to describe the driving experience, except that I loved it and instantly knew it was a worthwhile Eagle conversion.

[Hawk258]

I would love to see this completed. This would be an interesting option.

[shanebo]

Just out of curiosity, do you know off hand what the weight difference between the two is? If I recall correctly The vm diesel used in the Eagle TDI was somthing to the tune of 230 lbs heavier than the standard 258.

[carnuck]

I found an SD28 and O/D auto to put behind it from a Pathfinder. If my Eagle didn't already have a good drivetrain, I'd think more seriously about it. Probably going to put it in a Comanche instead.

[captspillane]

I'm pretty sure that means its 2.8L. SD33 means 3.3L diesel. I also have a complete 6.2L GM Diesel from a low mileage military truck I'm seriously considering to use with an Iron Duke bellhousing and NV3550 in an Eagle. Right now I'm still planning to use that with my CJ8 Scrambler.

[eaglefreek]

I'm pretty sure that means its 2.8L. SD33 means 3.3L diesel. I also have a complete 6.2L GM Diesel from a low mileage military truck I'm seriously considering to use with an Iron Duke bellhousing and NV3550 in an Eagle. Right now I'm still planning to use that with my CJ8 Scrambler.

I would love to see a 6.2 in an Eagle. It's on my list of engines I would like to swap in an Eagle. My concern would be the front axle holding up to the torque.

[Hawk258]

If that is a concern, then there are some axles out that are designed for FS Trucks. The big horn edition ram 4x4 uses an IFS so It might be a bit "light" but should manage to survive under the torque load. with a matching rear as well.

[captspillane]

I worry about the rear axle because my family has broken three of them. They break from putting the car on two wheels, which bends the super thin axle tube and stresses the shaft and the C clip in ways it can't handle. The torque itself does not break them. On a front axle the shafts are inherently "full floating" design, so they are actually much stronger than they look. I do plan on trying to find an upgrade and fabbing up a standard differential mount at the crossmember for a generic engine swap option, but I also doubt I'll ever see a broken front axle from even my 401 V8. I'm not too worried about it.

[Hawk258]

Good luck, Would love to see some update pics soon

[captspillane]

http://www.advanceadapters.com/products/jeep-wrangler-nv3550-5-speed-transmission-to-jeep-258--v8-adapter-plate-kit/

This is the adaptor plate that allows an NV3550 to be installed behind a T5 or SR4 bellhousing. The input shaft is about 3/4 inch longer than a T5 input shaft. My Scrambler has this adaptor plate with its NV3550 conversion because it retained the stock flywheel and mechanical clutch linkage this way. My 401 V8 SX4 will also have this adaptor plate because AMC V8s are externally balanced and incompatible with 4.0 flywheels.

To install the 6.2L diesel I plan on using an Iron Duke bellhousing with the small block chevy bolt pattern on the engine side and T5 input on the transmission side, with this adaptor and an NV3550. That transmission is plenty strong enough for the diesel motor. I may have problems with the difference in flywheel thickness or starter ring depth, as well as sourcing an appropriate pilot bearing. I'm still planning this for my CJ8 Scrambler, but I will pop it into an Eagle and see how it fits as well. The information might help someone else with an Eagle conversion.

[captspillane]

Just out of curiosity, do you know off hand what the weight difference between the two is? If I recall correctly The vm diesel used in the Eagle TDI was somthing to the tune of 230 lbs heavier than the standard 258.

I would love to know the answer to this question, but I don't know if I'm up for buying a scale and measuring my own engines. If I had a scale that I could stick between my engine hoist and the engine bridle, I'd probably be able to get the numbers as I move them around in my garage. Otherwise I would have to measure the whole car once its finished. That's probably the best bet, since I'm upgrading the entire drivetrain and axles along with the engines.

[Hawk258]

maybe you could hit a Wheat silo that has a scale there for semi's You could get an empty weight of your truck then weigh the engines one at a time in your truck. it would take 3 trips... but you could see what the weight difference is. Though honestly worst case would be about 100lb give or take a few just as an off handed guess.