Johnyboy

what would be the best and easiest diesel motor to put in my 1996 cherokee laredo?

caged

some have done 4BT or TDI, and gregg from overland have been toying with kubota v2203 in ******, but not sure if they will power an xj. gregg makes adapter kits for diesel conversions.

00t444e

4BT Cummins would be my first choice, I wouldn't even consider a European diesel.

andrewmp6

I wouldn't put a 4bt in anything under a 1/2 truck,It weights over 700lbs.Only bolt in options i know of are http://www.mercedesdiesel4x4.com/ and http://www.cotybuilt.com/hardware.html But for a xj i rather do a ls swap its about the same price maybe cheaper.And for power i can build a bolt on lq4 pretty mean not that much money anymore.

00t444e

SexyDexy

I don't know of any Cherokee's with this yet, but I know some are going into Wranglers already:

https://cumminsengines.com/repower.aspx

Jeepin'_Aint_EZ

Okie War Wagon

andrewmp6

Thats kinda the truth tho.Most ask but very few do it in the end.

Freerider15

Do a 4BT swap, I mean...who doesn't want a heavier engine with less HP and Torque?

Your best bet is a CRD from a KJ, a Mecedes OM617, or something like that newer Cummins crate engine ($$$).

I'll never really get the whole "diesel swap" thing for an XJ...and I own a 7.3L.

00t444e

Less hp and torque than what? Stock they have 105 hp and 265 ft lb, that can be increased to 180-200 hp and over 400 ft lb for free, then throw in a mild set of injectors and a hx 35 off of a 12 valve and you have 300 hp and over 600 ft lb, and you can get 25-30 mpg.

andrewmp6

A lq4 makes 300hp and 360 foot pounds and will weight almost 200lbs less then a 4.0 depending how its dressed.Use a stick with it you might dip in the mid 20s depending how you drive.

00t444e

An lq4 is a higer reving engine and you are giving up some reliability.

Freerider15

Ok, yes you're correct technically the 4BT has more torque stock. A 4BT can be turned up to about 200HP, after that their reliability starts to decrease.

But, you're still stuck with a motor that's not really a multi fuel engine as much as the OM617 is. On top of that, it's heavier by far than a 4.0L, and physically larger (hangs lower). You'll need to brace the hell out of the unibody to take the added weight (so your XJ will now be along the lines of a tank in weight).

4BT swaps tend to be more of "look at me" swaps in things like an XJ.

A 6BT in a Grand Wagoneer...different story.

An LQ4 less reliable? Really?

There's a reason the 5.3, LQ4, and LQ9 are used in swaps so often. It's not because their not reliable.

LS swaps (in comparison) are cheaper, more tunable, more supported, and your final numbers (even stock), give you far more gains. Not to mention the engines are easier to fit, and lighter.

In CO (and I know some other states are the same), the engine must be same year or newer if being swapped (and will see any road time). This pretty much kills a 4BT swap.

In addition, all the 4BT's I've seen go for $2k (needs a lot of work) to $4k (been gone through and ready to drop in).

You can get a lower milage LQ9 for $1500 or less.

You can get a 5.3 with entire drivetrain for $500.

Freerider15

This ^

Most these diesel swap questions must stem from the "but I wanna be a Diesel Bro too!" Gotta be able to roll coal in an XJ to impress the other guys

People who actually want to do the swap, don't ask many questions...they just get it done. But then again, most of those people are well versed in those things.