[Tommy21]

Ok so I’m thinking on putting a turbo Diesel engine into a suzuki lj 81 A’s I have 3 and want a diesel. Has anyone ever done this before and if so what engine. If not what’s a small turbo Diesel engine that might fit

Thanks Tom

[sideways]

I can hear Steve furiously typing from here!

The problem is we don't have many small capacity, lightweight diesels in Australia. What we do have is generally set up for FWD.

IMO for a mechanical turbo diesel all we can really look at is the Peugeot XUD9 from the 405 SRDT. You can buy adapters for these to vitara gearbox from a mob in the UK. These were also the factory fitted diesel in European Sierras built by Santana. The motors aren't particularly hard to find, they're cheap and they last forever.

An LJ is going to be particularly hard to do. The gearing is far to low so you'd have to look at swapping at least the transfercase to something else. The centred front diff means you likely wont have enough vertical height to clear the bigger diesel but at least the engine bay is quite long. Due to the narrow chassis rails you'll need to fit quite a bit of bumpstop spacing to clear an offset diff pumpkin which you would have to run with any transfer case conversion.

One of the bigger problems with LJs and engine conversions is the steering box wont clear the bellhousing so you need to convert to a conventional front mounted steering box.

You'll also have to cut out the gearbox and transfer crossmember and almost certainly replace all the mechanicals. As much as I'd love to see a well done deisel LJ81 they would be one of the hardest vehicles to convert. You'll be left with little more than 2 chassis rails and the body from the LJ.

[Tommy21]

Would turboing a f10a be a better idea

[Gwagensteve]

Idea for what?

An LJ with a turbo 1.0 answers a different question to an LJ with a turbo diesel. I'm not sure what the question is in either case, but I know it's different.
If you want a turbo in an LJ put a F5A/F6A/K6A in it. At least that's possible and you have a chance of a reliable outcome.

[Tommy21]

Ok so I’m really just trying to find a engine that will have me a good amount of power

[Gwagensteve]

I’m not being facetious, but what does that mean? I can’t think of a car with worse steering or brakes, so I’m not sure what the right answer is for a “good” amount of power.

I’d suggest a 660cc triple would be plenty- with a decent exhaust and intercooler ~55kw and 110nm.

[greyghost]

other than the previously mentioned 660cc very little else fits easily, due to the above mentioned reasons
I'm trying to get an M13 Jimny and auto into an LJ and there is bugger all room for it to fit, legally (engineer wants 15mm clearance to everything)
the chassis rails are WAY too close together to fit anything too big in there and the centred diff is a total space killer, and changing to WT diffs ends up with the car too high in the air top be legal

[atari4x4]

greyghost wrote:

other than the previously mentioned 660cc very little else fits easily, due to the above mentioned reasons
I'm trying to get an M13 Jimny and auto into an LJ and there is bugger all room for it to fit, legally (engineer wants 15mm clearance to everything)
the chassis rails are WAY too close together to fit anything too big in there and the centred diff is a total space killer, and changing to WT diffs ends up with the car too high in the air top be legal

you're doing it wrong, read this.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12466

[greyghost]

that's fucked

all the short comings of a Jimny (and there are many) and none of the advantages of an LJ.

[Eddy]

Tommy21 wrote:

Ok so I’m really just trying to find a engine that will have me a good amount of power

actually a LJ81 motor gives a good amount of power for a LJ81 ...

I do recall someone doing some work with a kubota some time ago, but I lost track of where it went.

All boils down to what is gunna physically go into the space, and there are very few engines that qualify.
Back in the early 80s we were jamming in datto 1200s and corolla 1300s ... and they were tight, usually needing bonnet scoops or spacers, (or body lift)

If you want a stupid amount of power, a mazda rotary goes in relatively easily, and will outrun the ability of the LJ to stay on a road, whether it be the one you want to be on, or the next one over ... ... (FWIW one we built in 85 is still going strong BTW)

[burls]

16b can be shoehorned in but with a lot of mods. Definitely got enough power but you can never really have enough.

There's heaps of info on this mod so you don't have to re invent the wheel to do it

[Tommy21]

Interesting what model rotary engine do you use and do you use the gear box from the rotary

[Gwagensteve]

Not sure if srs

Going fast in a straight line is boring. Lj’s Can’t go around corners. Join the dots.

[Technotron101]

Actually to just go on a tangent, sideways, have you got any examples of that peugot diesel conversion being done locally? Are they easy to find in Aus?

I've been tossing up the idea of a diesel (probably never happen haha) for ages, and I've only found people doing the VW 1.9, and in one case a 2C-T from a hiace.

Keen to know more if you've heard of any conversions being done. Cheers.

[Tommy21]

Ok so I think I’m going to start gathering the stuff for a be 1.9 tdi swap in to the lj81 and was curiouse to know if anyone has any info on the wiring side of a tdi will I be able to wire it up easily or is there a computer and stuff to deal with any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks Tom

[Gwagensteve]

Tommy,

I know you're young, and youthful enthusiasm and all, but did you fully read and understand this, and the consequences of the bit in bold.

Quote:

An LJ is going to be particularly hard to do. The gearing is far to low so you'd have to look at swapping at least the transfercase to something else. The centred front diff means you likely wont have enough vertical height to clear the bigger diesel but at least the engine bay is quite long. Due to the narrow chassis rails you'll need to fit quite a bit of bumpstop spacing to clear an offset diff pumpkin which you would have to run with any transfer case conversion.

One of the bigger problems with LJs and engine conversions is the steering box wont clear the bellhousing so you need to convert to a conventional front mounted steering box.

You'll also have to cut out the gearbox and transfer crossmember and almost certainly replace all the mechanicals. As much as I'd love to see a well done diesel LJ81 they would be one of the hardest vehicles to convert. You'll be left with little more than 2 chassis rails and the body from the LJ.

This conversion is going to be incredibly difficult.

Few cars are so completely designed around the dimensions of their engine. Here's a small amount of the decision making tree.

Place engine in engine bay.
Bellhousing doesn't clear steering box.
Move steering box forward using a Sierra/vitara box.
Steering shaft now passes through engine mount.
Move engine mount
Steering box is too tall to mount to chassis rail
Cut/replace 75X50 rail with section of 100X50 rail to mount steering box
Swap tie rod/drag link to suit crossover steering.
Discover tie rod/drag link does't exist to do that. fabricate custom length sierra style tie rod/drag link.
Lower car onto front axle
Front axle fouls sump.
lift car 4"+ and bumpstop space to suit - car is now frighteningly tall and unstable.
Source Sierra front axle housing
move spring pad spacing to suit LJ
Discover front diff won't clear the chassis rail

Now work through this with every single step of the process.

If you ever complete the car to the point of it being drivable, if it retains any LJ driveline it won't be functional.

As for wiring, sideways pointed out the XUD9 is a mechanical motor, so the only wires will be starter, glow plugs and and fuel cutoff.

If you're referring to the VW 1.9 these were only available in Australia in common rail computer controlled form. Parts are available to convert them to mechanical from the US. They're expensive.

If you're only going to use the vehicle around a farm you could consider a small Kubota diesel there are adapters available in the US to convert the Kubota bell housing pattern to GM transmissions. The Flatfender guys in the US are using these. The engines are heavy (especially for their power output) and low revving (3K max) but will be easier to fit, but golly, what a lot of work to go to for no gain.

[Marn]

Pasminco in broken hill used to put isuzu diesels into sierras for use underground. not sure what model engine tho

[Gwagensteve]

Probably the Gemini diesel.

Sierras are much easier to swap and engine into than lj’s for the reasons sideways has posted.

[Eddy]

Marn wrote:

Pasminco in broken hill used to put isuzu diesels into sierras for use underground. not sure what model engine tho

yeah, gemini diesel.
One of my grape pickers had one ... barely kept up with my LJ50.

[Tommy21]

Ok so maybe it would be better to find a Sierra ute to convert and leave the lj stock

[shep]

Better off just buying a car that has a factory diesel already under the bonnet. Suzukis only work properly because they
weigh nothing. A running sierra motor weighs 47kg so doesn't take much weight to really upset the balance of the car

[Gwagensteve]

Or by a hilux.

Just because a Sierra is easier to convert doesn’t make it a better idea.

[ZUZUKI]

The Gemini (Isuzu) heavy old lump was never a good thing, as gearing was an issue, and did I mention it was heavy?
In a Gemini, there was a different gearbox (with different ratios) & diff ratio (compared to the petrol versions) to sort of compensate for the lack of rev ability - I used to have the info, as I looked into this conversion, but ruled it out quite quickly.
A G13A/B in a stock Sierra is doing about 4,000rpm at 100km/h - a Gemini diesel blew up about 1,000rpm ago.
You can lower the gearing from 3.9 with Vitara & aftermarket gearsets, but the only way to go higher is to over tyre it (38-40"" anyone?) but then there was the issue of bugger all power.
More modern diesels spin (a bit) faster, but gearing is still a hard issue to deal with.
The closest diesel car that is sort of similar, is a Daihatsu Rocky / Feroza or earlier F20 type thing - slow, heavy & bigger than a Sierra, let alone an LJ.
Rgs, Michael

[Tommy21]

Ok so I have the chance to buy a factory 1.3L Sierra Ute with a seized engine fire really cheap and not a lot of rust I was just wondering if a sj51t has a off set front diff and if The vw Td conversion kit would work in this fine or is there some major hurtles to over come cheers Tom

[sideways]

Although still a not a simple conversion, yes the Sierra ute would be FAR easier to convert than the LJ.

[303zuke]

Technotron101 wrote:

Gwagensteve wrote:

Going fast ... is boring. LJ’s Can’t go around corners. Join the dots.

Actually to just go on a tangent, sideways,.....

Yep, that's how it will end!

F10A or F6A-T is about all you would really need or want in an LJ.

[303zuke]

......

[sideways]

303 is back!

[303zuke]

Best part of this car is the ARB winch bar and genuine half doors. You might like the rest.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/jeparit ... 1209536098

[Brenno]

Pretty sure there is a YouTube build of that one 303