dieseltoyz wrote:
The sd22 are pretty gutless so it might be dangerous to put that in a larger vehicle on the highway. -Todd
Larger vehicle? Look on the information page on this link, this is the type of Ford Courier I'm talking about -
http://www.fordcouriercollector.com/
With a 2.0 L 4 banger stock gas engine rated at 77HP/109ft/lbs, we're talking 2500 lbs sopping wet curb weight, 1400 lb payload - 4100 GVWR on mine according to the doorplate. 3.31 rear axle, 5 speed manual tranny - 1.00 in 4th, 0.862 in 5th. From the gas engine versions I drove in the military, I doubt that even an SD22 could do much worse! Even mine, with a 30 HP DC traction motor and 1200 lbs worth of batteries can outperform the gas version!
My father bought an '80 Courier brand new, with the 2.3 L Ford gas engine and a 5 speed. He beat the crap out of, 220K miles, and finally junked it because it was rusted out - some of it's parts are on my '81 electric version.
They didn't offer a diesel in the US, but Mazda did put a Perkins 4.135 2.2 L starting in 1980 in the B2200, 66 HP, which was also in the 83-84 Ford Ranger, and for the 85-88 Ranger used a Mitsubishi 4D55T 2.3L. But from what I've heard, to use either of these engine/tranny combos in the Courier would require some modification to the tunnel in the cab, different size/shape bellhousing.
Not looking to run this puppy on the interstate, just to commute to work on 45 and 55 mph secondary roads. Couple guys at work have '81 VW diesel pickups they use as commuters.
On mine, with the original 23 HP GE electric motor which maxed out at 2400 rpm, it would just barely hit 70 mph in 4th, motor ran out of HP/torque at that speed to push it any faster. With the Kostov electric motor in it, 30 HP at 4000 rpm, a 5 speed tranny, and a 144V 800 amp controller, it can now well exceed 70 mph.
