White Cherokee CRD

gmctd · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:16 pm

Anybody see the white Cherokee in the Mar09 Diesel Power-Ads mag? The owner, a 18-wheeler whacker, hadda chop-shop stuff a VM 2.8L CRD\545RFE from a KJ n tuit - sez @ 1klbs less, it gets 21-27mpg - didn't see no L.O.S.T. stickers, thereabouts

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:45 am

gmctd wrote:

Anybody see the white Cherokee in the Mar09 Diesel Power-Ads mag? The owner, a 18-wheeler whacker, hadda chop-shop stuff a VM 2.8L CRD\545RFE from a KJ n tuit - sez @ 1klbs less, it gets 21-27mpg - didn't see no L.O.S.T. stickers, thereabouts

Was is a 96-?

I remember seeing a few pictures of it online partway through completion.

gmctd · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:01 pm

Can't understand why they had some difficulty with adding a charge-air cooler - the 2.8 is just over 1/2 length of the 4.X 6cyl - would seem like there's room for a half-dozen additional heat exchangers under that hood - it's a neat project, tho, way mo' bettah than the Patriot conversion I had in mind - or, maybe it's just the white color, eh...................

http://cgi.ebay.com/JEEP-CHEROKEE-TD-LI ... .m63.l1177

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:59 pm

gmctd wrote:

Can't understand why they had some difficulty with adding a charge-air cooler - the 2.8 is just over 1/2 length of the 4.X 6cyl - would seem like there's room for a half-dozen additional heat exchangers under that hood - it's a neat project, tho, way mo' bettah than the Patriot conversion I had in mind - or, maybe it's just the white color, eh...................

http://cgi.ebay.com/JEEP-CHEROKEE-TD-LI ... .m63.l1177

Without knowing what article your talking about I can only surmise why they had problems.

Yes the length is plenty shorter, but there is not much room in behind the header panel to mount an intercooler, with where the factory 4Litre radiator and AC condenser mounts there is very little room between that and the header panel.

For my swap I am looking at trying to use a 4cyl XJ/MJ radiator it sits further back and would give much better clearance for an intercooler.

The Beijing front end also gives much better clearance too between the ac condenser and the header panel. Hopefully this will make things easier for me.

gmctd · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 6:30 pm

That eBay item clearly has an oem-appearing charge-air cooler on that 4cyl TD - however, main reason I posted the link, is that is what I'd need to find in order for the finished product to be licensed and streetable - here in Tejas, ya gotta start with a Diesel-engined vehicle in order to modify\upgrade a Diesel-engined vehicle - no gasser (patooie!) conversions, as federally-mandated state inspections would have no EPA-sanctioned oem established precedent for connecting it up to the computer for testing - but, it shore would look nice, sittin' yer driveway

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:23 pm

gmctd wrote:

That eBay item clearly has an oem-appearing charge-air cooler on that 4cyl TD - however, main reason I posted the link, is that is what I'd need to find in order for the finished product to be licensed and streetable - here in Tejas, ya gotta start with a Diesel-engined vehicle in order to modify\upgrade a Diesel-engined vehicle - no gasser (patooie!) conversions, as federally-mandated state inspections would have no EPA-sanctioned oem established precedent for connecting it up to the computer for testing - but, it shore would look nice, sittin' yer driveway

Perhaps it would be time to find a diesel XJ title, or register it out of state, even california has provisions for converting a vehicle to deisels and passing emissions.

Colorado has them too, you might even be able to title it in colorado as a diesel, then move it into texas with the fuel type as diesel.....

just a thought.

Also, while that engine swap would be pretty boltin, that older VM engine has A LOT of head issues. Even the KJ 2.5 is just leaps and bounds better than that engine.
If you really do want to go that swap route I can point you in the direction of a supplier in the UK, I've gotten several different things from him and he is very prompt and good to communicate with.

I'm pretty sure the radiator on the diesel XJ sits further back than the radiator on a gas XJ. Which is also why I am looking at using 4 cylinder radiator.

gmctd · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:20 pm

My plan would be to find a Cherokee Diesel like that, pitch whatever Diesel it was born with, install the '05-'06 KJ CRD, like in Diesel Power-Ads mag, such that when the pakistani\afghanistani inspection tech telzon'ed the VIN label, the oem Diesel classification would present no mental challenge - their only familiarity with wheeled vehicles is where to place the explosives to achieve max ied damage - other than that, it's like talking to a large rock

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:29 pm

gmctd wrote:

My plan would be to find a Cherokee Diesel like that, pitch whatever Diesel it was born with, install the '05-'06 KJ CRD, like in Diesel Power-Ads mag, such that when the pakistani\afghanistani inspection tech telzon'ed the VIN label, the oem Diesel classification would present no mental challenge - their only familiarity with wheeled vehicles is where to place the explosives to achieve max ied damage - other than that, it's like talking to a large rock

Ah well, your basically SOL unless you find an uber rare 2.1TD XJ from the 80s.

Your not going to be able to import that diesel XJ.

gmctd · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:48 pm

Yep - that's what I was thinking

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:07 pm

gmctd,

I got an engine, computers, and all the wiring waiting for you in Texas.

gmctd · **Posted:** Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:53 pm

Thanks for the heads up - problem will be finding the early '80's 2L Diesel Cherokee for a donor title and VIN tag - then buy another not-running late white Cherokee to be the recipient conversion chassis, which would have all the late wiring, chassis, and suspension updates and upgrades - it's just not in the cards without that Diesel VIN, as it would take an act of congress to get a new VIN - the recent bi-partisan fiasco vis a vis the economic incentive package is pretty much indicative of a no-bill on my new VIN, eh................

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:05 am

gmctd wrote:

Thanks for the heads up - problem will be finding the early '80's 2L Diesel Cherokee for a donor title and VIN tag - then buy another not-running late white Cherokee to be the recipient conversion chassis, which would have all the late wiring, chassis, and suspension updates and upgrades - it's just not in the cards without that Diesel VIN, as it would take an act of congress to get a new VIN - the recent bi-partisan fiasco vis a vis the economic incentive package is pretty much indicative of a no-bill on my new VIN, eh................

Give Todd at dieseltoyz a call, he seems to know all the loop holes to legalize your vehicle.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:15 am

gmctd wrote:

Yep - that's what I was thinking

Why not title it as a KJ diesel?

gmctd · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:17 pm

Definitely been a consideration, fer sure - long as I have clear title to both, why should they care which wheels hit the road..............

UFO · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:49 pm

gmctd wrote:

Definitely been a consideration, fer sure - long as I have clear title to both, why should they care which wheels hit the road..............

You've been around enough to know how little common sense is truly "common".

vegiH · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:17 pm

Why not get a early 80s Cherokee,or late 70s Grand Wagoneer and drop that 2.8 in.Yeah its smaller then what was in there,but has alot more grunt and you can register it as a antique or hot rod or AG use whatever you want some guys in NH have nissan diesel powered CJs and a few 4bt grand wagoneers kiking around as well.The only replacement for displacement is HORSEPOWER and TORQUE.I would get a line on motor mounts before commiting on the purchase of rig,thus less fabrication costs $$$$

gmctd · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:25 pm

No hill if ya got a fire wrench and a arc wrench........................

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:42 pm

wanna scan the article, or post pictures of the article so I can check out what it said?

gmctd · **Posted:** Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:01 pm

Should be on the Diesel Power-Ads on-line web-a-zine, shortly - it's the MAR09 issue - article is short'n'sweet, as usual, to make room for the advertisements................................

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:29 am

I finally had the chance to read the entire article. Overall, I‘m very pretty impressed with the outcome.

This has definitely sparked an interest. Here are a couple of notes for Sam:

1. Motor mounts were made in Montana at Prindle Manufacturing and Performance
2. Firewall was slightly reshaped
3. KJ computers were used, hence the electronic throttle pedal
4. KJ transmission was used
5. Radiator and Intercooler were custom made to fit
6. Custom radiator support
6. 231 transfer case was upgraded with a slip-yoke eliminator
7. Custom crossmember was made for the transmission

One nice looking XJ……………………………

White Cherokee CRD

Who is online