My first post and I already tried the search but didn't find much. I have been wanting to and will be buying a CRD soon but HATE auto trannys and was hoping that a 5 or 6 speed manual could be fitted, either from a gasser here or from an overseas manual model. Fabrication doesn't scare me neither does electronics. I'm just wondering if anyone has had success yet getting a CRD to work with a stick.

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2002 Jeep Liberty CRD 2.8L diesel (perhaps unique in USA)

Howdy - Welcome to LOST - if you figure out the Manual - keep us updated - there's been lots of talk - but no individual has done it yet
(Sir Sam was getting close but he hasn't posted an update)

Burnsville will do it - they do as part of the CRD into JK swap - but it'll cost about the same as the CRD did new.......

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2005 CRD
stuff
Skeptic quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur

I don't have a CRD yet, but will after I finish swapping a VW TDI and NV3500 5 speed into my 2002 Dodge Dakota 4X4, which will take a bit of time and effort. But I thought if I could find a manual tranny from a Euro 'Cherokee' CRD it might swap right in without too much pain. Or maybe a Jeep gasser manual could be hammered in. I was hoping someone would say, 'been there, done that'.

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2002 Jeep Liberty CRD 2.8L diesel (perhaps unique in USA)

Investigate the Euro and Central American spec Jeep Liberty's (called Cherokee's there.) They had a diesel manual as an option.

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2007 Jeep Liberty Sport 4x4 3.7L 6spd

• MOABs with Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure With Kevlar 245/70R16
• JBA UCA 4.5
• OME 790/948/90009/N32
• Western Suburbanite 7'4" plow
• DetoursUSA Backbone
• HF 12k# winch

[SIZE="1"]WTB: project liberty near N.NJ. stick shift, 4x4, working motor optional, CHEAP[/SIZE]

mechanically it should be trivial - tranny swap if you can get the parts
Flywheel would probably be the hardest, rest of the stuff from a gasser (keeping the 242 would be a question - Jeep never put them behind a manual)

Electronically.... this is not wiring in a light switch... try assembly language programming on an encrypted Microprocessor...just to get it to talk.... Green Diesel Engineering could probably help.. an appropriate European module would be a significant step forward.

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2005 CRD
stuff
Skeptic quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur

already know the 242 is not a good idea behind the 6spd. one of the gurus here confirmed it would probably get torn up due to the higher shock loading the manual puts into the t-case.

according to the parts books I've seen the gasser manual and the diesel manuals share the same clutch... at least for the 6spd trans applications... so a clutch shouldn't be too hard to come by.

if I were to try it I'd do it as the following...
find an auto diesel to convert
find a gasser v6 6spd 4x4 with good running gear (trans, t-case, driveshafts, possibly front and rear axles/diffs)
swapping all the "hard" bits around shouldn't be much more than turning wrenches... swap the trans/t-case/driveshafts and some bracketry from the gasser to the diesel.
getting the ECU to be happy with NOT having the slush box there to talk to is the real challenge. you probably would be able to start and drive it without changing the code, but I'll guarantee it'll get pissed at some point, and it'll definitely NOT pass most state inspections because the CEL will be lit. I'd be curious to find out if replacement ECU's come from the factory "stupid"... i.e. unprogrammed with any knowledge of the vehicle they'll be placed in and then programmed once hooked to the vehicle. Otherwise you could try making nice with your local dealership and see if they can't get a Euro-spec diesel/manual ECU brought in and VIN'd to your vehicle.

Oh if only i had the time, money and space to work on all these types of projects....

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2007 Jeep Liberty Sport 4x4 3.7L 6spd

• MOABs with Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure With Kevlar 245/70R16
• JBA UCA 4.5
• OME 790/948/90009/N32
• Western Suburbanite 7'4" plow
• DetoursUSA Backbone
• HF 12k# winch

[SIZE="1"]WTB: project liberty near N.NJ. stick shift, 4x4, working motor optional, CHEAP[/SIZE]

Wasn't there a 2.5 CRD with factory manual tranny offered in Europe?

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2002 Jeep Liberty CRD 2.8L diesel (perhaps unique in USA)

There are plenty of 6 speed manual CRDs running around in Australia, and it was offered in the 2.8L and the 2.5 (I think). It might be possible to find one through an Australian Jeep wrecker. Obviously the wiring loom and software presents some problems (like the interplay between the TCM and ECM, but maybe GDE could cut you a tune that ignores the suspected signals from the auto tranny. One word of warning - the guys herer with the manuals have had some clutch problems and aftermarket replacements are very hard to find (because it was never an option in the US), so they have to buy the clutch kits from Jeep (which here means $$$$). Be aware that in the JK CRDs Jeep detuned the engine to reduce the torque figures so the clutch would not burn out. The newer JK Auto CRDs put out 460nm but the manuals only about 400nm. I don't know it they did the same thing to the KJs.

Noob here - looking at this thread. I'd love a CRD, like others, don't like the auto trans.

I've read that the NSG370 is only good up until 272lbs of tq (input) - if the CRD's are stock 290, aren't we toasted off the bat with that trans?

I've also worked out that the diff ratios aren't great for those of us that are highway dwellers - you'd have to swap out the R&P for something more advantageous - say a 3.00 or under....

I've posted the details on what bolts up to what and what was used when and what parts and part numbers will get you there. I don't really feel like posting it again, so spend a little time in the search and you will find all sorts of answer.

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http://www.Colorado4Wheel.com
"Its not about what you can DO with your Jeep, its about where you can GO with your Jeep."
Knowledgeable - But Caustic

I don't get it... I thought only women always want to change a good thing? What's so hard with putting it in "D" and stepping on the accelerator? Not enough interaction? Sorry my best friend is the same way (gotta have a stick) and him and I give each other crap all the time so I thought I'd share

Some guys just don't like all the torque of the auto(the manuals are detuned not to eat up trannies).

Some guys just don't like keeping the boost up(the manuals tend not to keep the turbo spooled during shifts).

Some guys like getting worse MPG(generally autos do better in city driving for mileage)

Some guys don't like not getting the choice of buying a manual.

Some guys just like the "fun" of driving a manual.

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http://www.Colorado4Wheel.com
"Its not about what you can DO with your Jeep, its about where you can GO with your Jeep."
Knowledgeable - But Caustic

Gee, I thought the torque output of the engine was controlled by the ECU and subsequently by the tune put on that ECU, regardless of what transmission happens to be attached to the engine.



So boost is controlled by the transmission? And here I was thinking it was controlled by engine RPM and load and therefore by the right foot. Silly me!



SSHHHH! Don't let the EPA hear you say that! They rate the gasser V6 at 17 city with the auto, and 18 city with the manual. In fact, I have NEVER seen them rate an auto higher than a manual in ANY circumstance.



I think you left a few out like:



Some guys don't like the high repair cost of autos compared to manuals.

Some guys like the higher reliability of manuals, especially for towing.

Some guys like being able to determine the shift points themselves.

Some guys think a human is more capable of determining driving conditions than a machine without intellect nor perception.

I am sure there are more.......

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2002 Jeep Liberty CRD 2.8L diesel (perhaps unique in USA)

Some guys, me, know from experience when driving in soft sand the time it takes you to down shift when in low range that you'll be stuck
Not in my CRD but my Bronco II with a V6 4 speed and running in low range. The sand got very soft and I needed more power. Pushed in the clutch and it instantly stopped and I was stuck.

The clutch springs that gave problems in the original TC's are also present in manual tranny's.
Look at towing capacities in say a ford F150's for both standard and automatic transmissions.

Modern automatic transmissions with good TCM programming are the only way to go in a vehicle such as a CRD.
A TDI jetta maybe a different story as that's comparing apples to orages

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Atlantic Blue 06 CRD Limited (his)
Joined by a 2000 XJ Classic (hers)

The Torque output/power output is controlled by the ECU, and the manual ECUs control it to be lower so they don't eat up a transmission, so no, its not regardless of what transmission is attached to it.




Your obviously new at this, manuals, however much fun they are, bleed off boost during shifting, if you want to keep your turbo spooled and boosting autos keep that happening.


Welcome to the forum, I'm done giving fish.

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http://www.Colorado4Wheel.com
"Its not about what you can DO with your Jeep, its about where you can GO with your Jeep."
Knowledgeable - But Caustic

And you know how I feel about comparing our CRDs to TDIs.

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http://www.Colorado4Wheel.com
"Its not about what you can DO with your Jeep, its about where you can GO with your Jeep."
Knowledgeable - But Caustic

I could get all but I'll just say this... (and mind you yes, i'm a gasser v6)

I get on average 19mpg with mixed city/highway driving, mostly city.
This current tank is looking to easily make it to 22mpg (mostly highway)... it might even be better.
I towed 5300# without difficulty and got 16.7mpg average on the 230 mile round trip doing the speed limit the whole time (mostly 65mph... Rt 78, NJ Turnpike and NJ-55).
I never have to worry about overheating the trans.
I never worry about being in the wrong gear due to some electronic gizmo guessing wrong.

As for the boost thing, if I had a turbo diesel i'd make a call to a friend of mine and get something he makes modified to work with the jeep to solve that problem

I get the want for the stick... I'm one of "them"... have been and probably will always be. Nothing really wrong with an auto*koff*for-women-and-girly-men*koff* but I'd at least like the choice.

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2007 Jeep Liberty Sport 4x4 3.7L 6spd

• MOABs with Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure With Kevlar 245/70R16
• JBA UCA 4.5
• OME 790/948/90009/N32
• Western Suburbanite 7'4" plow
• DetoursUSA Backbone
• HF 12k# winch

[SIZE="1"]WTB: project liberty near N.NJ. stick shift, 4x4, working motor optional, CHEAP[/SIZE]

"Manual ECU's" control power output to be lower IF THEY ARE PROGRAMMED THAT WAY. An ECU that is operating a vehicle with a manual transmission is not limited to having lower power output control capability than one operating a vehicle with an automatic transmission, it is just programmed different. A more aggressive tune on that "manual ECU" will permit more power than a stock ECU with an automatic transmission. I had the same ECU in my manual transmission Jetta TDI that my buddy had in his auto and with my aggressive tune it made twice the power output (it had other mods as well). My point is it was the tune, not the transmission, that limited output. Tuners (including factory) may CHOOSE to detune ECUs that are installed on manual transmissions, but to say



is presumptuous, as one CAN tune an ECU to have more power, again, REGARDLESS OF WHAT TRANSMISSION the engine is attached to.



Far from it. VERY far from it. I have driven both auto and manual transmission turbocharged vehicles for about 30 of my 35 years of driving.



Not if you know how to shift properly. I can keep my turbo spooled with the transmission in neutral and the car sitting still. Boost is controlled by engine RPM and LOAD. I can shift my TDI from 2nd to 3rd with the boost gauge never dropping below 24 PSI. I RARELY do it as it tends to leave significant quantities of my tires melted onto the highway surface for 50 foot stretches. But just driving in the correct RPM range I never have to wait on spooling with my manual.



Thank you very much. I look forward to member's contributions and getting a CRD soon and releasing the power trapped inside it.

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2002 Jeep Liberty CRD 2.8L diesel (perhaps unique in USA)

If you want your manual trans so bad behind the 2.8 and have the power you have to forget about any of the manual trans options offered in a KJ currently.Like already stated they will not handle the full power and why they are de-tuned.You will have to start looking at swapping in a NV4500,but by then you will need all the power the 2.8 can produce just to spin that trans.


Why don't you just have the 545RFE built and have it wired for manual shifting only,not hard to do and will handle well more then what the 2.8 can produce.Then you can mock up some of those lame looking paddle shifters .

Now you've finally said somthing I can agree with

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Atlantic Blue 06 CRD Limited (his)
Joined by a 2000 XJ Classic (hers)