CRD w/ 6spd manual trans

diesel_guy86 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2016 12:22 pm

Im taking my liberty engine out and installing it into an 89 isuzu trooper, or wanting to i should say.

Ive read the post on here several times of the guy who installed an nsg370 6spd. Ive read more negative reviews than positive about owning something equipped with the nsg. Also the nsg has a final od gear ratio that is not very favorable for 4.10 gears. Its also rated for 200ft/lbs of torque.

So i got to checking around and found that the 05-09 dodge dakotas came with the 3.7L V6 and a getrag close ratio 6spd rated for 380ft/lbs of torque, and a (numerically) lower OD of .69 instead of the nsg's .83. This will put me at 2100rpms at 60mph, right at the 2.8's torque and bsfc sweetspot.

I also did a search on www.car-part.com for an 05 jeep liberty manual transmission and it lists just a couple with the gettag 6speed. Typos from 2 different companies? Did something sneak over from canada?

Wanted to get others thoughts/ ideas. I assumed that since the nsg370 bolts to both the 3.7 v6 and the 2.8 that other trans that bolt up to the 3.7 might would also bolt up to our diesels.

Any thought and opinions greatly appreciated!

flash7210 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2016 1:02 pm

Whoa, whoa, whoa...

A Trooper???
2 door or 4 door? (2 door might be kinda cool)

How about an old Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero 2-door? That would be cool!

Back in the days of old muscle cars and carburetors, engine swaps were fun.
Modern electronics have taken all the fun out of it.

Sorry, I have no clue about manual transmissions.

diesel_guy86 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2016 1:37 pm

A 4 door, i have a 2 door and 4 door both already factory diesel, as well as an 86 2 door jeep cherokee with factory 2.1L Renault turbo intercooled diesel.

Anyways, the 89 has minimal electronics and only 2 computers, one for the 4cyl gas engine and one for the automatic trans. I think all ill need to move over to the trooper will be the ecm. Ive already started "re-mapping" the ecu wiring harness to see what i can remove, which is alot. I never realized how much other stuff the ecu controls, for example the a/c system is controlled by it.
I will also be swapping over the obdII port, the trooper was in the early days with the obdI. Im ready to get this project done already, will be neat to have a modern common rail engine in an old school suv

lacabrera · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2016 4:09 pm

Why a vm diesel. Isuzu made and still do, make some great diesel motors. The 2.8 trooper here is a good old fashioned diesel engine that will run and run, same motor used in the Philippines in jeepneys. if they can pull a bus rammed full of people must be good. The newer 1.9 CRD delivers more tourque/bhp than a standard VM 2.8.
personally when funds are available I would replace my 3.55 to 4.10 even with 3.55 and larger tires it will out sprint most similar size 4x4. I am running the equivalent of a hot tune for the last 10,000 miles and I push the loud peddle often and have no issues with my nsg box. I think the 200lb tag is way conservative. Plus running the transmission with a very low viscosity is a must?

diesel_guy86 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2016 4:33 pm

Why vm? Cuz my jeep is totaled. Isuzu's are extremely good engines, but i also like my vm engine and i have everything i need for the swap, wiring harness, ecm etc.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2016 5:57 pm

I have no idea about that getrag, I would assuming the bellhousing pattern is the same, but I don't know about the clutch logistics.

You could also go for a NV3550, as I think its final gear is better suited.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2016 5:59 pm

The ECU wiring harness contains the plugs for all the engine side stuff.

You really need only interface a few things from the 4 plugs on the passenger side, power ground, etc. Including your APPS sensor and ODBII ports.

95Z28A4 · **Joined:** Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:53 am **Posts:** 297

I would use an AX15 from a 1991 - 1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ with a bell housing from a 3.9L Dodge Dakota. Click the link below for pics. BTW, these are my photos.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/95z28a4

Phx flyer · **Joined:** Fri May 27, 2016 10:57 pm **Posts:** 21

I have a 2006 dakota with a getrag G238 transmission. I bolts up directly to the 2.8 diesel. I have not actually married them up but I do have the vm diesel oem adaptor and it fits the G238 trans. By the way, the gearset in this gear box is used on 2014 and newer Mustangs. Getrag factory in China! I would like to put a 2.8 vm diesel in my 2006 dakota which now has a 3.7L v6---same as liberty jeeps. This trans is also used on the 4.7 v8 and I am told also the 5.7 Hemi.

mass-hole · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2016 11:28 pm

Apparently people have put T56's on 4.7 magnum V8's on the dakota so if there is any relation between the bell housing then it may work.

The T56's, at least in some configs, have a very tall 6th. My 2006 GTO had like a .56:1 6th and used to run at like 1900 rpms at 80 mph. It actually got like 26-27 mpg on the highway despite the 6.0L LS2. I think the Vette T56 may have been even taller, like a .50:1.

95Z28A4 · **Joined:** Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:53 am **Posts:** 297

The 1994-1997 F-body (LT-1/LT-4) was available with a T-56 that had a .50:1 6th gear. I have one.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2016 10:37 am

Looks like to use a t56 you would need an adapter:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/qti- ... make/dodge

So since the adapter costs near what the getrag from the dakota will cost why not go the dakota route?

mass-hole · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2016 12:47 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

Looks like to use a t56 you would need an adapter:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/qti- ... make/dodge

So since the adapter costs near what the getrag from the dakota will cost why not go the dakota route?

If the hemis have the same pattern, then could you not just snag a bellhousing from a manual hemi dodge challenger. Not sure if thats a T56 though. It may be a TR6060, not that that would suck or anything.

Now I am getting the warm and fuzzies lol. That would be a sweet setup.

diesel_guy86 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2016 12:53 pm

I guess the most important question is, what is the name of the bell housing pattern that bolts to the crd/3.7 v6?

I had an 06 GTO also, didnt realize it had a t-56 in it, but i do remember 6th being really low. I could idle through town at 30mph in 6th gear.
I also tore the 3rd gear synchros out of it, TWICE. They covered the first one under warranty but not the second one, sensored word.

mass-hole · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2016 1:30 pm

diesel_guy86 wrote:

I guess the most important question is, what is the name of the bell housing pattern that bolts to the crd/3.7 v6?

I had an 06 GTO also, didnt realize it had a t-56 in it, but i do remember 6th being really low. I could idle through town at 30mph in 6th gear.
I also tore the 3rd gear synchros out of it, TWICE. They covered the first one under warranty but not the second one, sensored word.

Awesome, I miss mine so much. If it wasn't so useless I would still own it.

The gto's were notorious for having a bad master cylinder and bad slave/clutch tolerance. It caused all sorts of misshifts and crap. Until I put in a new master and got a short throw I would miss 3rd all the time at wot. It was fine just driving around.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2016 2:42 pm

mass-hole wrote:

Sir Sam wrote:

Looks like to use a t56 you would need an adapter:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/qti- ... make/dodge

So since the adapter costs near what the getrag from the dakota will cost why not go the dakota route?

If the hemis have the same pattern, then could you not just snag a bellhousing from a manual hemi dodge challenger. Not sure if thats a T56 though. It may be a TR6060, not that that would suck or anything.

Now I am getting the warm and fuzzies lol. That would be a sweet setup.

Thats a TR6060 in the challenger.

diesel_guy86 wrote:

I guess the most important question is, what is the name of the bell housing pattern that bolts to the crd/3.7 v6?

I had an 06 GTO also, didnt realize it had a t-56 in it, but i do remember 6th being really low. I could idle through town at 30mph in 6th gear.
I also tore the 3rd gear synchros out of it, TWICE. They covered the first one under warranty but not the second one, sensored word.

I'm not sure it really has a name....most likely mopar small block.

the pattern is the same between the 3.7, 4.7 HEMI........

I think the 6.4 pattern is only different in that the starter is located on the opposite side, which means it might be doable with some fab.

Honestly I just feel like you guys are arm chairing this to death. There are 2 known good transmission options(NV3500/3550, and NSG370), and another that may be just as good G238. And they don't require adapters and all sort of other crap, and those transmissions can be had for less than $1000.

95Z28A4 · **Joined:** Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:53 am **Posts:** 297

Sir Sam wrote:

Honestly I just feel like you guys are arm chairing this to death. There are 2 known good transmission options(NV3500/3550, and NSG370), and another that may be just as good G238. And they don't require adapters and all sort of other crap, and those transmissions can be had for less than $1000.

In my opinion, the Jeep AX15 is more robust than the NV3550. A used AX15 can be had for a lot less than $1000. The AX15 easily bolts up to the Chrysler/Dodge LA small block pattern (Same as the 2.8 CRD) using the Dodge 3.9L bellhousing. Click the link below to see the AX15 bolted to a 3.3L Cummins that has the Chrysler small block pattern. There's a lot of pics, but I think they are worth checking. Each photo has a caption when viewed individually.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/95z28a4/

diesel_guy86 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2016 4:03 pm

I dont think we are, remember this is going into a completely different vehicle. The lowest gears i can get are 4.10's, both the nsg and nv3500 have a too-high of an OD. If it wasnt for the adapters front and rear the t-56 would be a great choice that i wouldnt have even thought about. And it actually is still high on my list, having a .56OD will save me roughly a $1,000 by keeping the stock 4.56 gears, but that $1k will go into adapters pretty much.

CRD w/ 6spd manual trans

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