pickup/tractor project

Anonymous-0 · Jan 14, 2011

My son would like to put a small 4 cylinder diesel in a ford ranger pickup.He wants to know if Deere has something that might work or any other suggestions from you guys. I know there is a wealth of info here so thanks for any suggestions.

omahagreg · Jan 14, 2011

Some of the F Gleaner combines had a 4 cylinder diesel in them-I believe they were turbocharged as well! I knew of one for sale cheap, but could not pull the trigger at the time, and now it has sold.

JDemaris · Jan 14, 2011

Ford made Rangers right from the factory with 2.2 abd 2.3 liter diesels (one turbo version). Why not just fix up one of them? All the engineering is figured out already and the engine is light enough to be useful. Chevy did it too with the diesel S10s and S10 Blazers (had 2.2 Isuzu diesel engines).

No full-size long-stroke tractor diesel is going to be worth the effort. Too heavy and too RPM limited. Diesels for small trucks tend to be special-made with short strokes to expand the RPM range.

Used to be a few full-size pickups around with Deere diesels in them. Interesting to look at, but underpowered dogs to drive.

The first full-size Dodge pickup also had a tractor diesel in it and it too was a dog. Only made one year, in 1978. Used a Mitisubishi 6 cylinder irrigation-pump/tractor engine.

If he's really dead-set in a HD diesel in a Ranger, find a Cummins 4BT from a bread-van. 3.9 liter and gobs of power. Nice and short and can be had with a Ford-adapter bell-housing. Awful heavy for a Ranger though. Makes a good full-size truck engine.

VicS · Jan 14, 2011

My brother took a Mercedes Diesel from a reefer semi trailer. made a bell housing and put it to a straight shift Jeep. Turned pump all the way up, would hold fire out pipe. but would just go 48 mph wide open. Jeep had 4.33 gears. Not very successful but it worked. Next got a Ranger with a diesel, it wasn't much better. He has a Chevy Diesel now. I have a old Dodge Cummins, lots a power and good mileage.

thebigyellowtruck · Jan 14, 2011

jdemaris is right about the bread truck engines. I have seen them put in the small toyota pick-ups. putting one in a ranger should be about the same. As long as you have the knowledge to hook it up, you should be able to make it work. heavier shocks and springe would be a must though. Even the diesel rangers were still dogs to drive. a cool idea, but they didnt get you anywhere fast.

thebigyellowtruck · Jan 14, 2011

depending on your budget, you can look online and try to get a more effecient diesel motor out of one of the european or south american rangers on the internet. The Ranger Station is another site that is a wealth of info. specifically ford ranger info.
The Ranger Station

mkirsch · Jan 14, 2011

Cummins 4BT (3.9L). The 5120 and 5220 Maxxums came with those, and you can get them cheap in those little cabover delivery trucks.

They're the legendary 5.9L Cummins turbo diesel with the middle two cylinders cut out.

willys53allis · Jan 15, 2011

you should checkout www.4btswaps.com Its a diesel conversion website. I'm currently jamming a F5L912 duetz diesel (5 cylinder air-cooled)in a 1970 dodge D-100. and have extensively used the knowledge on the website. Theres several different engine sub forums. cummins, detroit, deutz, just to name a few. Check it out you'll spend hours surfing that site for sure!
Here's a pick of my project for insperation

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JDemaris · Jan 15, 2011

I have yet to every find a 3.9 liter turbo Cummins for sale cheap -unless you call $2000 - $3000 cheap. At lot of people are looking for them, especially with the special adapters Cummins made to fit Chevy and Ford transmissions.

ericlb · Jan 15, 2011

willy, whats the hp and tourque rating on that set up? just courious, one thing on the ranger swap in this post, the pickup willy's using here has a pretty large engine bay,and is built like a tank, im worried about the weight of any of these diesel engines on the ranger's relitively light suspension set up, unless the off road community has some stiffer and more robust stuff to put under it, the weight of the engine might leave little travel on the factory suspension

pickup/tractor project

Anonymous-0

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omahagreg

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JDemaris

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VicS

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thebigyellowtruck

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thebigyellowtruck

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mkirsch

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willys53allis

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JDemaris

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ericlb

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