Mitsubishi Jeep CJ24 Project: Downgrading The Diesel Engine

[zakmuh]

Hi,

I'm looking into a future project where I want to downgrade a 2.7 diesel to a 1.8/2 litre turbo diesel engine.

I've got 1979 Mitsubishi Jeep J24 4DR5 4x4 in a very poor condition. Its has 4DR5 2.7 diesel engine. I'm thinking of making it a 2x4 by repelacing the engine with an automatic Toyota 2C 1.9 litre one. Would this be doable?

Areas in question:
1. Gearbox+engine support/mounting to the chassis
2. Driveshaft to rear differential connection

CJ24 Pics









Toyota engine




Thanks in advance.

[GreenV8S]

Anything is possible with enough time, money and skill.

[zakmuh]

Thats a good one mate

Yes I have all thress of them but it's always good to take some advice from experts before starting a project like this

Cheers

[Peanut Gallery]

When downgrading like that I would be concerned about making a big heavy car that has an under-powered engine, that is just a chore to drive.

Yes, driving under-powered cars can be entertaining - you have to be in the exact gear you need, you have to rev match going down the box, you have to try carry more speed through corners, you can red-line the engine whilst the police overtake you, you have to think about overtakes, you have to think about hills etc.

But if the replacement engine is not characterful to drive, you end up just not wanting to do anything, and not wanting to drive the car.

If you are just wanting to get an old jeep running with an old diesel engine, then by all means, go for it!

There is an old thread on here, not posted in ages, called Cobra Curves - he has a 1.4 liter Cobra, and it suits him fine.

[stevieturbo]

By the sounds of things, your engine options are limited ?

Both seem very old engines, very basic. So should be extremely easy to get to run, mostly all mechanical, with very limited wiring ?

Should be a fairly easy conversion if you can cut/grind/weld

[zakmuh]

Thanks

I don't think converting from 4x4 to rear wheel drive only would make it under powered?

Yes I can do all that tinkering job by myself and I have all the tools.

As you've mentioned stevieturbo, these jeeps comes with minimum electronics and mechanical parts. So downgrading/upgrading/converting is fairly an easy job.

With regards to swapping to an automatic greabox..would it be tricky to do 'only start to gear shifter poisition in 'P' ?

[stevieturbo]

zakmuh said:

Thanks

I don't think converting from 4x4 to rear wheel drive only would make it under powered?

Yes I can do all that tinkering job by myself and I have all the tools.

As you've mentioned stevieturbo, these jeeps comes with minimum electronics and mechanical parts. So downgrading/upgrading/converting is fairly an easy job.

With regards to swapping to an automatic greabox..would it be tricky to do 'only start to gear shifter poisition in 'P' ?

Changing to rwd would offer less drivetrain losses, so allow more power to the ground really. I assume you don't need 4wd ?

And it would be very easy to add an inhibitor switch. Likely on the gear selector itself will be a set of switch contacts you'd wire in line to the starter solenoid relay to prevent it operating if not in the correct position.

Or a huge reminder sticker on the dash "DO NOT START IN GEAR"