Do you follow DirtLifestyle on YouTube? He's got a TDI swap into his TJ.

 

Yes, that has been my motivation. The jeep input (ax15) could be the same and if so a conversion disc is available. If the spline count and diameter is different, because everything isuzu is always different, then I will look at having a custom disc built.

The biggest problem is the the common search info deluge of stuff for sale instead of tech info.

 

I saw the dirtlife bunch heading home from a snow crawl a few weeks back. They were heading north on the interstate at 11pm doing about 30mph with the hazards flashing. The rover was in the front and and the middle a jeep tj was dragging the toy on a rope.

 

I love that channel. Sorry I can't help with your actual question. I hope you get it done.

 

Why not use an Isuzu diesel? I don't think a 1.8 is going to do much in a Trooper. Besides they're so fiddly to work on, everything "needs" special tools etc.

 

Because there is zero aftermarket for Isuzu stuff. If he can get a VW diesel in there, the world will be his oyster.

 

You don't need much to wake up a diesel. And there is plenty of aftermarket stuff for the diesels, more logistics than for the VW parts though.

 

So how this idea got started is some time way back I hit Buster up for input on doing a kubota repower. The problem was the kubota was limited to 2200rpm but adapters for chev are available so with a silverado bellhousing it all works but 60mph is max speed.

The VW tdi can develop 400hp and spin 4000rpm all day long with few mods and adapters are plentiful so if I can get the disc right I'm in. If fuel goes up and stays high thru the next few years I can make this pencil out with the sale of the 3.5 coming out. 40 mpg and 500 mile range is also a big win. I would do an om606 if I could pull off a SAS.

 

Disc shouldn't be a problem to get made. There might even be something out there already that works. Just need the VW disc diameter. There should be several Isuzu discs with the same spline pattern, maybe one will match the dia.

 

I have been working on the idea of a tdi swap in my 2002 manual trans trooper. The two offers great swap prospects but the clutch spec is unclear. Where can I find the specs on input shafts and disc thickness values? I have searched extensively.
The tdi clutch is 2" smaller but I can't confirm the input shaft size and spline count.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Picking up this stale thread. Here is how I did it. Jeep 4.0l to TDI conversion kit, replaced Isuzu AR5 bell housing with JEEP 4.0 L AX15 housing. Jeep pressure flywheel and pressure plate. Isuzu clutch disc.
Here is the vid.

 

Do you have any update on this project? I am quite interested.

 

Thanks for the awesome vid!
What does the throw out arm fulcrum against after the ears are cut off of the trans?
Is the input shaft the correct length for this conversion? I have read conflicting info on the input shaft needing to be shorter.

Please post update vids here!

 

So the Jeep bell housing has a ball-stud for one end of the clutch fork- really more like a big bone. The other end sits on the slave cylinder.
With the NW Fab kit their is an adapter that shifts the engine rearward. Their is a clear passage through the centre so the little extra length is not a problem.

 

How does the shape of the oil pan look as to clearance of the diff?

 

TBD. I may have to drop the diff. I have

i may have to drop the Diff a tad. TBD

 

If you're up to the task of doing a TDI swap, then dropping the diff shouldn't be very difficult for you, at least in my opinion.

 

Any updates on how this project went?

 

I have been watching the view counter on utube continue to climb so others are interested in the outcome. I would like to see how the power steering and AC connections came together.