Jeep Grand Cherokee + Cummins (3.9L) ISBe + Allison 1000-Series = :)

[Sled Puller]

Absolutely, you can turn them to about 250 HP. That should be sufficient.

No idea on cost.

 

[KBennett]

Jeff Garmon just put a 6BT in a 1500 so a 4BT should be easier:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153381

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I've been in contact with that guy up in Canada that did the Jeep Grand Cherokee/Isuzu diesel swap. He's getting darn near 30mpg with it.



I made some progress over the weekend (after being away from the project for over a week :{ ). I got the engine slapped into the Jeep's engine bay. First response: 'Wow - it's gonna be tight. '



I'll snag a few pictures when I can. I may have to run a suspension lift to make room in there. I haven't even fired up the Sawzall yet, though. That transmission tunnel/firewall is going to need a massage. :-laf



I took a few pictures to illustrate very technical concept known as "relative parts beefiness" between the OEM Chrysler 42RE and the Allison LCT-1000...



Matt

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Here are a few pics featuring the engine's bottom end...

Check out the heat treated crank and OEM 'mini' girdle - nifty.

There's also some fancy machine work on the crank flyweights...



Matt

 

[nickleinonen]

Here's a (crappy) shot of the engine data plate... I can get a better shot if you need it.



Matt

that isb170 has the same fuel rate as my isb305... 114mm³/stroke...

 

[HoleshotHolset]

that isb170 has the same fuel rate as my isb305... 114mm³/stroke...

Nice! I'm feeding two less cylinders, though. This is a pretty healthy little 4-banger in OEM form, I can't wait to crank it up.



I've been busy with the 'new' TDI and getting rid of a gasser minivan. I can't wait to get back on track with the Jeep... Sawzall in hand. :-laf



Matt

 

[Neotech]

love the swap info and pics... great!!



i am doing the 8 valve 4bt with the allison and have to say it would be rel nice to start with the 170 hp motor... i have the 120 hp 4bta and its goin in a 66 ford f250. .

my current problem is getting a transfercase to mate to the allison 1000 i got a duramax allison from a chev and the 4bt from a grumman van . if the output is a 34 spline unit then you may be able to get it machined down to a mor reasonable spline and re heat treated thats where i am goin with mine ... if i can get a ford 31 spline major diaMETER TO FIT UNDER THE ROOT DIAMETER OF THE 29 SPLINE i am in the money i have a np205 and a gear vendors so 10 forward gears and double overdrive if i am forced to get another transfer case i will pick up crawl ratio and spend big bucks with gear vendors... for an adaptor.



i will be excited when i find out how you beat the transfercase problem!!



will watch close

 

[HoleshotHolset]

The 2wd Allison output shaft is 34-spline. The 4wd Allison output shaft is 29-spline. The Dodge NP-241D from a manual transmission truck is 29-spline - so this is the one to get.



I'm probably going to end up running it 2wd for quite a while and then haul the Allison out to swap in the 4wd output shaft and a transfer case of some kind.



Matt

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Here are some new pics I took the other night...



The interior was partially gutted since I believe I will have to make some firewall 'modifications' to make things fit the way I want. :-laf The carpeting was well worn after 180k+ miles... no big loss there.



Matt

 

[Neotech]

241 a driver drop???



also for your 34 spline you plan to just chang to different shaft and adaptor later .



you dont have much wheel base. .

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Yeah - all of the '94-present Dodges have a driver's side front shaft output.



The wheelbase isn't a biggie - the output yoke of the transmission ended up pretty much right where the old 42RE chilled out in OEM form. BUT - after looking at things closer with the transmission mocked up - there isn't room for a front driveshaft - the transmission is too wide. :-laf (Unless I lift the thing ~12" and that's not going to happen - horrible driveline angles and bad street manners... )



So - it looks like this project vehicle will stay rear wheel drive... no biggie. I'll have my 4x4 '94 Dodge/Cummins if I need it... I think I used 4x4 3 times this winter.



I took some new pictures last night... I'll try to get 'em up tonight/tomorrow.



Matt

 

[Neotech]

you could clock the t case and lift it!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ilovetrains]

you could clock the t case and lift it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clock it and with about 8 inches lift, it would work. We just lifted a ZJ 5. 5 (the RE kit, so more like 6. 5-7 inches actual lift) and it will still only clear 33's, and maybe have to do some trimming. I could see a custom long arm kit, 12 inches and 35's. With the long arms you would retain a very good ride, but the COG would be awful high.



Of course there are 2WD ZJ's out there anyway. The only bad thing about going 2WD for now is you waste the driveshaft if you chnage it later.



Awesome project BTW. My brother in law want's to do one.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I'm trying like heck to keep this thing close to stock ride height and make it a comfy highway cruiser... lifting it is a necessity, I just hope I don't have to go too high.



I got the transmission in place the other night... I jacked up the ZJ by the axles as high as my floor jack would go and put it on jack stands. The Allison with the OEM mega-deep pan is ~21" high from the pan's bottom to the top of the bellhousing. I couldn't slide the thing under the Jeep with it all jacked up. So, I had to put it in through the engine compartment with the cherry picker and rest it on the transmission jack waiting underneath. The pictures don't capture how it might be really tough to get a front driveshaft in there... suffice to say that the Allison is freakin huge (WIDE!) compared to the 42RE automatic. :-laf



The transmission has a bit of room to spare and it's current placement will make the engine's valve cover clear the cowl and line up the engine mounts just beside the PCM and beside/beneath the brake booster. So far, so good!



This is my first drivetrain swap... go easy on me.



Matt

 

[Sled Puller]

I'll be blunt, I think you are an idiot, well thats too harsh, how about a dreamer, to put that transmission in there. `````````````````````````````````````````````````



That said, don't count out a hydraulic motor to turn the front axle. You could set it up with a varibale on the go pedal.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I'll be blunt, I think you are an idiot, well thats too harsh, how about a dreamer, to put that transmission in there. That said, don't count out a hydraulic motor to turn the front axle. You could set it up with a varibale on the go pedal.

If you think that's bad - wait until I post a picture of the engine sitting in the bay. HA! It's pretty funny. Cutting the hood will be completely necessary. :-laf



I'd rather live my life attempting the impossible than sit idly dreaming about it. I know what you mean, though...



I'm gonna set it up like an old Letourneau earth mover - DC electric drive!



Matt

(On edit: corrected spelling error... )

 

[Matt S]

What about one of those extreme angle front drive shafts?

 

[HoleshotHolset]

What about one of those extreme angle front drive shafts?

Unlike our trucks - both OEM shafts in the Jeep are dang near the same length. If I jack it to the sky... my driveline angles would be really goofy due to the short wheelbase. So, I'd need two of them extreme shafts... aren't they like $600 each?



If I can't get the engine into where it 'should' be, I'm putting it in the cargo area and making it rear engine/front-wheel-drive; or I'm going to get a v-drive (or t-case) and make it rear engine/rear-wheel-drive. For what I paid for the Jeep... I can take pretty drastic measures and not feel bad at all about it. :-laf



Matt

 

[foxracer1]

So is that isb 3. 9 a 16 valve? Very interesting swap. keep it up!

 

[DKarvwnaris]

I'll be blunt, I think you are an idiot, well thats too harsh, how about a dreamer, to put that transmission in there. `````````````````````````````````````````````````



.

Wow, you're a straight to point kind of guy, no sugar and spice needed huh?... .

With some moderate sheetmetal work to the transmission tunnel, that transmission will get up to the elevation needed without much issue inside. The seats in the Cherokees have always been akwardly low to me, if the floor pan was elevated a few inches or even just the tunnel area and elevated/modified seat brackets, the drivetrain will go into place without alot of difficulty.

I have modified samurai's to swallow a buick/ S-10 V-6 Engine without alot of headache, it required firewall mod's and floorpan sectioning, but its really not that hard if you just cut enough out to get the transmission mounts and engine into place. Then you can go back and refit the opening with gradual sections of material to get it filled in close to stock again, only wider and higher.

Anybody as determined as Hole Shot is proving to be with this has the worst part already covered.

I am wondering if a 1. 9 VW turbo'ed engine might have been a slightly more adaptable candidate though?... ... ACME makes a kit that accepts toyota transmission's.