legalities of diesel conversions.

[Cumminpwr11]

I live in ca. My dad and I were kicking around the idea of repowering their 2000 jeep wrangler with a small four banger diesel. Not really sure what one yet, we are still looking.



If a vehicle starts off as a gas, the is converted to diesel, how do you liciense it?



gas motors have to be smogged every two years. If you don't smog, you don't get tags.



I know that diesels do not get smogged, but if the vehicle is licensed as a gas, then you are in a pickle.



DMV has been no help as of yet. Thanks for all the help.





Chris

 

[EarlKann]

As I understand it, once your conversion is done you will have to go to a state smog referee. They will verify the vehicle and issue you an exemption of some sort.



Look for Thierry to add more about this. He has already completed his Ramcharger conversion here in Ca.

 

[Canadian Cummins]

Wrangler Diesel

I originaly come from New Zealand and was checking Jeeps in NZ a couple of weeks ago and found that DC are putting Merzedes diesels in the Wrangler (called Cherokee down under & the cherokee here, is called a grand cherokee there)

Anyway chack out this url.

http://www.jeep.co.nz/jeep/showroom/cherokee/index.html

Its a 2. 8 Liter 4 banger Common rail turbo diesel with about 130 HP & 250 FTLBs

So you could get parts from MB. ??$$$$$

The grand cheroke has the 5 cylinder MB turbo diesel that is the same as in the Dodge, Sprinter (a rebadged MB brought over from Europe)

Have Fun

CC

 

[EarlKann]

That Cherokee is the Liberty in the US. They are supposed to be available here with the CRD soon, but not in California



I tried a search for "diesel wrangler" and "4bt wranger" but didn't come up with any really good info. It has been done though, and I remember seeing pics where it looked really slick.

 

[Canadian Cummins]

Diesel Jeeps

If you search the internet down under (just put .co. nz or .co. au, where one would use .com in north america) and you would be supprised at what you can find.

The big japanese companies, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Hino and a few others have had some good 4cly diesels around the 2 liter size for the past 20 years so there are a few in the wrecking yards.

Toyota has 4. 5 6cly that is availible in North America disgised as a Yanmar marine diesel, 300 hp turbo in the Landcruiser its rated at about 220 hp

Lot of luck.

CC

 

[btanner]

has to be of equal or newer year. Can't be older than the truck because the engine has to meet emissions for the year that it is built. California is a whole different story I deon't know about the CARB rules but in virginia and texas all you have to do is use an engine the same year or newer than the car that you are putting it in. Best of luck



-ben

 

[BV]

Before my conversion I asked DMV the "what if I convert a gasser to diesel" question and they responded with - No problem if you get the title changed to show it uses diesel fuel now. Oregon does not smog any personal diesel rig with a GVWR over 8500 so that may be the reason in my case. Not sure how it would effect a smaller rig.



I thought it was a Federal Law that you must replace an engine with the same year or newer but only for mid 80 vehicles and up. Might check with CARB

 

[WM-300]

No problem here in NY. I did a conversion on my 1943 Dodge Carryall. It got a Cummins 4BTA. When I filled out the registration info, I checked type of fuel 'diesel', that was it. My registration shows diesel. No questions, no arguement, simple. And prior to the conversion it was registered as a gasser.



WM-300

 

[Grey Wolf]

I converted my '68 El Camino to a 6-33 Nissan Diesel in 1978. Like it was said before, I first went to a referee then I went to the DMV and the counter person came out to the vehicle to look at it. After all that the MP was changed to Diesel and that was it

 

[brkoyle]

I recently talked to a smog referee and this is what he told me. The problem that you will run into in California is that the engine that you use must be at least one model year newer than the vehicle that you are putting it into. You also must use a engine that is certified for use in a passenger car if you are using a car/ small SUV, not a light duty vehicle. While the 4BT was used in Frito Lay trucks, California government does not allow you to use this engine in any passenger vehicle. It is okay to use it in a light truck application. Again, just what the referee told me about 10 months ago.



The referee station is located in San Bernardino. You might go there and ask some questions, as it is local to you.