diesel
Author
Discussion

jon4648

Original Poster:

161 posts

245 months

Saturday 30th April 2005
quotequote all
I am thinking about fitting a diesel into the jeep I have just bought.
I have a pretty crappy Freight Rover with a 2 litre 'O' series diesel.
I also have a Transit DI and box but think this may be a major job to fit.
I understand a number of people have opted for the Sierra diesel. How much work is involved in fitting this engine or is it almost as straightforward as fitting a Pinto engine except for the heater plug circuit and fuel pickup.

techsec

633 posts

286 months

Saturday 30th April 2005
quotequote all
If required I can supply you with the info regards fitting the 2.3 diesel from the Sierra as I have done two such conversions to date.
It is quite straight forward, but does require some fabrication work.

How many badgers will tell you what the set up is like.

swizz...club sec

218 posts

251 months

Sunday 1st May 2005
quotequote all
Although i've never seen it done - later Sherpas had the 1.9 peugeot/citroen diesel engine. There must be loads in the scrapyards.
I can vouch for the engines quality - theres one in my ZX thats towed a caravan from Manchester to Devon & back. A pal of mine has such a Sherpa (he calls it an LDV & won't admit its a sherpa - Snobby git!), and says 40-50mpg and pretty good performance is the order of the day.
One of them with the 5 speed gearbox that comes attached sounds a better bet than the 2.3 - probably a lot lighter.
Good Luck,
Swizz...

jon4648

Original Poster:

161 posts

245 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2005
quotequote all
Thanks for the promises of help with info.
I picked up my Geep on Sunday in Brighton, it was running like a bag of nails - missing, spluttering and farting with no power going up hill.

Partial Brake failure on M27 - brake pumps up - M27 services have to chisel cap off M/C it was seized on. Teaspoon of gungy fluid - refill cylinder brakes OK - now have to get new cap as outer part is scrap ally.

Compression seems very low - can hardly feel the engine going over tdc.
Checked and reset timing at services on M27 - no improvement. Want to get back to Cornwall so push on at best speed. A30 Okehampton cut out. Phone RAC to get me home - fuel pump packed up.

Today - post arrive JOC membership card. This inspires me to go to my parts emporium and splash out on a new pump. I skin my knuckles fitting the new fuel pump - engine runs - disheateningly it still a bag of nails, spluttering etc. Decide to check the plugs, although they look new. Where is the gap - I had to hold them up to the sun to find a ciggy paper thickness of gap. Reset gap and the engine is running sweet as a nut.

Checked oil in back axle fine, check gearbox oil it takes one litre!

As she is not burning oil I presume the valves are burnt out due to unleaded.

Now I think I shall look for a 2.3 Sierra lump - then I do not have to find out how to fit the engine on a suck it and see principle.

So yes Tech Sec I would like your detailed instructions on fitting a 2.3 Sierra diesel.

Finally anyone got a spare M/C Cap?

jon

drseg

494 posts

255 months

Wednesday 4th May 2005
quotequote all
i presume its a crossflow engine
if plugs were set that badly it makes me wonder if they have also tightened valve clearances to quieten valve gear as crossflows usually rattle a bit - might be worth a check from memory 10 thou inlet 12 thou exhaust - easier than fitting a diesel anyway
good luck

jon4648

Original Poster:

161 posts

245 months

Wednesday 4th May 2005
quotequote all
Good idea drseg - I will check that - however as jeep is intended to be No1 mode of transport and considering the difficulty in finding LRP petrol I think a diesel or late model Sierra petrol lump is the longterm answer.

jon

techsec

633 posts

286 months

Thursday 5th May 2005
quotequote all
If you find the current engine runs fine after a bit of TLC just have you cylinder head converted to run unleaded. Thats what we have done.

jon4648

Original Poster:

161 posts

245 months

Monday 9th May 2005
quotequote all
you may have seen my posting on another thread, the 1600 Xflow turns out to be a 1300. Me thinks this is a tad too small. It is over 300 miles to Newark, and although my trailer tent thingy is small and light, it is I think a bit much for a 1300 in a vehicle with the aerodynamics of a brick.

Probably OK on the way up - odds are there will be a following wind - but coming back into a headwind?

So now I have to look for a new engine in a hurry. If I retain the Xflow gearbox, and bolt a Pinto or Sierra engine on does the gearbox have to move - do I have to get the propshaft cut or is it straightforward engine in modify engine mounts?

jon

techsec

633 posts

286 months

Monday 9th May 2005
quotequote all
Check out the Xflow to OHC page on www.joctechnical.org.uk to see what is involved in changing from a cross flow to pinto.
Also if you switch to a 5 speed box you will need to cut back the gearbox mount plates on the chassis. The length of the propshaft will most likely be shorter as well (unless you are lucky enough to drop on the modified length 5 speed rather than the more common one which is slightly longer).
Usually when switching to a pinto even the 4 speed box the propshaft front (the bit that slides into the extension tube at the back of the gearbox) is larger so you will need to have the shaft modified.

Geoffrey is currently running on a 1300 xflow and is towing a trailer well (still not got the time to put the 1600 back in).

jon4648

Original Poster:

161 posts

245 months

Monday 9th May 2005
quotequote all
Techsec,

While I am weighing up the pros and cons of which engine to fit, could you mail me the fitting instructions for putting in a Sierra 2.3 litre unit as these are becoming increasingly cheaper.

Also what is the MOT emmissions regs on a diesel fitted in a 'Q' reg kit car.

Although I have to work out in the open I do have access to an engine crane and half decent workshop facilities.

Wiring is not a problem as at one time I worked as an auto spark.

jon

driftwood

531 posts

252 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
quotequote all
Still see you saturday Jon? You'll have to call in now if you've been a sparky just to have a laugh at some of my Jeeps wiring lol ! (and no...that's not a hint!) welcome to the wonderful world of kit cars mate, I'll get the paracetemol out.
Cheers......Gerry

drseg

494 posts

255 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
quotequote all
even a 1300 in a geep is ok its half the weight of an escort aerodynamics to have an effect but not till you hit 50ish - if it runs ok it'll get to newark and back bit of lead substitute in tank
and with 1300 you get cheap tax

techsec

633 posts

286 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
quotequote all
Hi

Will get the stuff sorted and sent re the diesel conversion when I get chance.

Cheers

Techsec

drseg

494 posts

255 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
quotequote all
this gives full i.d. of crossflow blocks
www.lotus-cortina.com/library/block/blocks.htm
but mk II 1,3/1,1 litre 711M-6015-A-A
1,6 Litre 711M-6015-B-A
hope that helps

jon4648

Original Poster:

161 posts

245 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
quotequote all
techsec,

I really appreciate that.

jon

techsec

633 posts

286 months

Monday 16th May 2005
quotequote all
Hi jon4648

Sorry for the delay in getting the diesel conversion stuff to you.
Currently working from 9am to 9pm so not much time to get anything done here.
Had a look at the disc I had the info on tonight in the hope of getting it to you and sods law the disc is corrupted.

Will have to redo it all and take photos of the one I last converted so I can get the info to you.

Sorry.

Tech Sec

jon4648

Original Poster:

161 posts

245 months

Tuesday 17th May 2005
quotequote all
I appreciate that - the 1300 is definitely on its last legs, I suspect valves have been abused with unleaded petrol. There is absolutely no discernable compression.

Today I rang our large off-the-shelf breakers looking for a 1600 Xflow or a Pinto - they had nothing earlier than 1989 - and Cornwall is noted for the oldest cars in the country.

So without a small miracle - getting hit on the head by a 1600 Xflow falling from the sky - I have to opt for a fairly radical re-engine project.

jon

drseg

494 posts

255 months

Wednesday 18th May 2005
quotequote all
pop the head off - it will make it lighter to lift out anyway and have a look at the head maybe take some pictures too if it has been unleadedly abused may be of use to other x flow users.
'89 sierra's had pintos didnt they?
will only probably be 1.6 or 1.8 as 2.0 are getting worth money to stox boys but sierra pintos are all unleaded as far as i know
i wonder if anyone has ever used the spanish fwd 1.3 crosflow in rwd format?
its unlesded will be cheap early hcs engines has a twin choke webber and were quite adequate in a mk 3 escort obviouslt x flow based but how compatible i wonder?
they definately have a different head - 4 port exhaust so custom manifold would be reqd - are they cheap enough to be worth it?

techsec

633 posts

286 months

Wednesday 18th May 2005
quotequote all
Just to add to the possibles regards replacement engines some of the Fiestas (can't recall the registration of the one we had in to recommission the LPG system after it had some crash damage repaired but it is one of the newer shapes) have got what is basically an updated crossflow unit.
Not only are the heads set up for unleaded but they are fuel injected and still have the original mounting points on the main block for them to be fitted in line. So worth checking out as a complete unit but also in theory should mean a possible source of parts such as heads should still be available.

jon4648

Original Poster:

161 posts

245 months

Wednesday 18th May 2005
quotequote all
THANK YOU FOR THAT MAIL you have jogged my memory!
I don't know about the FWD Escort petrol engine, but a few years ago a guy down here put an fwd Escort Diesel into his Mk2 Escort van - he worked in a scrap yard and I know the conversion involved something to do with some Marina clutch parts - as I recall it he said he used the thrust bearing from the Marina. Thinkingabout it it could not be any other part.

jon