Author Topic: 1.6TD into an 80's Ford Ranger (Read 14578 times)

dubCanuck1 · « **on:** September 19, 2006, 01:45:17 pm »

Hi all,

I have a buddy who came over to shoot the breeze and was impressed with my diesel collection. He then wondered what kind of work it would take to put a 1.6 or 1.9 VW TD into a Ford Ranger he has sitting at home.

If anyone's got info, please let me know.

Thanks

dubCanuck1 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2006, 01:54:23 pm »

I'm also thinking an Audi, longitudinally mounted engine would do the trick too.

Kudagra · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2006, 10:01:09 pm »

engine shouldnt really matter. Best bet would be to just drop the money on an adapter and bolt it to a trans. I would probably look for a decent t-5 (more adapter options) and have a drive shaft built.

better brush up on those welding skills.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2006, 10:02:38 pm »

What's all involved in an adaptor plate? I want to put a 1.9 TD into a mazda b2200 or b2600

dubCanuck1 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2006, 01:54:43 am »

Quote

better brush up on those welding skills.

In progress.

Piper106 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2006, 09:48:55 am »

Good luck on finding a 'ready made' adapter plate. I've been running down every lead I've seen for the last three years and the only adapters you can buy hook the VW to a Suzuki Samurai trans or the Toyota W and R transmissions. Nothing for any trans Detroit made.

Don't think you could make an adapter to the Mazda trans in a Ranger or Mazda truck, input shaft is recessed too far into the bell housing already.

I building my own adapter to mate the VW diesel to the GM 60 deg V6 style bell housing, and a Borg Warner T5 trans. Looks pretty good so far.

Piper106

burn_your_money · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2006, 10:03:20 am »

Anyone have any pictures of an adaptor plate? It might be easier for me to just make the truck FWD...

Kudagra · « **Reply #7 on:** September 23, 2006, 01:03:34 pm »

actually the mid 80s rangers used either mazda or Mitsu trannys I believe.

Call advanced adapters. Or Kennedy Engeneering.

zooky · « **Reply #8 on:** September 23, 2006, 06:48:27 pm »

2 or 4 wheel drive?
I am swapping a 1.6TD into a 2wd toyota pick up using the toyota automatic transmission. I'm working on motor mounts now. So far its been pretty strait forward. The nice thing about putting these engines in a truck is that there is plenty of room in there

Kudagra · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2006, 07:54:34 pm »

Id eventually like to put a 2.4td in my Jeep but I want to keep the auto transmission (Toyota AW4). But for simplicity I might go to a 5 speed.

Or Ill just find a 4BT Cummins

jtanguay · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2006, 09:44:06 pm »

My mechanic got a perkins 4 cyl diesel engine into a mazda pickup. Everyone who wanted to buy it wanted to know how the heck he did it haha... that thing had mad torque... he sold it for 3500

burn_your_money · « **Reply #11 on:** September 27, 2006, 10:30:56 pm »

Has anyone ever tried making the truck FWD? by using the front of a 4X4 and say a fox transmission, that way there is no adaptor plates needed. Obviously custom axles would be required

LeeG · « **Reply #12 on:** September 28, 2006, 02:24:53 am »

^ Would there be room between the truck framerails to get the VW motor and tranny low enough and far enough forward to line up the axles? The VW frame members are quite wide compared to a truck's.
Would the VW gearing be low enough to get the truck moving?

burn_your_money · « **Reply #13 on:** September 28, 2006, 10:15:07 am »

I dont think you could get a transverse engine in there, which is why the fox tranny would be used as it attatches to a longitudal engine.

Gearing is the next issue that would need to be addressed.

I know I would need custom axles but I'm not sure if they would work as they mount to the tranny pretty far back in the engine bay. I'm thinking there will be issues turning and overstretching the CVs

MacGyver · « **Reply #14 on:** September 28, 2006, 11:42:47 am »

I would think the simplist way to accomplish this would be to find a competent machinist.
Have an adapter plate made to go from the engine to Ford transmission, then you don't have to customize anything else in the driveline.

My dad procured a Mercedes diesel really cheap, and as soon as the fussy bugger locates a truck to his liking, that's what we'll be doing.