TDI Ranger Build

dangerranger83 · Aug 28, 2014

Everybody would love to get 40mpg.

The oil companies don't want them to however.

sbsrlewis · Aug 28, 2014

Love the build. Next Christmas when my daughter graduates college I'm buying her a new VW TDI! Oh and I assume ownership of her 2002 TDI!! Win win for both of us.

I love how the idiots in Washington keep mandating high fuel mileage out of new vehicles and then wonder why the roads are falling apart! If everyone is buying less fuel then less taxes gathered at the pump. A couple months ago FOURWHEELER or 4Wheel Off-road had an old article about the Chevy Blazer with 6.2 (I believe) that got almost 30 MPG! And that's not a light truck.

Steve

bobbywalter · Sep 12, 2014

so on a head to head with a 4.0.......hows it shake out??

silverback · Sep 26, 2014

super great info. i am behind the learning curve. i recently thought of this type of conversion and very interested in doing one. i am new to diesel engines but this is the type of performance i would like to achive. what was total cost of conversion?

still i just got a line on a 86/87 ranger diesel rebuild. what would it take to drop that in a current 2000 ish ranger?

greengeeker · Oct 4, 2014

bobbywalter said:
so on a head to head with a 4.0.......hows it shake out??

Hey bobby. I ended up trading off my b4000 for a tdi jetta with popped turbo plus cash before I was able to do a good head to head. I need to hook up with a local TRS member to see if they'd be interested. Heck, I was trying to find someone for my last dyno session to get baseline 2.5L whp numbers - offer still stands if anyone is interested: free dyno pull for your STOCK 2.5L, manual Ranger. :icon_thumby:

greengeeker · Oct 4, 2014

silverback said:
super great info. i am behind the learning curve. i recently thought of this type of conversion and very interested in doing one. i am new to diesel engines but this is the type of performance i would like to achive. what was total cost of conversion?

still i just got a line on a 86/87 ranger diesel rebuild. what would it take to drop that in a current 2000 ish ranger?

Cost REALLY depends on what condition your donor is in, how complete it is and how much you are able to recoup when you sell parts. Cheapest way is to get a wrecked 5spd TDI, pull the dressed engine and all wiring for your swap while pulling all the part necessary to swap the 5spd into an auto car which you can sell as a kit for ~$1500.

I'm not really sure how much effort it would take to drop in the older idi diesel into a newer Ranger. If comparing it to the TDI swap: mechanical would probably be similar in that you'd need to rework the driveshaft and mounts but the wiring would be MUCH easier as it is a mechanical engine...so no different wiring-wise than if you were to swap in a carb'd gas engine.

Jfive · Oct 20, 2014

Are you still going to sell the adapter plate? I am interested in one! Glad to see your still around.

greengeeker · Oct 20, 2014

Jfive said:
Are you still going to sell the adapter plate? I am interested in one! Glad to see your still around.

Yessir. Got my local supplier all setup. Now just waiting to move to our new place before I can get going on stocking some inventory.

Exenos · Oct 23, 2014

greengeeker said:
Yessir. Got my local supplier all setup. Now just waiting to move to our new place before I can get going on stocking some inventory.

Keep us updated on the availability, as long as it wont cost a fortune to ship to Canada I will most likely be buying one.

Jfive · Nov 8, 2014

I'll set money aside just for this! I am always keeping my eye out for a good deal on a jetta, golf, or bug.

greengeeker · Jan 12, 2015

Pictoral update

Jeeprider · Jan 12, 2015

Glad to see the trucks been working well for you!! :beer:

Is there an ETA for the adapter plates yet??? I'm also interested in one along with the many others out there.

greengeeker · Jan 25, 2015

Gauge install

Well I finally took the time to install my McNally pyrometer/boost gauge.

First thing I did was to swap out the thermocouple that came with the guages for a MCA setup. You can see how much longer the probe is with the MCA which will provide much more accurate temps in the center of the manifold.

I really dislike mounting the boost sensor right on the manifold or charge air piping so I decided to remotely mount the sensor on the firewall and run tubing. I also don't really care for the hard plastic tubing running everywhere so I slide it into some spare vacuum hose I had sitting around.

Here's everything mounted up in the engine bay.

How the gauge looks in the truck

And since I forgot to post pictures of my cruise control stalk install. Seems to work pretty well for me. Haven't hit it once with my knee and have very good access to it. I'll call that a win.

greengeeker · Jan 29, 2015

100% towing tank

I've now put on an entire tank of fuel where I was always towing something heavy and/or had terrible aerodynamics (flat front trailer).

Trips on this tank:

Two trips towing the scissor lift
Four trips using same trailer hauling stuff: building materials and then misc household items (helped someone move some stuff out of their house)
Two trips hauling dolly empty
One trip hauling Eurovan
One trip hauling mk4 Golf

Mileage: 28mpg

I should also note that while towing I was pushing the truck trying to test out my pyrometer. With the EV in tow I was able to rev out to redline (at WOT) through 3rd gear before I was starting to run into EGT issues. I think under these circumstances it hit 1500F (limit on this turbo is 1650). Cruising down the interstate doing 65 I would also hit 1500F after a long grade climb.

alwaysFlOoReD · Jan 29, 2015

Impressive numbers. Great build!

TDI Ranger Build

5.0 HO under the hood!!!

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