Kubota diesel conversions--are these guys trippin?
 

Kubota diesel conversions--are these guys trippin? ive seen a couple threads of guys who stick the 4 cyl utility engines like case uniloaders got in them into --a ford ranger and the chevy s10 pickups hooking them up to their 5 speeds with adaptor plates. They are saying the result is an acceptably fast enough truck that gets 33 on the hwy??? I really douby the fast enough part in a mini truck that weighs this ammount.
We gotta stop taking the engines in the benzes for granted. the kubota v2203 motors got somewhere around 50 hp. weigh arouns 450 lbs and you can add a turbo to one with the right parts for a little extra hp they can be had for $750.00 but the going price is more like$1250 to 1500.
the "unloved" non turbo 5 cyl is around 98 hp and in a swap like this with a 308 rear and a 5 speed could also easily knock down 33mpg on the hwy all day long, t walgamuth does it in a 3500 lb benz cd. Im thinkin a 5 cyl swap wit possibly a 3 cyl kubota 30 hp to be switched in for when they attack iran etc--the oil co's are going to screw us any whick way they can. with the smaller 3 cyl you CAN get close to 60 mpg if you got a light enough little vehicle.

You sure about those figures? I seem to remember my 79 300D non turbo was rated for something like 82bhp and the best I ever calculated was something like 23mpg combined...

I think the 240d 4 cyl is around 72 --there was an up in hp by the end of the non turbo s time -81,, t walgamuth will chime in when he see's this thread. army also knows the knock up on the hp#s in euro terms.

The problem with these kinds of conversions is getting them legal. Having been through the entire process with my OM617 into 380SL I learned a bunch.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/308791-380sl-diesel-conversion-project.html

In California there are 4 criteria.

1) the engine must be from the same or later donor vehicle as the target
2) the engine must be from the same "class" of vehicle (passenger car, light truck, heavy duty truck)
3) all the smog equipment must be present and operational (confirmed by a state inspector)
4) vehicles '75 and earlier are exempt

In addition no non-vehicle engines (i.e. stationary power, industrial, etc.) are allowed.

The only way to use a Kubota would be to do a legal conversion first and get the vehicle re-titled as a diesel then re-do the swap with the non-eligible engine. This would work because diesels are not inspected if they are '99 or earlier.

This is for California only - every state is different. And strangely enough CA is one of the more lenient states for swaps.

Just for the record i'm getting a consistent 29.5mpg for regular driving and this is my daily driver.

most of us dont have to deal with carb. searches have turned up 88 hp for the non turbo motors but i seem to remember Army saying some were more.

Hmmmm, I have a brand new 3 cylinder Kubota in my garage. Let me find a Geo metro with a stick and presto.

Don't you have annual inspections where they do a visual on smog? If not, that's just one more reason to move to Texas!

Back in 1989 the refrigerated container company I worked for had Dole as a Customer. There newest Generator Sets were Kubota powered. By this time it is likely there is a lot of used Engines out there.

The bulk of Doles Generator Sets sets at that time were Mitshibishi Engines but the Mitshibishi Engines seemed physically larger.

If you are going smaller just get a VW Rabbit Engine; it used to be claimed the got 45 mpg.

Only in counties with major cities or their adjacent counties. If you're rural, you're okay. One more reason to move here? Hey, there would have to be one or two little advantages or there'd be no reason for anyone to stay!

How about an average fuel economy of 30 mpg in an SD with a 2.88 rear and an automatic?

This is in mixed driving (85% highway) and the average is solid over 4000 miles and 10 tanks of fuel..............documented?

Why screw around with a non-turbo and a clutch?

Back in the early 80's there was a kit car called the "Urba Centurion" that featured a Kubota diesel engine.

My SD has a turbo motor and a 2.47 rear end. It does 30mpg also... I don't really see why you'd bother with a non turbo either....

what did you lay out for that motor? my L175 is ITCHING for a replacement, and I'm not keen on stickin a two banger back in there...

I had a 1981 VW diesel Rabbit. For the 180,000 miles it ran until my ex wrecked it, it got 42 MPG in city, on the highway, come Hell or high water. That was with a four speed transmission. With a five speed it would have done better.

A friend had a VW diesel pickup that went 700,000 miles without the head coming off for repairs.