Jeep Guy Needing some advice.

[TRfWJ]

First of all, let me say that I'm still very pleased with the Jeep as far as everyday utility, practicality, and drivability; not to mention great capability offroad. It's never let me down and does everything I ask it to. HOWEVER, the gas mileage is KILLING ME!! What I'd love to do is to swap the thirsty 4.7L V-8 for an Isuzu 4jb1T (4-cyl. diesel from the NPR Box trucks) with a Jeep AX-15 man. tranny. keeping my quadradrive Tcase. I've never done a swap of this magnitude, but I'm up for the challenge and I have the resources and knowledgeable friends at my disposal.
Does anyone have any thoughts about a better swap, where best to get the engine, tranny, driveshafts, etc.
I've seen this swap done on a ZJ before with a result of 35 mpg and sufficient power. He swapped it in for a 4.0L w/ 3.55 gears and 31" tires. I have 33" tires and 3.73's so it should be fairly comparable. This would be a monster job; getting rid of all computers/electronics, major fabrication, converting from Automatic Transmission to Manual(installing clutch pedal, cyl., cable,...), new driveshafts, possibly new front springs, and so on. I'll post the link below, but for some reason it's not working. Hopefully it will in the future.
http://www.canev.com/Jeep.html
I love the jeep and have a lot of time/$$$ invested to just toss it. I've considered buying a dual sport KLR 650, or getting a smal compact as a gas-saver, but I see a swap being a better solution for my lifestyle; one vehicle for everything as a frequently moving student who still wants to be able to travel and wheel thus less insurance/taxes, greater practicality and general usability. I considered doing a Cummins 4bt first, but it's too tall and too heavy. The Isuzu also gives better MPG's.
Thoughts, suggestions, contacts, free engines/transmissions??? Thanks all for any help. It's greatly appreciated.

 

[dbenke]

As a fellow jeeper, I understand your need to improve your milage, but I'm not sure that what you're trying to do is going to be worth it. The mileage would be nice, but by the time you change everything around, you're looking at alot of $$$. You also need to check on emmissions testing where you are (or plan to be) as the diesel probably wont pass. I'm not trying to be negative, just real. I think I would gothe cheep small car route.
Also you would be without the Jeep for a good while swapping things out. Just another thing to think about. Hope to see you wheeling again soon
David

 

[89s rule]

Not worth the $ and your j**p is too new for something like that. If you have to do it buy a older j**p and do the swap. Work on a spread sheet and figure up all of your costs and the add 50% you shoudl be close to the cost then figure up ho wmuch gas you could buy and how long it would take you to make that $ back.

Drives me nuts to hear people talking about swaps and stuff to save $ on gas when in the long run you wont keep it long enough to even break even, much less save $.
Guy here at Erskine had his engine diee as in non repairable in his WJ, the V8 with just over 100K miles. Now hes really in the hole on it.
Whatever you decide good luck, but you definately wont get your $ back and will prob have a much harder time when it comes time to get rid of it.

 

[BillWright]

Ditto what they both said. Small compact or better yet the KLR for DD, keep the j**p for wheeling, dating, trips.
What were you going to drive while you did this extravagant swap? It's an exciting project, but projects are for hobbies, not for your DD. It's like trying to live in a one room house while you renovate it, plus you can't go anywhere.
"One vehicle for everything" is the root fallacy. Compromise never satisfies. That's why most of us accumulate fleets eventually.
The Cherokee is getting good, don't screw it up. Keep it a good luxo-wheeler and get a Vespa or an old Civic 4cyl for school. Do some math before you start spending the $$$$s. Then use your balance sheets for a school project some day.
I'll bet the money you would spend castrating the j**p would pay for a scooter or mini-car and the gas money you'd save would buy the other. And you'd still have the Cherokee the way it's supposed to be.

Since I put the Swampers on Bonnie I only use her for wheeling, drive the old 4cyl fox 'stang ragtop for commuting. This weekend I'll put the Dunlops back on the FJC for a beach trip then Bonnaroo in June and whatever until the next wheeling trip, then back to the Swampers. Mundane (albeit a convertible) for the daily world, exotic for play.
b

 

[Carp]

I agree, because this is what I did. Sold my V8 pickup and bought a 99 saturn (35-38 mpg for $2500) and then bought the Cruiser. A KLR would probably get better and that would be easy to move when you move (I think they even have trailer hitch platforms for motorcycles). Plus, while it's cool to read about all of these projects, for every 1 project you read about, how many are stuck in the garage?

Good luck either way...

 

[TRfWJ]

Thanks for all the incite and advice everyone!!! I've done the spreadsheet including cost of engine, tranny, selling price of my engine/$500 worth of tools, misc. parts and whatever else plus some. I do think that it would pay itself off and I plan on keeping the jeep for a long time. It just sucks so bad to not be able to have what used to be a relatively cheap wkend simply b/c of gas prices. A trip to Cullowhee is now $80 JUST IN GAS and soon will be $100. I think that the small compact may be a better idea in the long run. I do have the family work truck to drive for now and I've been driving it all summer anyway. I guess I just need to find something else. K.I.S.S., right. Thanks again for all the help everyone!

 

[boombapslappy]

Yeah, I totally HATE the Gallant, but damn if it don't get good mpg...and it's been paid for for five years. I figure I'll keep it.