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Old 09-09-2009, 03:29 PM   #7 (permalink)
solarguy
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: up north
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With your requirements, and if you must have 4 wheel drive, the 12 valve dodge/cummins is going to be your best bet. I have/drive a 96 dodge in 2wd. Love the engine, put up with the body.

I prefer biodiesel to burning the straight veggie oil for two reasons. First, here in Michigan, it gets cold for a big part of the year. Running an SVO conversion in cold weather is like pushing string up hill. Second, I'm not totally convinced SVO is going to give me the spectacular engine life these engines are capable of.

Now, if you could give up 4x4 and just have a winch for the really sticky spots, we could have a whole other conversation about suitable power plants/drive trains.

The newer cummins engines really upped the horsepower, but at the expense of fuel economy and simplicity.

HTH,

troy
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2004 VW TDI PD on bio

want to build 150 mpg diesel streamliner.
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