diesel mustang--how would you make one?

[Johnny Mullet]

The old diesel Ranger engines are very hard to find. They only made that option for less than 2 years if I remember correctly back in the early 1980's. A friend of mine found one, dumped a couple grand in restoring/repairing the thing and runs bio-diesel in it now. He is claiming 37 MPG.

[trikkonceptz]

Hell if you want to frankenstein a Mustang anyhow ... find yourself a toyota 21R 4cyl, which is the forklift 22r propane powered engine. The engine is dam near bullet proof and you can kiss the whole gas/diesel debate goodbye.

Because of this small size and light weight it may be easier to fabricate mounts and many toyota tranny's will match up to it, virtually giving you a ton of gearing options ...

You then can fuel you car, get home, and cook dinner all with the same tank ... now that's efficiency .. LOL

[elmor001]

yeah this swap is starting to sound more difficult for my skill set and time constraints. I think I'll just stick with a gas engine. I wish ford still sold small, rwd, diesel trucks here. They do everywhere else, and that would make a diesel swap much easier.

Oh and by the way, I live in Alabama so I don't think there are that many laws against the engine swap here, although I haven't checked.

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by elmor001

I wish ford still sold small, rwd, diesel trucks here. They do everywhere else, and that would make a diesel swap much easier.

They do in Brasil. So long as you can get mounts for your Mustang, I imagine the swap would cost a grand or few depending on whether or not you actually went down a picked up a wreck or had an importer do it for you.

[Ryland]

Originally Posted by elmor001

yeah this swap is starting to sound more difficult for my skill set and time constraints.

You didn't say you wanted it quick or easy, I was wondering why you want to do this with a mustang? do you already have one with a bad engine?

[elmor001]

Originally Posted by Ryland

You didn't say you wanted it quick or easy, I was wondering why you want to do this with a mustang? do you already have one with a bad engine?

No, I want to do this to a mustang because I think they look good. I just refuse to believe you have to have an ugly car to get above 30mpg.

[elmor001]

I am kind of interested in the propane now. I never really thought of that. How is a toyota 21r different from a 22r. I can't find any 21r's on ebay but there are a bunch of 22r's

[Big Dave]

Propane has 75% the heat content of RUG. Ifg you can get propane for less than 75% the price of RUG, go for it. If not, it is nothing but overly expensive fuel.

[elmor001]

would turbo charging a v6 mustang increase its efficiency if driven conservatively?

[Bror Jace]

Diesel for a car? I'd start looking at a Mercedes. There are LOTS of them around ... and often the bodies rot away from a perfectly good drivetrain.

I knew a guy that loved Land Rovers but hated their drivetrain ... so he put a Mercedes 4-cyl diesel in his old Landrover. He drives it all over the country.

The guy lives in Connecticut and you might be able to find him on the Guns 'N Rovers bulletin board:

http://gunsandrovers.yuku.com/

It won't be much for acceleration, but you should be able to cruise economically if you really love the looks, etc ... of your mustang.