60Patrol

Hi guys,
So the last thought is a Volkswagen TDI. It looks like this is a pretty popular swap in the jeep community and there is a fair amount of vendor support. While not as good as the 2.8 crate motor on the surface, this might be the one given how many conversions are out there right now. To me it would be preferable to the 4BT because it's several hundred pounds lighter and it is a more modern design (which is proven). I'm not an electrical whiz by any stretch of the imagination, but it looks like the Engine Control Unit can be made to stand alone, without any assistance from other vehicle systems. That would be a big plus. I think I'd have to replace the throttle pedal and the gauges if I went this route. After thinking about this quite a bit, I think I'd also prefer to stick with the Patrol engine/transfer case and axles. Nothing to say I couldn't swap those out later.

I would need a transmission adapter plate to mate up the TDI to the Patrol's 3 speed. I don't now how difficult it is to manufacture these. There are a few outfits that have these already available for Jeep applications. I reached out to a few of them - One is Fast Forward Automotive https://www.fastforward.ca/home . They think they can make the transmission adapter as they have done one to a Nissan 2.4 bell housing, which apparently is similar to the Patrol's; however, to know for sure, they would need to know the crank pattern and crank offset of the Patrol's motor. Can anyone help with this info?

Thanks.
Don.

Hi guys,
so, I'm going to be proceeding with the VW TDI engine swap for the Minion Missile. I really want to keep the factory G60 transmission, transfer case and axles. The hardest part of this is going to be the transmission adapter. I found a place in British Colombia who can do it and is willing to - its a long way away from Connecticut though. Northwest Fab Works in British Colombia (close to Vancouver) makes some pretty incredible billeted aluminum adapters for these VW TDI engines. In order to do it, they'll need an engine, a bell housing and a flywheel. I have all of these things in my garage, left overs from the 67 chassis that I dismantled a few years back. So, I think the next project is building a crate to get these to Canada. Stay tuned for more developments.

Hello Forum.
Well, it's been over a year and honestly, I had pretty much given up on this happening. I did call Northwest Fab Works up last week and they actually had good news for me. the G60 Transmission adapter was actually being worked on by one of their engineers. The drawings will be finalized this week and sent to their manufacturing department. If they have the materials in stock, I could have a TDI adapter plate in a about a month or so! I could get it sooner, but without the nitriding treatment. I figure I've waited this long, I can wait another month to have this part go through the hardening process.

About a year ago, I did purchase a TDI ALH. The guy I purchased it from was going to do the installation for me, but has since had some health issues. So now I'm on the hunt for someone who can do this swap for me. It's a long shot, but does anyone have any ideas or recommendations?

Hi mad4hws

This engine swap sounds exciting. I have always like the VW TDI having has several cars with such engines.

Can you provide a little more detail on the swap? Things like which way the engine will be installed, amount of room around the engine and any mods to the engine bay necessary.

What about the clutch?

Also could you provide cost details of the adaptor plate? I could be tempted

Peter

Peter60 wrote:..
Can you provide a little more detail on the swap? Things like which way the engine will be installed, amount of room around the engine and any mods to the engine bay necessary.

What about the clutch?

Also could you provide cost details of the adaptor plate?

I don't have much of this worked out yet. By far the hardest part of this is sourcing the adapter plate for the TDI to mate up with the stock Nissan transmission. Probably an easier solution would have been to swap that out for something more modern that already has an adapter plate. The TDI conversions seem to be popular for Jeep guys and others with less than full size pickups (although I have seen those too). Keeping the stock transmission and transfer case was really important to me - even though it's slow and only has synchro rings on one gear. Probably the main reason is that I wanted to keep the PTO driven winch. I also expect that finding a suitable transmission for the TDI with the short wheelbase of the Patrol would be somewhat of a challenge.

The project will not be cheap. The adapter plate is 2" thick aluminum that will be precisely machined and will come with a new high performance low profile starter. I haven't received a recent quote, but when I started this journey the adapter plate and starter was around $2,300 USD. I'm budgeting $3,000 for a rebuilt ALH engine. I'll need to source a bunch of other stuff to: New radiator, intercooler, High pressure electric Fuel pump/filters, new fuel and return lines, new exhaust - I'll also have to figure out gauges - do I go with existing gauges and just add on the additional ones I need - or do we a do a complete overhaul of the dash? There are several versions of the TDI. The earlier versions don't require much in the way of electronics/wiring - but the newer ones do. The advantage is that the car can be tuned very precisely by computer. I'm trying to keep this whole upgrade under $10k - it will be a challenge.

I'm not a mechanic. I'm an accountant. So all of this is really foreign to me, but I'm going to make a go of it anyway and may end up having to call someone to bail me out. I'm trying to get my dad to come out from California and help supervise and provide some inspiration. It will be good to see him and have the experience of having him help out on a project with his grandkids. I plan on providing detailed posts along the way 1) this will provide some entertainment for the forum and 2) on the off chance that someone else wants to try something similar, they can at least learn from my mistakes (which there will undoubtedly be many). Stay tuned....

These guys out in Grand Junction, CO do great stuff.

https://www.resurrectionlandcruisers.co ... resto-mod/

Greeting Patrolees Worldwide,

We do need to find a replacement engine so our grand kids can be driving Patrols in the coming years. Most radical modifications to Patrols end up like a lions face after eating a kill. Of all the ideas proposed so far I have a lot of interest in the VW TDI conversion as it checks so many boxes, professional conversion parts, fuel injection and it is stated to work with the existing transmission and it fits in the engine bay. Lastly it shouldn't cost too much differently than rebuilding the original.

I hope whoever started that thread will keep updating us as it is installed.

Rolling and Patrolling,
L60Boerne

L60Boerne wrote: ... like a lions face after eating a kill.

Thought provoking, and quite graphic.

L60Boerne

I think the VW TDI is an excellent replacement. As we know MAD4HWS has done fantastic work to allow this to happen. MAD4HWS provided TDI Conversions (in Canada) with a patrol engine and gearbox so they could work out an appropriate adaptor plate/solution.

I am currently working on converting one of my 60 Patrols to a VW TDI. Things are moving slowly..... So far I have purchased a VW Jetta with a BKD TDI. It had a faulty injector which I have now fixed (I got a second hand injector). I purchased VCDS diagnostic software (brilliant) which could pinpoint the faulty injector etc. Once it is running perfectly and I have proved it, I will move on to then next stage which is removing the engine, wiring harness etc. That will be followed by getting it running on an engine test stand followed by installation in my Patrol.

I hope to use the VW radiator and exhaust.

My aim is to have the TDI installed by the end of the year

Its not a straight forward install. The electronics, sensors etc will require a fair bit of understanding, as will the engine mounting, but its very do-able, providing I have the time.

Once I make progress I will provide a write up to the Forum.