Buck's turbo diesel swap

I've started a thread on a few other forums, I'll start one here because I know there's at least one or two other people who are doing this here on CJ2apage, or have already done the same/similar swap.

I've never done an engine swap before, I'm decent with a wrench though, and have a fairly good selection of tools that were my father's. 


In any case, my 2a is mostly stock with 5.38 gears, T90 transmission and D18 transfer case with Saturn overdrive.   2.5" lift springs, a roll cage, suspension seats, 15" wheels with 31" Superswamper tires, Saturn overdrive and an MB grill.   That's probably about as much modification (asside from the engine swap) as I'll be doing.  It's mostly a street jeep, but if I find a pair of narrow track offset D44 axles with 5.38 gears in them for a good price some time, I may eventually do that swap as well. 

It's my daily driver (beautiful weather here in SoCal)  but I do want to take it onto some mild-ish trails, so if I ever do find some D44s I might put a selectable locker in them for the times that it'll see dirt.  My goal isn't freeway speeds, my goal is to keep up with surface street traffic a bit better, and to be able to hold a 45-50mph cruising speed.  Particularly on hills.  Right now it's such a dog on hills, after the 31" tires.

The engine is a Kubota V2203 DI, which I'll put a turbocharger on there sized for 2.2L.

I'll update this thread with some of the stuff I've been doing in the passed week or two, but where I'm at now, I've confirmed that the engine runs, and I've started removing non-essential parts and cleaning it up.  I'm almost finished with that stage, then I'll move on to putting on the new/different parts that are needed to get the engine into my 2a.

Edited by Daniel_Buck - 30 Apr. 2013 at 4:13pm

Daniel, interesting project, were you able to find used parts or are you buying new ?, IMHO you have one of the toughest engines made, the down side of Kubota is you need a firm grip on the parts counter when they tell you the price, LOL. I have seen the engine you have on E-bay very reasonable priced but scared of the upgrade cost to get it to the 60 hp range.

Keep up the good work, Lee

So, I have always had leaks coming from the bell housing (engine and transmission oil?) of the 2a since the day I got it, and more recently sometimes from the back of the transfer case, at the parking brake.  

Edited by Daniel_Buck - 02 May 2013 at 4:11pm

there's a lever on the side of the engine that you pull to stop it.  Since I don't need the choke anymore, I'm just going to connect my choke pull on the dash to the stop lever :)   It runs just fine without the stop solenoid.  And stops just fine with the manual lever.  Later on I may pop the solenoid back in there, but for now, I'll keep it simple, and use the manual lever.

well, my cruising speed (45mph or so) is at about 2000 RPM in overdrive.  The diesel can supposedly spin up to 3000, but most people keep it at 2800 I think for the max RPM.  Which is faster than I usually spin the flathead.  

Edited by Daniel_Buck - 03 May 2013 at 4:14pm

I have been following your swap project. Can't wait to see the end result. Nice work.

I'll have to right that part number down! Looks great!

It arrived!!  Yay :)  The adapter plate, flywheel, motor mounts, turbo, and a bit of hardware.   

For those of you who  have lifted your flathead motors out, where's the best place to mount the lift chains?  I haven't looked it over yet for possible locations, but I figured I'd ask to see if there's two good location points that maybe I might overlook.  I'll be removing the engine by itself, not attached to the transmission.

Edited by Daniel_Buck - 12 May 2013 at 4:52pm