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Kubota Diesel Engine Swap

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by garage gnome, Jun 27, 2017.

  1. Jul 31, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    I found a good running DI V2203 for cheaper than the 134 rebuild. I'm likely gonna try this out.

    Also with a turbo these do about 70-75HP, which is about a 50% gain in HP during the usable band of an Fhead - which is about the same as this Kubota. No added weight, and fits in the same spot as an FHead with minimal re-engineering.

    FYI my Roxor has roughly 90-100HP right now and it scoots. No lacking in power. Dropping 500ish lbs and 20ish HP and I'm sure the CJ5 will perform admirably. I need it more for farm type work than 1/4 times.
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2019
  2. Jul 31, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    Keep in mind the Fhead makes about ~50HP NET at 3000 RPM. The LHead does even worse. Don't mix and match Gross vs Net ratings.

    I spent effectively 0 time above 3k RPMS when this FHead was running.
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2019
  3. Sep 3, 2019
    IRQVET

    IRQVET Bubbaification Exorcist

    Tallahassee, FL.
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    Feb 5, 2015
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    680
    My question is what would be the top speed on a Kubota swap? Would it make the flat fender more freeway friendly?
     
  4. Sep 4, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    Top speed would not be driven as much by engine power and wind resistance. You'd wanna make sure your gears/tires/etc/etc are setup for whatever speed you wanna hit. The faster that is, the more you run into steering/brakes/stuff. It's a whole package. A turbo'd V2203 seems like it can output around 75HP if setup for it, that is an nearly 50% increase in power within the sustained usable band. So you're mostly removing a bottleneck without to much re-engineering and keeping the tractory 4 cyl feel. I found an engine. Haven't had time to fart with it yet.
     
    IRQVET likes this.
  5. Sep 23, 2019
    millennium falcon

    millennium falcon Member

    Central PA
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    Apr 4, 2014
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    549
    Not sure if your seen my jeep or not.... I was going to go the kubota route but decided it was too much money and work for 60-75hp and 2800rpm. So I went with the VW TDI... Havent regreted it once. 120hp/200tq. factory turbo. Good power from 1500-4500rpm. Small and light and easily gets 30+ mpg. They are more complex than the kubota but the performance/price are worth the trade off. These engines run forever and really don't require much maintenance in a light vehicle that maybe gets driven 5000 miles a year. You can easily buy a complete VW donor car and supporting parts for the price of the kubota and overland kit.....and thats not including the turbo. My engine is electronic....if you dont like that Vw had some older mechanical engine that would be worth considering... less power but an easier swap. Let me know if you have any questions. My youtube channel has lots of videos of my jeep as I build it and driving/wheeling it once it was finished.


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    47v6 likes this.
  6. Sep 23, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2016
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    I've seen your swap. Very cool setup.

    The VW engine is lighter actually. So, basically 2x the power, less weight, more efficient and longer lasting.

    I like em in VWs but not a big fan of belt engines. I have a mental block there lol.
     
  7. Sep 23, 2019
    millennium falcon

    millennium falcon Member

    Central PA
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    Apr 4, 2014
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    549

    Dont let the timing belt thing hold you back... ask some VW owners how many timing belts they have had fail.... The only ones ive ever seen are from running them thousands of miles beyond their lifespan (100,000) If you correctly Replace the belt and tensioners with quality parts when you do the swap and you will not have any problems. My jeep and daily driver car both have the same TDI engine. Ive driven thousands and thousands of miles combined. that would take a lifetime to rack up in a willys with no issues. A full German quality belt kit and job cost me $249 and about 3 hours of work.... Any engine has things than can fail... I would worry more about fouling plugs, burning up points, or dirt in my carburetor than I would ever worry about a silly timing belt. Just my opinion...
     
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  8. Sep 23, 2019
    millennium falcon

    millennium falcon Member

    Central PA
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    Apr 4, 2014
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    549
    I also have a 617 swapped CJ5... its reliable and simple but less power/fun than the TDI. Its pretty long for a flatty or short nose cj5. My current project is this OM616 I know... I know.... its wildly under powered but its small, simple, reliable and I'm familiar with it. Its a good runner..This is the 4cyl non turbo cousin of the 617 (roughly 75hp) just sitting in the garage waiting for a chassis to drop it into.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Sep 23, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    I have a good Kubota already, so I'm definitely going that route. I thought about the older TDs and even an MTDI but ended up with the better supported engine for our chassis. I'm definitely soft the VW diesels but just went another route.

    I had a 617 in an XJ. It didn't go well. I just left that whole project underwhelmed.
     
  10. Sep 23, 2019
    millennium falcon

    millennium falcon Member

    Central PA
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    Apr 4, 2014
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    549
    Gotcha, if you’ve already got the engine then you are well underway. Good luck and post your progress! If you don’t mind me asking can you give me some deets on your engine? Was it out of a reefer? How many miles and what did you pay for it? 2204? Thanks!
     
  11. Sep 23, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    Yes, a complete running reefer unit from a customer of mine. Forgot the hours but it wasn't super high. V2203DI

    $900 cash
     
  12. Sep 23, 2019
    millennium falcon

    millennium falcon Member

    Central PA
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    Cool! That’s a decent price. When I was looking for one I had a heck of a time finding one. There were none local and the ones I did find needed rebuilt.
     
  13. Sep 23, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    Yeah it took me a bit, but I then I realized my customer has piles of these reefer trailers all over the place. 5m phone call and $900 bucks later. I got me one lol
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2019
  14. Sep 24, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    The 616 would feel more like a diesel (1800 tq peak) than it’s 5 cyl cousin (2400 tq peak). The lack of grunt always bothered me about the 617. Silky smooth yes, but that wasn’t what I was after, and still am not. I like the raggedy tractor feel.

    With some serious boost and fuel work, the 616 would be fine. In NA form it doesnt bring much benefit over the FHead.
     
  15. Sep 30, 2019
    millennium falcon

    millennium falcon Member

    Central PA
    Joined:
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    Yeah in stock form the 616 output is about like an f head or the kubota......... Just with the kubota even though the power isnt much of an improvement over the gasser.... maintenance and economy are worth the swap. The 616 and 2203 will outlive any willys engine... When I swapped my 304 v8 for the 617 I lost a lot of power but it was so worth it... the diesels always start, never flood, foul, backfire, they run at any angle, they are hard to stall, idle like a champ..... no spark plugs, points or carbs to mess with. But they stink, shake and make a lot of noise. haha!
     
  16. Sep 30, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    I bet the T18 masks a ton of the low end issues with the OM617 too. I never had a super low first to compensate. That combo likely works quite well. I found the OM617 to be unusually smooth and quite happy to rev to ~4k.

    The FHead has undeniable character. If I were going for mostly a restore and refresh, I wouldn't swap it out. I just think for where this project is at, a similar - yet more modern - engine in diesel form expands the vehicles use without making things complicated.
     
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