I have an 85 Toyota with 22re and solid axle in the front. I want to do a diesel swap in my truck. I was told that if I go with an engine like the Volkswagen TDI that they make a conversion kit that way I can set the engine in and hook it straight up to the Toyota transmission. Which is the 5 speed manual. My truck is also the 4x4. If any of you could show me where to get this conversion kit and tell me what obsticals I might run into while doing this swap. Or if you have a better idea for an engine that is a turbo diesel. My idea for the truck is to be daily driver but something that wont have problems off road. I also want to be on the cheap side.

 

acme adapters makes adapters for TDI to toyota 4cyl trans.
http://acmeadapters.com/index.php?sound=Y

TDI club has lots of info
http://forums.tdiclub.com/forumdisplay.php?f=63

interesting swap, 30 to 35 mpg pullin 33" tires. hmmmm...

google TDI there is a website that searches craiglist for wrecked TDI's by state.

 

Thanks. I have 32x11.50x15r hankook m/t.

 

also look at the diesel registry on the acme site, a few yotas but the specs are interesting.

 

I would have figured the TDI to be a little small for this truck. I know there are many who have swapped to them, but wouldn't the 4bt, 123, or one of those kubota HS TD's be a much more aptly sized engine?

 

I was going to do the 4bt but I was looking and a few people said they only last a few hundred hours and then another thing was that the engine isn't balanced so it would just rattle apart

 

It puzzles me that this thought is so prevalent. Depending on the year, a 1.9l tdi has comparable HP and more torque than the 2.4l 22re. Sure the tdi gets it's torque lower in the rpm band than the 22re, but for a 4x4 I do believe that's a good thing.

Also remember for example, the Jetta weighs approximately 3000 lbs, and has little trouble at highway speeds with a 1.9l tdi. That's not a lot more than a typical 80s-90s pickup. (My '93 for example has a curb weight of 2750 pounds according to edmunds, so with comparable weight and power the real concern is gearing.

I could be mistaken but I believe you can tune more power out of a tdi than a 22re without spending a bloody fortune...

 

Only last a few hundred hours? The 4bt is based off the 6bt. The marine 4bts might not last as long because they are almost max throttle for extended periods and their turned up to 250hp.
Like anything if it's not abused it will last.
Yes the 4bt shakes like crazy but only a idle. The swaps I've seen they set the idle slightly higher than stock to prevent the engine rattling the truck apart. Some have reported at about 1000 rpm and up they are as smooth as a gas engine.

 

If you want more power out of the tdi, its pretty easy and cheap. The best way to do this is start with a PD engine instead of a ALH. It has more power to start with and you can do a stage 2 tune right off the batt with no other mods. This motor is out of 2004 to 2005 VWs.
The ALH does pretty good with a stage 1 tune, but injectors, bigger turbo, and tune is what you want for good power.

There is lots of people on freds tdi, lots of info, some really good build threads.