At a jeep crossroads. Want opinions.

[goin camping]

A monkey wrench has been thrown...

I'm not a modern vehicle kinda guy. So I was surprised to find out about the 2004/2005 LJ that even come in the Rubicon format. A lot less $ than a new one and they have inline six's.

Anyone here have an LJ?

Shortbus, I'm considering buying the 725 since it's stock, complete and in fantastic condition but I'll need to turn it into a tow vehicle for a 7K trailer. What are the common engine/trans swaps on these things?

 

[jeepdreamer]

What are the common engine/trans swaps on these things?

Cummins 6bt is an excellent choice. 12 valve is simpler, 24 a little more so but no worse. If starting from scratch I'd suggest the NV5600 6sp manual. The 4500 is ok but has a known 5th gear issue that peeps its ugly head out of nowhere and esp. with towing rigs. Ask me how I know that one.
You could probably buy a wrecked one that runs well fairly cheap and build from there. I think... don't quote me on this, but maybe the cross member from the dodge is a near bolt in which saves some work. Though that may have been with a 715? Can't remember...sorry.
I'd offer to swap you my 99 dodge cummins for the MB but it has non motor issues like that mentioned 5th gear and the front dana 60 is bad.

 

[SSF556]

I would be really apprehensive on owning a WK2 diesel with an engine that powers nothing else in North America.....Jeep dealers did not want and still do not want to work on my Mercedes equipped WK...and that engine powers Sprinter vans and all Mercedes diesel powered vehicles in North America. I can only imagine the lack of training on a VM diesel engine here.....parts will be very expensive....oil changes will be expensive.

Also when the Mercedes powered WK came out there was different warranty options diesel vs gas....make sure to read the fine print.

I would never tow 8000 pounds with my diesel WK.....in my opinion 8000 pounds requires a full size truck or full size SUV. That is my opinion though.

Good luck.....

 

[shortbus4x4]

A monkey wrench has been thrown...

I'm not a modern vehicle kinda guy. So I was surprised to find out about the 2004/2005 LJ that even come in the Rubicon format. A lot less $ than a new one and they have inline six's.

Anyone here have an LJ?

Shortbus, I'm considering buying the 725 since it's stock, complete and in fantastic condition but I'll need to turn it into a tow vehicle for a 7K trailer. What are the common engine/trans swaps on these things?

Guys have put all sorts of engines in them. If you are serious about buying it and turning it into a tow rig then go to M715zone.com and you will find everything you want to know about them and more. If you go the Cummins 6bt route then you will want to swap axles too which will get you better brakes and gearing. Everything is custom on these, not much bolt on stuff out there. BJ's Offroad has some stuff as does Vintage Power Wagons, Memphis Equipment, and AB Linn.

 

[shortbus4x4]

I would be really apprehensive on owning a WK2 diesel with an engine that powers nothing else in North America.....Jeep dealers did not want and still do not want to work on my Mercedes equipped WK...and that engine powers Sprinter vans and all Mercedes diesel powered vehicles in North America. I can only imagine the lack of training on a VM diesel engine here.....parts will be very expensive....oil changes will be expensive.

Also when the Mercedes powered WK came out there was different warranty options diesel vs gas....make sure to read the fine print.

I would never tow 8000 pounds with my diesel WK.....in my opinion 8000 pounds requires a full size truck or full size SUV. That is my opinion though.

Good luck.....

I'm not afraid of the Mercedes 2.7 inline and 3.0 V-6 that power Sprinters. They are actually pretty good engines but they cost when they break. Any electronic diesel engine is expensive to repair, the Mercedes and VM Mortori engines are usually more than a Cummins, Powerstroke, or Duramax but not that much more. Of course I work on them so am not afraid when one breaks down. And yes a 8000 lb load is best behind a full size.

 

[SSF556]

I'm not afraid of the Mercedes 2.7 inline and 3.0 V-6 that power Sprinters. They are actually pretty good engines but they cost when they break. Any electronic diesel engine is expensive to repair, the Mercedes and VM Mortori engines are usually more than a Cummins, Powerstroke, or Duramax but not that much more. Of course I work on them so am not afraid when one breaks down. And yes a 8000 lb load is best behind a full size.

Not you in particular...and I am not afraid of the OM642 either...BUT a lot of Jeep dealers are not prepared to work on the Mercedes OM642.....I doubt they will be prepared to work on the new VM diesel as well.

 

[SouthPawXJ]

Not you in particular...and I am not afraid of the OM642 either...BUT a lot of Jeep dealers are not prepared to work on the Mercedes OM642.....I doubt they will be prepared to work on the new VM diesel as well.

Something that should be considered: this VM diesel is going into more vehicles than the OM642. The dealers will be a lot more open to learning how to work on something if there is a lot of them. This diesel is planned to go into the Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500, with ~40,000 engines/year available. If those are successful, more vehicles will be added. I don't remember how many were available when the OM642 was released in the GC, but it was probably less than that. EDIT - I found on a site that 12,000 GC Diesels were produced per year between 2007-2008.

I read somewhere that environmental regulations for diesels in the US and EU were starting to get the same acceptable levels of pollutants. I'm not an expert on that, but its what I read. If thats the case, we're going to see more diesels in America, since auto manufacturers won't have to create special diesels for America.

 

[SSF556]

Something that should be considered: this VM diesel is going into more vehicles than the OM642. The dealers will be a lot more open to learning how to work on something if there is a lot of them. This diesel is planned to go into the Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500, with ~40,000 engines/year available. If those are successful, more vehicles will be added. I don't remember how many were available when the OM642 was released in the GC, but it was probably less than that. EDIT - I found on a site that 12,000 GC Diesels were produced per year between 2007-2008.

I read somewhere that environmental regulations for diesels in the US and EU were starting to get the same acceptable levels of pollutants. I'm not an expert on that, but its what I read. If thats the case, we're going to see more diesels in America, since auto manufacturers won't have to create special diesels for America.

You will not see 40,000 diesel engines sold in the GC and Ram in America.....they will be lucky to get 10,000 a year. Americans do not get diesels. Keep in mind that the OM642 is also available in the all the Mercedes diesel vehicles and Sprinter vans since 2007.....lots of them in North America.

 

[SouthPawXJ]

You will not see 40,000 diesel engines sold in the GC and Ram in America.....they will be lucky to get 10,000 a year. Americans do not get diesels. Keep in mind that the OM642 is also available in the all the Mercedes diesel vehicles and Sprinter vans since 2007.....lots of them in North America.

There are lots of that engine in North America. There just aren't a lot of that motor in Chrysler products.
That motor (I believe) was only in those 24,000 GCs. I know your pain about Jeep service... I have an 06 Liberty CRD, which is a VM 2.8L. It is very hard to find competent help at a dealer for that vehicle. If I recall correctly, Jeep was scheduled to make 20,000 CRDs, and produced and sold every one of them. There is a pretty strong demand for diesels in NA right now, in spite of the high fuel costs. I could see them moving that many units with the Ram included. With an 8 speed hooked up to the Ram diesel, you could see 28-30 MPG highway, which would be a game changer in the truck market. Chrysler is not the only one starting to bring diesels from overseas either. Chevy is bringing the Cruze diesel over, and possibly the next gen Colorado will come with a diesel option. This might finally be the time for diesels to grow in the North American market.