1949 Kubota Diesel Willys CJ2A

[Lemield]

Since March, I've been working on an engine swap for my 1949 Willys CJ2A.
I completed it about 3 weeks ago...actually, these type of projects are never complete but it's 99%.....

The Jeep was purchased by my Dad in 1974 from the grandson of the original owner. It was a 99% rust free Jeep and my Dad and I restored her at that time. My Dad gave her to me in 1999 just before he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I lost him in 2002.

Anyhow, he and I rebuilt the original 134 Go Devil engine in 1977 and it was starting to show it's age. I had considered an engine swap and settled on the Kubota V2203 turbo diesel kit that Overland Diesel sells.

I got the used former reefer engine shipped to Colorado and started the conversion. Looks stock and has a boatload more torque. It's very fun to drive.

I have the complete build thread with pictures on the CJ2A page:

http://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/la...opic31970.html


Typical problems along the way but all in all, it was fun to do. I now have 3 diesel vehicles.

[flashed]

I bet that thing would climb a tree , very cool Jeep.

[Lemield]

Originally Posted by flashed

I bet that thing would climb a tree , very cool Jeep.

Thanks Flashed. It is much nicer to drive with the new engine.

[special-K]

That looks like a perfect combination. I love it when it all comes together just right,with old/new. It's like a thing Jeep might have done but didn't. I know a guy who specializes in adapting the early-80s Mercedes diesels into Jeeps. His focus is on economical. You do get better torque,but MPGs are very easy to get used to,the engines can be had for cheap,and his adaptors make it cheap & easy,too. What was involved in coupling this Kubota up to the ole flat fender? Are/were these reefer engines pretty widely used and are they easy on the wallet?

[Lemield]

Originally Posted by special-K

That looks like a perfect combination. I love it when it all comes together just right,with old/new. It's like a thing Jeep might have done but didn't. I know a guy who specializes in adapting the early-80s Mercedes diesels into Jeeps. His focus is on economical. You do get better torque,but MPGs are very easy to get used to,the engines can be had for cheap,and his adaptors make it cheap & easy,too. What was involved in coupling this Kubota up to the ole flat fender? Are/were these reefer engines pretty widely used and are they easy on the wallet?

Tim,

There are a lot of used reefer engines because the emission requirements changed and the trucking companies changed out the engines. I paid $1400 for mine delivered to Denver. 60 day warranty. I bought my adapter from Overland Diesel in Canada. He puts together a nice kit. Check out his website for pictures of the kit. www.overlanddiesel.com

[LSXapache]

Man I wish I'd seen this before I sent my m38 engine out for machine work. I'm gonna have $1400 in it easy by the time I get it back together and its not like my willys was original anyway. Awesome project. My condolences about your father. My dad and I fixed up a rusted out/bubba'd 2A when I was around 14, looking back it was still a beater when we got through but I have a lot of good memories with it, I lost him this past year.

[Lemield]

Originally Posted by LSXapache

Man I wish I'd seen this before I sent my m38 engine out for machine work. I'm gonna have $1400 in it easy by the time I get it back together and its not like my willys was original anyway. Awesome project. My condolences about your father. My dad and I fixed up a rusted out/bubba'd 2A when I was around 14, looking back it was still a beater when we got through but I have a lot of good memories with it, I lost him this past year.

Sorry for your loss of your Dad too. It's just not the same without them.

On the Jeep engine, don't let the $1400.00 for the engine mislead you....I got about $6900.00 total in the conversion!

[LSXapache]

They are money pits for sure. I was just reading through your build and like you said all the add on and little stuff is what eats you up money wise. Still a really cool build, not something you see every day!

[Lemield]

Thanks for the kind words. It's been a pretty fun project.

[flashed]

Your Jeep is so cool ,I especially love that style Jeep . Just dont see many of those anymore here .

[Lemield]

Originally Posted by flashed

Your Jeep is so cool ,I especially love that style Jeep . Just dont see many of those anymore here .

Thanks for the kind words. You don't see too many of them out here in the west anymore either. They were all over the place when I was a kid here in Colorado.

[LSXapache]

Any idea what kind of hp/tq numbers the turbo adds to engine?
From what I saw the hp of the non turbo engine isnt much under the stock L head, obviously the tq is a lot higher

[Lemield]

Originally Posted by LSXapache

Any idea what kind of hp/tq numbers the turbo adds to engine?
From what I saw the hp of the non turbo engine isnt much under the stock L head, obviously the tq is a lot higher

Sorry LSXapache, I didn't see your question till today????? Oh well....anyhow, I think with the turbo it's probably making about the same horsepower as the old L head but a boatload more torque. It sure gets up the hills a LOT better here at a mile high.

The stock non-turbo Kubota is 51hp, I estimate around 65hp with the turbo.