New Explorer owner wants diesel conversion

[Chief JT]

Hello Explorer fans. I'm the new owner of a 2005 Explorer XLT Sport w/70,000 miles and in perfect condition. I am making plans for this to be my conversion truck following my next deployment. I am particularly interested in dropping a 4 cyl. turbodiesel in to replace the 4.0.
I'm afraid the Cummins 4BT will be to heavy and large to fit and the 4BT is a brute but may be a bit to unrefined for my Explorer. I am also considering the VM Motori 4 cyl. turbo.
Do any of you have any experience/advice?

Thanks

 

[IAmTodd]

Could do a 1.9 TDI from a VW. There's a guy on the Ranger Station doing that. Quite involved and doesn't turn out that much power with the factory ECU. 4BT would be your best bet.

 

[JCat]

http://www.therangerstation.com/galleries/Explorers/DieselExplorer.htm

 

[obie]

Snoranger on here is swapping a 4BT into his '95 4 Door. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321521

 

[1Aauto]

Welcome to the site

 

[FIND]

Explorer is too heavy for the 1.9 tdi. EGTs would be crazy high. A ranger is already on the heavy side for one. 4bt would be the easiest swap for you to do, but if you can get a VM Motori 2.8 and a figure out how to integrate the ECU, that would give you the best results.

 

[01STrunner]

Make sure if you want more than just RWD you get a motor that can bolt up to a tranny and X-case that can give you AWD or 4x4. Like everyone already said a 4BT will be the easiest to swap in. Maybe one out of a newer, larger Euro car with AWD? Mercedes has had Bluetec diesels for a while. Not sure if it'd work but just an idea