Josh P's 05 Jeep Liberty diesel

[Josh P]

A few years back, I found a decent looking Jeep liberty diesel on Craigslist. $3,800 for a running, driving diesel was an ok deal. There was a folder full of maintenance records, including a new timing belt. I drove it home, shut it off and it never restarted. I scrapped the pos VM diesel so it would end up where it belonged. I had my heart set on a cat C4.4 but someone made me a deal on a VT275 that was way too good to pass up. A V6 diesel with the modular SBF bellhousing pattern, 200 hp 440 twist. Since the pcm is setup for a 5R110W, I'll find a 4wd version and adapt the 242J transfer case to it. The motor is coming out of the LCF on the right in the picture, the non smashed up one.

 

[Josh P]

I got the cab cut home and ready to strip down. This weekend, I'll cut the cab off the frame, and remove the body harness.

 

[Rangebinder]

I got the cab cut home and ready to strip down. This weekend, I'll cut the cab off the frame, and remove the body harness.

View attachment 439102 View attachment 439103

A lot of really cool stuff going on, Your Jeep will be a Tractor I would think, this will be one to watch take plenty of pictures.

 

[Josh P]

A lot of really cool stuff going on, Your Jeep will be a Tractor I would think, this will be one to watch take plenty of pictures.

I have a running LCF, that 4.5L diesel pulls good. I'll go through the motor, stud the heads then turn the power up to 11. I got this cab cut dirt cheap cause the junk yard didn't confirm if the motor ran, most likely the ficm or hpop has an issue. I'll replace the water pump, hpop and do head studs. Only item I'm not sure if there is a bulletproof version of is the oil cooler. I'll document the entire swap here. Once I figure it out, I'll probably buy the other LCF that was next to this one.

 

[Josh P]

Started stripping down the cab to remove the engine.

 

[410Fortune]

What a cool project!!

Will the liberty hold up to the torque?

 

[Josh P]

What a cool project!!

Will the liberty hold up to the torque?

Yeah. People LS swap them with forced induction. I'll swap the rear end for an 8.8 and regear it to 3.08 for good mpg. I don't trust the Mopar 8.25 with a lot of power going through it

 

[Josh P]

Engine is out, most of the mess is cleaned up. I'll start going through the engine before I put it in the jeep. I'm not using the transmission that was attached to the engine, dipstick tube wasn't sealed so water got inside when it rained.. The junk yard will get that back. It took awhile to get the mess cleaned up, this portion of the job was more than I expected. I'll need a junk removal company to come get the cab and frame. My engine hoist isn't enough to get them on the back of my semi truck. I was going to cut them up but a cutoff wheel exploded on me.

 

[Rangebinder]

That's good progress engine looks good cleaned up and ready for your next step. Nice.

 

[allmyEXes]

Watching...

 

[410Fortune]

I’ve got a stihl demo saw we use to cut that stuff in half. Idaho they won’t crush anything without a title unless it comes in pieces
Water in trans no good!!!

Battle on

 

[Josh P]

I’ve got a stihl demo saw we use to cut that stuff in half. Idaho they won’t crush anything without a title unless it comes in pieces
Water in trans no good!!!

Battle on

Since you're here, wanna graft the two harnesses together for me?

 

[410Fortune]

absolutely its snowing and cold here so Ill be right over for an evening of warmth!!!
oh crap we dont have flying cars yet dang

 

[Josh P]

The motor is finally at the shop getting the upgrades. Not sure how long it will be there.

 

[Josh P]

As stated in the previous post, I dropped the motor off at Pro Diesel for them to work their magic. The heads were pulled today, and the inside of the engine looks good. Some slight surface rust on the cylinder walls of #4 and #6.

 

[Josh P]

I finally figured out what the delay has been. There's a few gaskets that are obsolete, shop is having a hard time locating them. They are sending me the list of what's not available.

 

[410Fortune]

Oh boy
Get your gasket material out and a sharp rzr lol some harbor freight o ring kits and a couple tubes of permatex and get to work! Lmfao
Obsolete already????

 

[Josh P]

Oh boy
Get your gasket material out and a sharp rzr lol some harbor freight o ring kits and a couple tubes of permatex and get to work! Lmfao
Obsolete already????

Bedplate, upper and lower oil pan gaskets seem impossible to find. The pan can be put on with permatex.

 

[Josh P]

Almost ready for me to pickup from the shop. Waiting on one gasket that will arrive Monday.

 

[Josh P]

Just a rant post. I want to run a manual transmission with the engine. The 6.0/VT365 has a manual option, several actually but they are all too big to work with the Jeeps transmission tunnel. The adapter plate currently on the engine is the ford modular pattern. So basically any 4.6, 5.0, 5.4 or 6.8 gas flywheel would work if it has the 10 bolt crankshaft pattern drilled in it. I contacted Clutch Masters cause on their website it states we can do custom services. I got nowhere with that. I think I might buy a flywheel and see what I can do. My friend has the equipment to properly drill the holes where they need to be. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.