Really hoping for some feedback from owners of Zuks running 1.6 vw (na or td). I've only put several hundred miles on my '88 Samurai but either something is really wrong with the factory 1.3 gasser or... (and I'm guessing this is the case) these little motors are woefully underpowered. Running slightly bigger tires than stock my 'Zuki can't reach 65mph on anything but the flattest road with no headwind. Driving up and down Hwy 101 here in coastal Oregon is a real chore. The motor seems much happier in 4th gear than 5th but even then the slightest grade forces a downshift into 3rd!
I've owned several VW 1.6TDs over the years (along with 1.9TDs and 1.9TDIs). I would think that a Zuki with the VW motor would 'blow the doors off' one with a 1.3. I know how hard the 1.6TDs pull from an idle all the way to 4,500 rpm redline.
So I'm not really interested in somebody who hasn't owned one spouting off on how slow a diesel is...because it just ain't true.
Gearing may be an issue but all I'm looking for is a comfortable 65mph cruise.
So DIESEL ENGINED SAMURAI OWNERS SOUND OFF !!!
thanks in advance.
mark

Your problem is gearing, and yes, a lack of power.

Suzuki engines, like most gasoline engines produce their power at higher rpms than a diesel engine would, and Suzuki engines in particular, also produce their power at higher rpms than many other gasoline engines of similar displacement, so when you swap an engine designed to rev to 6500 rpm (not much power up there) for one that redlines at 4500, you can see that gearing is going to be an issue.

By the way - I don't need to OWN a diesel to know what they're like - I just need to drive them and I do that often enough - I don't own a diesel because I don't want one - and so that you understand this - I'm not talking about a gasoline engine vehicle converted to diesel power with non-optimal gearing, I'm talking factory fitted diesels, with factory gearing - I just got back from a twelve hour (start to finish - home to hotel) trip behind the wheel of a turbo diesel Mitsubishi Pajero - their top of the line - on a two lane (one in each direction) black top overtaking is a nightmare, it's better than an NA diesel, but still a nightmare.

I don't know what Suzuki engineers were thinking outfitting Samurai's with engines that redline at 6,500 rpm (that's just sooooo absurd as to not worthy of discussion) but at any rpm trying to overtake (or even keep up with traffic) on any road at more than 50mph is a gamble. But maybe my Samurai is not running the way it should, although I don't think so.
And once again maybe I just have a 'one-in-a-million' experience with my diesels. My '87 VW Vanagon 1.9td will easily pull 75mph in top gear while returning 27mpg at 65mph. I have no trouble passing at any speed. Maybe I should just tow the Samurai with it to get to the off-road locations? :-)
So specifically I want to hear from Samurai owners who have done the swap and not somebody who is content with engines that would be better suited in (frankly, I don't know where they would be better suited!)

My direct experience for you (as it seems you're adamant that is what you need) I've done a 1.6 NA in a Samurai w 32" tires and a 1.9 TD in a Sidekick with SAS and 33" tires. The Samurai would maybe get to 50 after a minute or so and was miserable to drive. (fresh motor, ran as good as it could) The 1.9 TD was a customers and able to hang at 65 MPH but drank fuel at that speed (as reported by him) and had similar mileage or worse than gas doing the same thing.

Putting around was great and mileage better.

Ping Matt Verley, he did a lot of work (including propane) to get an acceptable output from a VW diesel.

Personally, I"d do all the regular service and checks on the 1.3 to make sure it is running correctly. If you have 29" or less tire you should be doing better than you are. Assuming Compression, Fuel, Spark, catalytic converter and so on is ok, putting in a crawler t-case also lowers your high range and brings the Samurai back to life. You'll want that gearing even if you decide to go Diesel so it's not a loss.

All that being unsatisfactory, I'd still recommend a 1.6 8-valve or 1.6 16-valve swap instead of the diesel (from experience)

Hope that helps, -Eric

Thanks soooo much Eric!
I can say from personal experience that the difference between a NA and TD 1.6 engine is night/day having owned/installed/driven both in two different vws (caddy and a vanagon). So what one of those TD engines is like in a properly geared Samurai is the owner experience I'm looking for. I'm surprised that apparently so few have done this, so my search goes on. I can tell you that the 1.9mTDI that I'm currently installing in a MK1 Jetta should be putting out about 125hp. I don't think its gonna be a slouch (hp or mpg) but I'll let you know. :-)
mark

Please check in and share with us as you do this swap...

-Eric