European KJ question

[DefCon2]

I am searching the European market for a couple of KJs. I am seeking specifically the 2.8 CRD with a manual transmission. I am finding that the diesel KJs in Europe had the 2.5 up until 2003, and then switched to the 2.8, or at least that is how it appears. But I can find only 2.8 automatics from 03 and 04. It appears to me that possibly the 2.8 was not available with a manual until 2005. Does anyone know if this is correct? I know that the 2.8 was only available as an automatic in North America, but I see quite a few 2.8 manuals available in Europe from the 2005 model year. Thanks in advance.

 

[KJowner]

The early manuals were 2.5 CRDs with a 5 speed NV3500, the later 2.8CRDs were a 6 speed NSG box.
Any particular reason why you want a manual? I have a 2.5 manual & a 2.8 auto and the auto is much nicer to drive.

 

[u2slow]

We much prefer the 6spd manual vs the automatics - that's on the gas V6 perspective. (My work puts me in an automatic one now and again.)

No doubt a 6spd CRD is hard to find - not available at all in North America.

 

[DefCon2]

The early manuals were 2.5 CRDs with a 5 speed NV3500, the later 2.8CRDs were a 6 speed NSG box.
Any particular reason why you want a manual? I have a 2.5 manual & a 2.8 auto and the auto is much nicer to drive.

Actually I am in the market for both. I am founding a charity overlanding organization and we will purchase 5-6 KJs. We want to keep the engine the same for all so that we only have to carry parts for one type of engine. But the people we are gearing toward much prefer manuals. We will, however, need at least one or two automatics because we will likely deal with disabilities as well.

When you say later 2.8 CRDs were 6 speeds, are you referring to 2005-2007? It seems to me that the 2.8 was the diesel engine for the KJ for 2003-2004, but that it was only available as an automatic.

 

[KJowner]

The 6 speed manuals were introduced when they boosted the power of the 2.8 with the VNT turbo around 2005, the 2.5 manual was dropped then.
The engines are very similar, as far as I know its only the pistons and liners that altered the capacity.

 

[u2slow]

Actually, Chrysler rolled out 6 speeds as the default/only manual trans in 2005 for all rwd-primary models. (Ram, Dakota, Wrangler, Liberty)

2005 was also the last year for the gas 4-cyl in the KJ.

 

[DefCon2]

Actually, Chrysler rolled out 6 speeds as the default/only manual trans in 2005 for all rwd-primary models. (Ram, Dakota, Wrangler, Liberty)

2005 was also the last year for the gas 4-cyl in the KJ.

That's North America though, not Europe.

 

[DefCon2]

The 6 speed manuals were introduced when they boosted the power of the 2.8 with the VNT turbo around 2005, the 2.5 manual was dropped then.
The engines are very similar, as far as I know its only the pistons and liners that altered the capacity.

Thank you. That was the information I was looking for. Do you happen to know if the 2.8 models in 03 and 04, before the VNT turbo, were only available as automatics?

 

[KJowner]

Yes they were, all the early manuals were 2.5, I'd guess the NV3500 wasn't capable of dealing with the 2.8.
With all the manuals beware of the duel mass flywheel, the diesel gives it a battering and its expensive to replace.
The CRD's are well supported for parts in Europe, much more so than the US.

 

[DefCon2]

Yes they were, all the early manuals were 2.5, I'd guess the NV3500 wasn't capable of dealing with the 2.8.
With all the manuals beware of the duel mass flywheel, the diesel gives it a battering and its expensive to replace.
The CRD's are well supported for parts in Europe, much more so than the US.

Great info. Thank you. And yes, the diesels are plentiful and very well supported here.

 

[DefCon2]

Yes they were, all the early manuals were 2.5, I'd guess the NV3500 wasn't capable of dealing with the 2.8.
With all the manuals beware of the duel mass flywheel, the diesel gives it a battering and its expensive to replace.
The CRD's are well supported for parts in Europe, much more so than the US.

I'm asking you because you seem to be very well informed about these things. Now I have a slightly different but still related question. I'm shopping for both Manuals and Automatics. I'm finding that right around 2004 the power ratings on the KJs with the 2.8 CRD jumped up from 150hp to 163hp. Does this have to do with the upgraded turbocharger? And what replaced the NV3500 at around that time?

 

[u2slow]

And what replaced the NV3500 at around that time?

The Mercedes NSG370 came out for '05.

I've never seen one behind a diesel - which may be a north american thing.

 

[DefCon2]

The Mercedes NSG370 came out for '05.

I've never seen one behind a diesel - which may be a north american thing.

Yes, that's a North American thing.

 

[KJowner]

Yes, it was the 6 speed NSG.
The power output increased when they went to a VNT turbo.

 

[DefCon2]

Yes, it was the 6 speed NSG.
The power output increased when they went to a VNT turbo.

Thank you