Jerome Jenkins' off-roader began life as a military-spec Jeep CJ-10A aircraft tug. These vehicles were based on CJ-7 pickups that were sold overseas, but the U.S. Air Force also used them in the '80s and '90s to tow aircraft around its bases.Jerome Jenkins' off-roader began life as a military-spec Jeep CJ-10A aircraft tug. These v The torque generated by diesel powerplants is advantageous for hauling everything from travel trailers to competition sleds to fighter jets. Yes, we said fighter jets. It's a little known fact that the United States Air Force has been using specially constructed diesel trucks to move aircraft around for decades. The Air Force's current fleet of tugs is comprised primarily of short-wheelbase Ford and Dodge diesel pickups. But prior to that, AMC built a series of diesel-powered Jeep CJ-10A pickups to shuttle around all types of aircraft. The Jeep CJ-10A utilized a fuel-sipping Nissan SD33 3.3L inline six-cylinder diesel engine-the same engine found in some International Scouts. Recognizing the potential of these unique vehicles (beyond their use on the tarmac), Jerome Jenkins purchased his CJ-10A at a government auction for less than $2,000. Diesel Drivetrain Jerome scored his diesel Jeep with only 11,000 miles on it. Of course, who knows how hard those 11,000 miles were...Even so, the 90hp SD33 left something to be desired. To up the power and turn the big tires, Jerome added an exhaust manifold and an AiResearch turbocharger from an '80 Scout II that he found on eBay for $500. He then turned up the fuel on the Kiki injection pump by removing the fuel pressure spring to complement the added air. The injection pump originally used a vacuum linkage, but Jerome was able to retrofit a mechanical linkage to allow easier adjustments. A 2 1/2-inch exhaust system and conical intake were also added. Behind the SD33 sits the factory TorqueFlite 727 three-speed automatic and stock transmission cooler. The CJ-10A NP208 transfer case, however, was not retained. In order to address the low power output of the Nissan diesel, the aircraft tugs were built with a cover plate over the transfer case shifter and permanently locked in low range. The gear reduction was great at the airfield, but not on the highway. So Jerome replaced the NP208 with a more common Dana 300 transfer case, which bolted in place without the need for an expensive adapter. The Dana 300 also uses a cast-iron case and is gear-driven, unlike the aluminum NP208. The 3.3L Nissan SD33 diesel engine is not overly powerful, but it is compact and reliable. These traits trump power when a vehicle is tasked with work on an Air Force base every day, and the same traits are desirable when you are four-wheeling miles from the nearest parts store.The 3.3L Nissan SD33 diesel engine is not overly powerful, but it is compact and reliable. The SD33's intake and exhaust manifolds are on the same side of the engine, which simplifies plumbing. There's no intercooler because of the relatively low 6 psi of boost from the turbocharger.The SD33's intake and exhaust manifolds are on the same side of the engine, which simplifi The AiResearch turbo was offered on the SD33 engine from the factory on some International Scouts. This made retrofitting the turbo a bolt-on affair once Jerome was able to source one on eBay.The AiResearch turbo was offered on the SD33 engine from the factory on some International 1 | 2 | » | View Full Article By Harry Wagner Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
