Cummins unveils its first crate engine, the R2.8 Turbo Diesel

Admit it. You’ve always wanted a diesel. You dreamed of what you could do with that torque.

Now you can have one and retrofit it into an older truck or Jeep and not have to pay a fortune for a new model.

At SEMA Wednesday, Cummins unveiled its first crate engine, the R2.8 Turbo Diesel. The four-cylinder oil burner puts out 161 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. of torque with a high pressure common rail fuel system, cooled EGR/DOC for emissions (no SCR, you’ll be pleased to note), and a Holset waste-gated turbocharger.

In the crate, you’ll find about 70 to 80 percent of what you need for the complete install, says Mark Hornung, product manager.

The engine comes with a power steering pump, water pump and alternator already mounted on the engine, a remote oil filter (for maximum front axle clearance) and remote fuel filter. Cummins also throws in the engine’s ECM, a wiring harness, throttle pedal, and digital gauges for things like coolant temperature and oil pressure. There is also a location where you can mount an AC compressor if you choose to go that route.