Diesel swapped articles can be found about everything on four wheels. And why not? In most cases, a diesel engine is more fuel efficient compared to a gasoline engine of the same displacement, and a diesel engine has gobs of power and torque down low in the RPM band. That low-end power punch is great for towing, accelerating off the line, and in this case, we are presenting for your appreciation and commentary, off-road activity such as slow-speed rock crawling and climbing steep hills.

When we came across this find on Craigslist, we thought it was pretty nice, although there is not a ton of detail. However, from what the seller has shared on his listing, we have to assume it’s a runner, instead of a barn find that will take most of the rest of the next few years of your life to get into decent shape. We love trucks, and enjoy working on them, but we also want to drive them before the DMV takes our driver’s license away because we’re bunking in a retirement home.

The Jeep Scrambler (CJ-8 designation) is one of the more desirable models of its genre. It offers an extended wheelbase (103 inches) compared to that of the CJ-7 (93.3 inches) of the same era. The 12-valve Cummins diesel swapped into the engine bay is just one of the highlights of this diesel-powered Jeep Scrambler. According to the seller, it also features an  NV4500 five-speed transmission, Detroit Lockers, 4.56 gears in the front and rear axles, and a “family” roll cage connected to the frame.

Better yet, again according to the seller, it’s “registered in California diesel no smog.” If that’s true, then you can get this baby registered almost anywhere in the world! That alone makes his asking price of $16,000 seem almost reasonable. What would you pay for this Cummins-powered 1985 Jeep Scrambler?