Greg,
Need to look at the longevity of the diesel compared to a gasser too. I have very seldom seen a big block of any brand go much over the 100k mark in an RV, but have seen plenty of 150k+ diesel MoHo, so add the cost of at least one big block rebuild to the equation and the numbers look even better, then start making your own biodiesel and it gets better yet!
Aaron
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....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #2449 AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
Better fuel economy
More torque
Better reliability
No ignition system
Tends to run cooler
Stock 454 HP 230 Stock torque 385 at 1600 RPM.
Stevens done a little tweaking including better headers and exhaust. I bet his motor is making more.
Yeah at 6k Suburban with a 454 gets 10 mpg and a burb with a 6.2 gets 18.
However a 13k motorhome with a 454 gets 9. a 13.5 k motor home with a amped up 6.2 gets 11 maybe 12mpg
So is it worth the change for MAYBE 2-4mpg?
Diesel is more expensive then gas and has been for a while. You will never recover the cost of conversion running it off of straight Diesel.
Seems to be a waste of money to me. Now if your dooing it for fun thats a different story.
If you plan to make BioDiesel...yeah but it will take a LOT of biodeisel to run it and if you are planning on staying out longer then one tank then you eithern eed to carry your chemistry set or be resigned that you are going pay and extra buck a gallon at the pumps on the way back.
For the record I'm looking for a $500 bomb 6.2 Burb right now to play with biodiesel. If it works out realy well that motor may make its way into my pristeen 88 454 burb.
Now stay away from the 6.5. They have weak cranks.
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1959 22' Caravanner
1988 R20 454 Suburban.
Atlanta, GA
Oh...so its good enough for the burb but not good enough for my MoHo huh? I see how this works. I think you're just trying to keep me out of the "bomb burb" market so you can have them all to yourself.
I have certainly considered the powerplant changover - usally just after I fill up and always after Chaplain Kent or another diesel drive talks about how they are getting 15 mpg. While short term it is motivated by pump prices, long term if I want to keep the MoHo forever...or at least until I can't drive it anymore then maybe this makes sense. I've put almost 40K miles on the 454 in 2.5 years. Now I baby it and take care of it, but still a rebuild every five to six years would be a real bummer.
I'm also wondering when those diesel prices will come down again. Gasoline is 1.97 around here so right now I love my rat motor.
BioDiesel....that is cool. Maybe I could turn a bambi into a giant tank for cooking oil and do an SVO conversion
I knew there was a reason I liked you Steve....I mean you and I both have the Tim Allen mentality. Why give it only 25 more horespower when for just a bit more, you can get 200 horses out of it.
While you are at it, why not install a propane injection system in it? You will get alost a third more torque and horsepower...
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Terry Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine
AIR#2611
You shouldn't have to change the tranny in order to bolt the 6.2 diesel to the tranny in your 345. The only thing you would have to change is the bell housing on the tranny. It's only a few bolts and a swap. Chevy big block to Chevy small block (6.2 diesel is a small block) isn't too hard, Ive seen it done many times. I don't think you have to change the flywheel either, but I may be wrong. Oh, and different motormounts. The stock radiator should be fine also, but if you haven't had it cleaned or recored you may want to do so while you have it out. Sounds like a good idea to me. My grandfather bought a 1985 Silverado new to tow their Sunline when I was a kid, it was a great truck. As far as I know the guy he sold it too in 1990 is still driving it.
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"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."
I really like the diesel engines, but a 6.2 would not be to high on my list, short on power and problems with cooling ,needs a bigger radiator than stock. ( but there are some who love them). The 5.9 Cummins would be at the top of the list, a lot of torque plus good fuel mileage . If taken care of should run 500,000 miles in a pickup. But you are talking big bucks.
What I am looking at doing(due to having a doner truck) 6.9 IH diesel out of a 87 Ford pickup rebuilt , use the C-6 transmission after rebuilding it with a TCI towing torque converter and a US Gear overdrive unit to keep RPM's down. I can do all the work myself , freshing up the engine,transmission ,fabricate mounts , brackets and rewire as needed. But if you were going to pay someone to do this it would cost $$$$$ lot.
Hay getting there is most the fun!!
PS: 1975 Argosy 26 foot is the victim, hoping for 14-15MPG?
slow-canoe , you probably will get 14-15 mpg., with the 6.9
Not super on torgue, but a fuel pincher for its size. An ATS turbo, can give you quite a bit of additional torque, without sacraficing economy. For the C-6 trans, a proven winner, and the US Gear overdrive will keep your conversations at a whisper. Jeff
I like the idea of a 5.9 too....but they aren't giving those things away. No doubt that the stock 6.2 is a dog, but everything I've read on the diesel page about adding the Banks Sidewinder Turbo Kit says it'll outperform the newer Duramax.
I'm a sucker for a sleeper engine. There is just something kinda cool about the junkyard build up.
BTW - This is a fun post. It's drawing out all of those closet diesel people!
BTW - This is a fun post. It's drawing out all of those closet diesel people!
Thats very funny!
In our area, there seems to be quite a few of those 5.9 cummins diesel Dodges for sale, and cheap to boot! I still like this engine, but never liked the truck. Its amazing, just how much you can turn up the ponies, on a Duramax,Powerstroke, and Cummins. Our Ford is tweaked a bit, makes our 28', seem like a tent trailer in tow. If I keep my foot out of it, pulling averages 15 mpg@ 60mph., with a combined weight of 14,300 lbs. As for climibing grades, gee officer, I thought everone else was just pulling to the right to be courteous
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