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!
Hey...I resemble those remarks! I love the diesel engine concept over gasoline any day of the week. Much easier to work on and with the older ones dead simple, a lot less to go wrong. In addtion to my "new" 96 PSD, we have a Case backhoe and a JD 2020. I also maintain a couple of big company generators, one is an Isuzu 1.5 liter that I would swear was the same one that they used in the old Isuzu Pups the other is an ancient Perkins. My first diesel experience was a 1962 Landrover Series IIa with the Perkins in it, slowest darn thing on the road...I also like the idea of "home grown" fuel. And based on what I have seen, it would be easier and possibly more cost effective to go the biodiesel route over the ethanol one.
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
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.
No I'm not saying that at all. I just wanted to point out that power wise after you amp up the 6.2 is not going to be much more power then what you already have. This is defiantly not a power swap. You could put the same amount of money in your 454 and be 400 Hp and probably not be a whole lost worse MPG then you are now.
You have heard about fogging propane and diesels like fogging NOX to a gaser?...... read this...fogging HYDROGEN into a diesel. The best part is your making the Hydrogen as you drive. http://www.wired.com/news/autotech/0,2554,69529,00.html
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1959 22' Caravanner
1988 R20 454 Suburban.
Atlanta, GA
In our area, there seems to be quite a few of those 5.9 cummins diesel Dodges for sale, and cheap to boot!
CoastalView - Maybe you need to start scrapping those powerplants and shipping them east. I notice 5.9/allisons but even the parts trucks around here are spendy. If you don't mind me asking - what's a "cheap" donor go for in your area?
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.
The bell housings are identical between every chevrolet V8 I have seen. There is, however, different valving in the transmission, in the valve body, and the torque converter is different. However, the TH400 transmission shifts by VACUUM, which a diesel has virtually none of.
And Mike, I was referring to the 6.2 engine, not the Duramax (or even the Powerstroke) They WILL put the fear of God into unsuspecting passengers!
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Terry Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine
AIR#2611
don't we have a member who put a Cummins in his 310 ? I will have to look for that thread, he described the whole process.
I wonder though if shooting a few more dollars into your 454 wouldn't be more cost effective? You know adding a Banks or similiar...Jacobs electronics, or MSD , etc...it would be a lot less money and would yield somewhat similiar effect..plus gas is cheaper than diesel per gallon to fuel up, and the maintenance on the engine is also less $..just thinkin'
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Rallys twice a year..Lots of fun, food, and aluminum.
CoastalView - Maybe you need to start scrapping those powerplants and shipping them east. I notice 5.9/allisons but even the parts trucks around here are spendy. If you don't mind me asking - what's a "cheap" donor go for in your area?
I've seen even 90-93 models that are 2WD automatics, with 140,00-170,000 miles on them for $3,200.00-$3,700.00 The weak link in these models years, was the 4spd. automatic.Hense being cheap, but the 5 spd. manual trans, had issues, imput shafts. Ether way, there still cheap. I believe the 12 valve motor was in the second generation diesel powered Dodge's until the 96-97 model year. Scrap the truck on ebay, and keep the only good part, the Cummins!
If you decide to do this, try to find a pre-1995, if you wind up with a 6.5. Newer than that had computer controls, and EFI. This would make a swap harder than it needed to be, as you would have to transfer the engine wirting and electronics.
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Terry Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine
AIR#2611
I have always planned on doing a diesel conversion even before I purchased my MH. Well folks I have now bitten off the bullet and will attempt to put a 2005 Cummins diesel into my 1977 24" Argosy MH. After much research, here are some of my conclusions: I determined the Cummins to be the best diesel for the swap. Reasons: The GM 6.2 and 6.5 engines are underpowered unless you do a lot of High Performance mods which then end up costing bunches of money. Also the higher you raise the HP & torque levels in these engines the more you risk overheating them because they do not have an intercooler, and the pre 2001 (before AM General took over) engines have weaker cases. The Duramax is a great engine, but because the Turbo is on top, it will not fit in the Doghouse. I am not a Ford guy so can not comment on their diesel. If you swap a diesel for a gasser, you should use an overdrive transmission because of the lower rev limit and peak torque comes in much earlier. If you use a higher rear end gear, you will lose a lot of power in those hills.
Now for the Cummins: Legendary durability. Average life before rebuild, 350,000 miles, some known to go 1,000,000 miles. Slim straight six with the turbo mounted on the lower right hand side. Less parts and runs cooler than V8 diesels. Weighs 400 lbs more than the 454, put in some higher rated springs or use heavy duty air bags which will give you an extra 1,000 lbs capacity. Later model Cummins (2003+), are very quite in comparison to the earlier ones. Power: 325HP, 610Ft lbs of torque, this can be easily increased if so desired. Engine will run on Bio diesel or waste vegetable oil. Buy the way, bio-diesel and WVO will mix with No2 diesel. The WVO has to be in a separate heated tank via some rerouted coolant lines but once you run out of WVO in that tank, just put in the N02.
As for initial cost, if you are patient, you can find a salvaged low mileage late model Cummins diesel with the Dodge four speed overdrive attached and sometimes all the extras; serpentine belt and fan, alternator, AC compressor, power steering pump, starter etc. I've seen these go for $3,500 to $6,000 on Ebay. I was looking at a High Performance 6.5 diesel (300HP) but it was going to cost $8,000 to $10,000 plus the cost of the overdrive transmission.
Downside: All the late model diesels are electronic. This results in greater power and effeciency, plus reduces particulate emissions, but may make for a more complex installation. Make sure you get the ECU when you purchase, although a rebuilt one can be had for $400.
So in summary: IMHO if you compare a old slightly modified underpowered GM 6.2 TD diesel that cost $4,000 to $5,000 (without overdrive trans) to a late model Cummins engine for a couple of thousand more (with trans), I'll go for the Cummins, and I did. Now will all this work? Well I guess I am going to find out. I will give it my best shot! See you down the road, I hope!
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