Thread: Diesel Chevelle?

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Originally posted by pfogle
http://www.veggiecar.com/

Need I say more?????

Just because a diesel is most commonly found in a truck in the US DOES NOT mean it isn't a good idea in a car. A 5.7l or 6.2 diesel doesn't way too much more than a 454.. If it was me, I'd do it and prove all you nay-sayers wrong. A diesel doesn't need to turn a lot of rpms to make power. Then you turbo the beast and you've got horsepower at low rpms. With the right gears you can get 25mpg at 100+mph in a car. THink about this, the VW golf, rabbit, truck, beetle, passat, and jetta are/were all available with a diesel. They also get 50+mpg day in and day out. I would go that route if I could afford a new car. Diesel prices are higher yes, but when I'm filling up HALF AS MUCH the cost difference is negligible. My advice to some of you is grow up, and think OUTSIDE the box. Just because society says something is wrong doesn't mean it is.... Stop listening to other people and do what YOU want. If someone else does'nt like it too bad. It's a free country (at least the us is), and we can do as we please. If it makes someone mad, oh well...

Do it and then go eat some camaros for lunch.

With the right gears you can get 25mpg in about anything! Why not take the turbo off the deisel put it on a mild fuel injected 350 with a 6spd you would have plenty of power, good driveability, and at least it would still be cool!!!!

Okay, in 1970 the olds cutlass was the same car as the chevelle. If he could find a 69 to 72 or so cutlass with a 350 gas motor in it, he'd have the motor mounts. The electrical system isn't that much different than a gas motor. You just need to hook the coil wire to a fuel pump with a relay. Diesel are far more reliable than gas motors, and if he uses a 5.7l diesel (properly built) he can use any BOP transmisison he wants (again has to properly built to handle the power). Then add a turbo and few other small improvements to the exhaust and intake and he's got a car that will perform just as well as a built 350. It's all a matter of taste. If it were me I'd use the diesel just because it can get better fuel economy.

real reliable in the winter time to

In order to use a 350N, he would have to immediatly put in a crank, camshaft and head gaskets to avoid later problems. The just run the oil filter from hell and change it regularly. Swiftster, I was looking into a 350N and realise there were problems with them. In their case there was a porus crank problem with the 79s and 80s, and camshafts up till they went roller. Unfortunatly, this was too late in the game and yes, it did kill of diesel sales. But any motor has problems the first time out. Good example, the 8-6-4 caddy motors. Now if someone could make THESE work, that would be impressive

As odd as the diesel muscle car subject may be, I have found this thread to be of the more interesting that I have seen. Unfortunately, we haven't heard anything from the originator of this issue. SKOLAIKS...where are you? I hope you haven't been put off by all the comments. I'm into the "old school" thing myself personally, but I do appreciate "outside the box" ideas and those daring enough to go through with them. Funny, it wasn't too long ago when someone pondering the thought of putting in a "modern fuel injected" v-8 engine into a classic anything would be considered nothing short of a hanging offense. Overdrive trannies...similar response back then! Now they are commonplace, and then some. I'll assume that SKOLAIKS has lost interest since his first post...a shame. But someone will do it. Someone may well have already done it...wouldn't be suprised. If you go by the numbers, it can work. If done well, it will not be a "cheap" swap. But in comparison to high end late model computerized gas v-8s, computerized overdrive tranny swaps, it can't be that far off in $. I think this is more of a matter of taste...and tradition. The only part of the diesel thing that "wierds me out" is hearing a 70 chevelle rumbling at idle with the very obvious diesel engine and exhaust noise. The motors are getting quieter all the time, but can the exhaust pitch be altered to the point of not being too obvious that it is a big diesel? I could see an old El Camino being a good car for a swap. It already has the pseudo truck think going for it. It could make real nice tow rig as well. Anyone crazy enough to give it a go?

George

Why???

Why not. It's his car he can do what he wants with it.

I know they made el caminos with stock diesels. They're rare but I have seen one. So it could be done.

Just because it has been done does not mean it was a good idea! JMO

I have a 51' dodge flat bed and I am putting a 12 valve cummins in it. I was looking for info on my swap when I ran across this thread. I think that its a great idea and why not? Everyone puts a chevy in everything, why not put in a cummins? I personaly think the early chevy diesels are junk, but why not. Isn't that was "Custom" means?

So where is SKOLAIKS? We want to hear from you. THESATCHMO good luck with the cummins project. Wouldn't it be interesting if throwing souped up diesels in vintage muscle cars becomes an accepted concept. I personally would crack up in hysterics if I saw a 70 chevelle running 10s or 11s with a well worked over modern turbo diesel with the exhaust smelling like french fry grease from the home brewed BIODIESEL it was running on. Imagine getting your ass kicked by something running on recycled cooking oil! It sure wouldn't do much for my ego. Any don't think that it can't be done. I personally saw a 5000lb truck do mid 12s...on street tires! He put plenty some $ into it, but it weighs 5000lbs!!!! I'll stick with big cube gas motors myself, but the potential of diesels are hard to deny!

George

Sorry I've taken so long to post....Been very busy....I'm thankful for y'all's interest, and here goes the big answer: Yes, I am interested in running biodiesel in it....I mean I can make it in my garage, and it burns cleaner than petrol diesel and actually lubes the engine better, from what I've read......And it's cheap (I can probably make it for under a dollar a gallon at least).....Now, before anyone forms a lynch mob, I'm definitely not looking to make it without power.....I'm not a speed freak, but I'd like it to have at least enough worthy of a muscle car....Now, I've thought about selling it so someone could restore it more conventionally, but it already doesn't have the original motor (it's one I rebuilt from a '74 pick up, 350 4blt .30 over, good motor) and the body panels all have at least one rust hole (gotta love the gulf coast), so I'm gonna have to do some extensive patching and replacement, and the frame needs some straightening, so I figured it wouldn't be worth trying to restore it to original(ish) specs........Now, I couldn't justify having a car that I only drive on weekends, and I drive at least 70 miles a day so I thought trying to convert it and run it on clean renewable fuel while still being able to kick some butt when it needs to would be the best option.....I mean if any of y'all have ever seen the H-town skyline when the polution is up, you might think similarly....I plan on doing this conversion from the ground up, and am willing to spend the money to do it right.....I'd rather put money into a car that I know every square inch of and that I can make cheap fuel for in my garage than buy a new or used one.....You can't get much cooler that a 70 Chevelle in my book.........So there it is, a little bit from column A a little from B.......Throw stones if you wish, but I'm gonna do it, and I'll keep anyone who's interested posted, and will be back with plenty of questions I'm sure........Thanks, skolaiks...............................

please keep us posted, Dare To Be Different

Also, since I'm looking to make this thing street-legal, does anyone know if I'd have any trouble getting it inspected and what not? I know it varies state-to-state, but I'd hate to drop all the time and money and not be able to drive it like I want to.........

Go kick @$$ and take names. I'm all for it. Be very wary though as to the home brew biodiesel. All you have to do is screw up one batch...and the motor may become VERY unhappy very quickly. PLEASE post updates, my girlfriend may rekindle her interest in me tearing up my 69 firebird. Not likely...maybe I won't mention it to her! Glad to know that your still alive. I was starting to wonder if some good ol boys overheard your "crime of nature" idea and did you in!

I'm dying to know your eventual driveline decision. I wish I could be a technical help to you in your quest. But alas...I'm not a diesel guy. I'm trying to nail down the specs on a 434 cubic inch stroked AMC 401 to run in a 3.15 geared car with a .7 overdrive and get it to pull 20mpg+ in a 3500lb. convertible. And of course run in the say mid 13s in the 1/4 in full street trim!
I think that you could do much better in the mileage department with the right combo. Let me know how it goes.

George

Best think I can recommend for the inspection and legality thing is to call your state DMV office and ask them. The fact that the car is 35yrs old is definitely an advantage. If it will be registered as a classic car, it may fall in the self inspected category. Again, check your state DMV.

George

Ok, I thought of this a bit ago....Steering......I'd rather not muscle (no pun int.) a Chevelle when I gotta parallel park and whatnot without power steering............So, if I'm putting the diesel in (esp. if I decide to go w/non-GM), what would that entail as far as pwr steering goes?....Any thoughts?....skolaiks