I don't know what to say. It does though remind me of a bizarre event that happened recently. My girlfriend got in a serious "tree hugging" mode one day and suggested that I pull out the absolutely perfect condition fresh 12.5:1 comp 383 stroker chevy out of the 69 firebird and put some SMALL diesel in it and redesign it(read...replace the rest of the driveline for way different gearing needs) to run efficiently on "Biodiesel". If that half an hour lasted any longer...I would have been real concerned for her sanity!!!!
I'm not mocking you...seriously! But I am curious as to why you are interested in the diesel concept. I'm convinced that you can fit just about anything into anything else when it comes to cars. In fact, the only 2 things that seemed totally nuts about my girlfriends "seizure" was that 1- she wanted me to take a nice muscle car a put a "very small powered diesel" in it that would put it in the performance category of a Yugo and the fact that this is a FINISHED great condition car with a FRESH driveline that runs great.
If you can get past the old fashioned traditional "diesels have no place in a muscle car thing" the engines have come a long way in design. Banks has a diesel powered truck running over 220 mph...yikes! I think it would be VERY interesting to see a modern truck diesel powerplant(preferably hopped up a bit with some of the abundant aftermarket products out there) put into a big Chevelle body that has an engine compartment big enough to swallow one of those suckers. It shouldn't be that much harder that retrofitting a computerized late model gas v-8 into an older car, done all the time. But it would be a significant undertaking depending on what your car already has in it and your wallet's size.

First off, what are your intentions here? A quick low budget used motor swap in a tired car....A ground up car restoration with a sizable budget. It sounds like closer to the former from your post.

Is it posible..oh yeah. Is it worth it or cost effective in your time or money? depends on lots of things...mostly you.

Is it the anywhere near the simplest and most cost effective
option. Not a chance! BUT it could be cool if done right. 25mpg torquer!!

Regardless...it's a sizable job that would require custom mounts, a diesel motor and most likely it's matching tranny from the same donor car/truck if used, lots of wiring, sensor pieces, exhaust, computer management issues, fuel tank modifications, on and on. My head is spinning.

Sounds like your a free thinker...A good thing!

So what are your thoughts?

George