Thread: Diesel Chevelle?

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Ok, I know this might sound odd, but I have an old beater 70 chevelle, and I 'm wanting to know if there are any diesel motors that I could mount in it without major modification to the block or frame, drivetrain etc.........Thanks....

Why???

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

Originally posted by Dave Severson
Why???

Why???

If you're serious I'd look for a early to late 90's GM 6.2L or 6.5L diesel from a light duty pick-up. Physically the engine is between a standard small and big block Chevy, stock mounts should work as well since it was the upgrade engine over the basic gas motors.

The 6.2s were normally aspirated, the 6.5s are most commonly found to be the turbocharged variety. These are high compression diesels, 21:1, with boost limited to around 6lbs or so. The motor is still in production, it's what you get in a real Hummer.

The 6.2s were around 150bhp and the 6.5Ts were right at 200BHP stock. In marine trim these were bumped to 300-350BHP with somewhere near 650ft/lbs of torque. Different pistons brought the compression down to 16:1, then boost was raised to 20lbs.

I'd find a rotted out pick-up and transplant the entire drivetrain. Take the hydro-boost pump for the power brakes (assuming the Chevelle has PB).

Stay away from the mid 80's GM 5.7L diesels as these were a POS.

Regards, Mark

Originally posted by TravisB
Why???

I want to know too, why?!!!!??!!!?

Originally posted by MAW

Stay away from the mid 80's GM 5.7L diesels as these were a POS.

Actually, the 350N motors werent bad motors once they worked the bugs out of them. The problems were associated with the cranks and camshafts on the earlier motors. Get an 82-later and youll find good cranks and roller cams. However, there are also 4.3L incarnation of these motors that are found across the GM line. Not too familiar with them, but their good for somewhere around 35mpg highway. As for Hp from a diesel, a lot of rules apply from gas motors. larger valves, free flowing exhaust, ported intake, these all work. Finally, beware of head gaskets and ALWAYS replace the head bolts if you blow a gasket. better yet, put in head studs.

Duramax. You can get them cheap with the allison 5 speed still attached. They have an aluminum block and heads to keep the weight down. A chipped engine will make 300 whp and over 700 lbft of torque. In a car as light as a Chevelle, you may be better off adapting a turbo 400 or powerglide to fit in place of the allison.

Originally posted by 76GMC1500
Duramax. You can get them cheap with the allison 5 speed still attached. They have an aluminum block and heads to keep the weight down. A chipped engine will make 300 whp and over 700 lbft of torque. In a car as light as a Chevelle, you may be better off adapting a turbo 400 or powerglide to fit in place of the allison.

These are all good ideas I guess, but WHY???? It would need all 700lbft to get it to move it would be so nose heavy! What would you do for front suspension?? And it would drive like a dump truck

A Duramax weighs about the same as a 426 hemi at 836 lbs, it might even weigh less than stock hemi with iron heads.

Originally posted by 76GMC1500
A Duramax weighs about the same as a 426 hemi at 836 lbs, it might even weigh less than stock hemi with iron heads.

Ok so it is lighter than i thought I stand corrected. Hemi cars handled like dump trucks too, why waste a chevelle.

No one has answered my original question!

Why!!!!!!

Ok, I'll answer the question. Diesels get better mileage, produce more torque and are generally more durable. Plus, when was the last time you saw a 70 chevelle diesel?

I think it would be great. Never heard of it being done before. Technically...it could be a very strong performer if done well. I've seen 5000+lb full sized trucks running 12's in the 1/4 with over the counter mods to their diesels. Imagine the potential in a 3800lb muscle car. I'm not about to tear apart my 69, but I'd love to see someone else do it!!

Those hemi cars handled like dump trucks because they didn't have shock absobers on the front suspension. I think that had more of an effect on handling than the weight of the engine.

Hemi cars didn't have shocks??? That's a new one on me.