GM V8 Diesel Aussie Conversions

[dieselcruiserhead]

Posted this to the LCML, thought you guys might like some of these "cool links"

http://www.linquip.com.au/
http://www.brunswickdiesels.com.au/

Bennett, chime in here about GM diesels not being related to the gassers. Some bolt pattern tho!


Andre

[gunracer1]

it looks like they both do nice work, but why. i mean a 6.2, 6.5 chevy is about the worst in reliability ever made. i could see some smaller cummins conversion and others but not a chevy diesel. mike

[dieselcruiserhead]

I agree completely, apparently the Aussies think it's an awesome engine, the first link called the GM V8's "a gift from above." Spooky -- but I'm still waiting for Bennett to chime in here, some people think this motor sucks, others think it's awesome.

Here's what I wrote to the Diesel List:

You can probably shoehorn a 6.5 Chevy TD into a FJ80. I've seen normal V8's mated to the stock automatic transmission and I hear that tranny (A440F) is robust enough to hold up to a V8. But with the Chevy 6.5L TD engine enter a whole new ball game.

1) It is heavy, so you'll need custom front coil springs to compensate for the extra weight.

2) My friend who sold me my (new to me as of yesterday!) 75 FJ40 also has one of these in his Suburban. With the stock tranny from the factory he's actually blown not one, or two but *three stock trannies in 80,000 miles. He's also had two computers, three sets of glow plugs, the windshield wipers
have a mind of their own and overall the truck is about 100% lemon. So you will definetely need to replace the stock transmission (and t-case for that matter).

3) You'll have to look into the power output of that engine as well. Most American diesels have relatively "low" hp output but whopping amounts of torque. I can say that it powers that full size Suburban very well so I wouldn't be surprized if it's putting out in excess of 400 ft/lbs of torque. If that is the case you will also need to replace the axles, most likely with Dana 1-ton (60 or 70) axles. In a leaf sprung truck it could be done relatively easily but in a coiler it would probably be quite a bit tougher and would require some fairly advanced fabrication skills, making a 60
series a more likely candidate for the conversion.

4) About the shoe horn part, the 80 series engine bay is very large but the 6.5 with turbo and extraneous plastic covers etc etc you might have some trouble. But here is a pict of an 80 with a 5.7L V8: http://www.outbacklandcruisers.com/p...ite80swap1.jpg
I've heard of this engine fitting in various engine bays but only without the turbo, so you'll definetely want to look into it.

5) The US spec ones I've seen are computerized (though I wouldn't be surprized if there is an earlier, uncomputerized version of the 6.5TD). Personally I know *absolutely nothing* about computerized diesel systems other than I imagine there are some similarities with gassers like Lamba O2 sensors and I probably imagine computerized fuel and timing control. But figuringing out all of this stuff in my book would be not worth it when there are other possibilities that are easier, more realistic given their known power outout, and will certainly be cheaper.

6) The 6.5 uses the same adapters as gasser Chevy V8s so you should not experience too many problems there.

7) A few days ago I spoke to Specter and they are now selling the parts to install a standard transmission into a 80 which most likely will allow for the use of a NV4500HD - the only tranny I'd use behind a diesel with over 300 ft/lbs of torque.

-snip snip-

Andre

[Berg]

6.2/6.5 engineering is now twenty years old this year. I know lots of people think they are a POS. I have not owned one but I know of one cruiser installation using the 6.2. Steering ended up being the hard part.
Still not finished as far as I know. Here is a link.. http://www.geocities.com/Baja/3480/diesel.htm

I think 6.2 got a bad rap from the 5.7s. Most people think they are just a converted gas motor, Not so. They have an extremely heavy well desined block and utilize a roller valve train. Stanadyne injection system is what the military likes and has done for many years. I would think a majority of problems iwth the 6.2 and 5.7s were operator error and maintenance. Some say the cooling on the 6.2s was poor on the rear two cylinders.Remember the old 4.3s ( six cylinder) diesels in the olds and pontiac 6000s?? They didn't last long. This week I have been involved in two 6.2 changeouts by a GM mechanic and he has got me to thinking they are not the "bad" engine everyone claims. This guy has had 13 engines given to him by people that thought they were toast. 11 of these engine run fine. His years of experience has shown that people want "gasser" performance and easy maintenance in a diesel.
I think a 6.2 0r 6.5 in a cruiser 60 or 55 would be a good set up.They can be obtained very inexpensively and parts are plentiful and cheap. A 6.2 weighs slightly more than a 2F.
Almost the same dimensions as a Big Block Chev.
Jury is stikll out for me on these but will post as I become more familiar and convinced as to their durability.
PS..I would use a sm465 behind a 6.2 and not a auto.

bennett

[Berg]

http://www.gmc-diesel.com/

go to photos and view the tug of war video... 3.4 mb... loads pretty fast.


bennett

[BJ On Roids]

they even use the 5.7 oldsmobile diesle in some conversions

i have seen 60/70/75/78/80 series conversion done

mostly they keep the toyota running gear!! ???

but yeah.......i think the 1HD-T is better, for lighter
a lot of guys get a phat over it??!!??

[lowrider]

I have an Ausi 4X4 mag, where a guy put an 6.5 DT in an 80 series, using the stock 5 speed via a Marks adapter. They installed HD OME springs. The install was very clean- and they did not reinstall the plastic cover over the intake. The article is in $WD offroad Australia #21, for anyone down under.

[BJ On Roids]

yeah i was thinking of that article when i typed that message

they seem to feature a new linquip or marks conversion car every month


im sick of all the mags featuring, these i ticked all the boxes and signed the cheque rigs (most dont even wheel)

GRRR /flame off

if you tick the boxes and sign the cheque and wheel, then im cool with it!!

[fj40charles]

The GM 6.2/6.5 diesel will be fine if power output and reliability is NOT a factor for you. At our local dyno days we had a Chevy truck with a 6.5 motor that was all hopped up with chrome and polished intake, custom programmed ECM, and etc., The engine builder said it would make 300 HP and the guy believed him and spend 3K on the motor build up. That thing did 160 HP and 280 ft/torque to the rear wheels. For a reference, a stock Cummins will do 200 HP and 450 ft/lbs to the rear wheels. This is what we saw on the actual Dynojet dyno. Not much to brag about when we have our trucks doing 300 HP+ and 670 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels.

IMHO, the early GM diesels really do suck when it comes to power. If you really want a GM diesel, get the duramax. More power, but still less torque than a stock Cummins.

Charles

[Aarrgghh]

So how water-resistant it the 6.5L turbo-diesel? I wanna know 'coz this happens to me every now and then:
http://www.pbase.com/image/15908452
Here my engine died 'coz the f***-up distributor got drowned.

I've thought about the Duramax but I I guess it has more electronics to worry about?

Thanks.