8.2 liter diesel in Chevy kodiak

[Hay Dude]

I have never known a guy with a Detroit that did not cuss them. I would pass.

Chris

Ford sure liked them, even though they were made by GM lol
1988 FORD F800 for sale in Albemarle, North Carolina - Commercial Truck Trader

Trans was a GM, too.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Ford sure liked them, even though they were made by GM lol
1988 FORD F800 for sale in Albemarle, North Carolina - Commercial Truck Trader

Trans was a GM, too.

What's this have to do with anything? I'll stick to origional statement that they are cussed no matter what they are in.

That was a real low point for Ford I guess.

Chris

 

[Hay Dude]

The fuel pinchers were just that. A fuel pinching diesel alternative to a big block gasser that got 5mpg. The 8.2L would get you close to 10. Back then, diesel fuel was cheaper, too, so the savings on fuel was legitimate.
I don't think they were trying to fool anyone that they were buying a 1/2 million mile diesel. It was probably a $2,000 option over big block gas back then. There were a lot of "boat anchor" early medium duty diesels back then, 6.9's, 7.3's, 3208's...none of them built to last and underpowered in true MD apps. I think the 8.2L was as good or better than any of the early diesels.

 

[daugen]

1980: The 8.2 Fuel Pincher diesel was introduced.

GM also sold a bunch of these into the marine business and they had very mixed results. Run them easy, they would last, and btw,they were four cycle, not two.
But my understanding is that turboed models put under heavy load just did not last. Head gaskets blew and I believe they did not have lined blocks so the whole engine had to come out and be rebored, or start over
with a new shortblock. Basically marketed as a lower cost way to get into diesel, and save fuel. If you go to boatdiesel.com and search this engine, you will get some remarkable info.

 

[Johnp33]

The 8.2 was a tecnoligy engine the block does not have a fire deck the cylinders stand free, the original ones did have a head gasket problem the later ones did not. we fixed them all under warrenty recall.
The exhaust manifold on the turbos had inserts, to keep the heat in the exhaust, they are awkward to tune up and the injector set tool was expensive.
I worked on them and they were a lot better than the early 3208's, they were a drop in for a gas motor, either Ford or GM.
I worked for a couple of years at a trucking company, they had three of them as P&D with over 250,000 miles and still running strong. While at Freightliner a tractor sales company had one it had about 400,000 miles delivering tractors on a tilt deck.
They are a medium duty engine, used as a pebble hauler single axle you should have no problem getting 250,000 out of it. Maintenance is the key to longevity on every engine.

 

[daugen]

Detroit 8.2 turbo motor running - YouTube

not a critical point, but these engines always sounded nice and seemed relatively quiet

 

[Red Horse]

My two cents, a boat anchor motor. and don't confuse the 8.2 with a 53 series or 71 series Detroits. As someone pointed out to you, the 8.2 is a 4 cycle while the 53, 71 and 92's are two cycle.

Sounds like Johnp33 has a lot of experience-my comments are "heresay". I will say though, that back in my "youth" I bought a bunch of 6-71 powered LN-9000 Ford single axle tractors. They replaced a bunch of White 9000's that had V-185 Cummins power-another "boat anchor". Those 6-71's Louisvilles were the best- leaks, yeah, noisy yeah, but between the driver friendly Ford cab and compared to the 185's the driver's loved them.

In any case if you can buy it right, and if its running now and sounds okay, you can always get another one out of a junkyard or repower with a gas V-8.

 

[Hay Dude]

To the OP: If you're worried, just get an oil test or have an old school diesel mech check it out before you buy it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy an 8.2L. lots of displacement there, too.
Red Horse: Drop in a gas V-8??? That would cut fuel economy in half. Fuel is ridiculous right now. Better off just keeping the motor the same. I've done gas to diesel and diesel to gas conversions and they're more complicated and expensive than just swapping the same engine....

 

[case245]

my brother n laws brother had one in a ford 7000 it was a gd motor never give he a headache he ran the piss out of it he brokes 95% of the stuff he owns its a 502 cu in it had a turbo on it the truck was an 1980s had had another dump with a brailian 400 cu in diesel in it the was slow the detroit would pass it with a load on it and the other dump empty guys dog the detoit because they are cummings only guys i been around alot of dumps i dont care for a cummings i rather have a detroit they run cheap on the gas engine 427 cu in chevy tall deck are good engines had one in a c65 a 1975 dump 10 mpg empy 6 loaded with the cat on the back and a load of stone in the bed

 

[Red Horse]

To the OP: If you're worried, just get an oil test or have an old school diesel mech check it out before you buy it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy an 8.2L. lots of displacement there, too.
Red Horse: Drop in a gas V-8??? That would cut fuel economy in half. Fuel is ridiculous right now. Better off just keeping the motor the same. I've done gas to diesel and diesel to gas conversions and they're more complicated and expensive than just swapping the same engine....

My point on the gas V-8 is the chassis he is buying is built for either engines-8.2 or gas=should be a relatively easy swap-and I'm talking about engine and trans together. As for the mileage issue, it sounds like its a farm truck-not a lot of mileage so with the added per gallon cost of diesel vs. gas, IMO not an unrealistic option. AGAIN MOST IMPORTANT POINT-the truck was built either way so its not like its a completely foriegn swap.