chevy gas to diesel change could it be done?

[kenmac]

I'll add my 2 cents. Just buy a truck with a diesel already in it. It will be cheaper in the long run. No telling what the cost would be if you or, you pay someone to do the swap. Like has been said . I haven't seen a diesel in a 1500 ( 1/2) ton truck.You would have to change..... suspension, rear end, transmission, brakes,etc,etc,etc

 

[George2615]

I'll agree with Jim. A 1/2 ton gas truck could be converted but would not be cost effective. Having a shop covert it would be expensive since they have to replace the motor, trans, wiring harnesses, computers etc. Even used junkyard diesel motors and parts are costly and when complete then you'd have to try and get it inspected. In my state your truck would currently be registered as having a gas engine and 96 and newer have to plugged in to the state computer. If it shows up suddenly as a diesel, it fails inspection because 1/2 tons did not come with nor was it available with a diesel.
Better to look around for a good used diesel truck.

 

[Eagleview]

A 4BT Cummins from a Chev parcel van will come with a T400 transmission , cable throttle , air con pump and be no heavier than a big block Chev . A guy i know imports them from the states and sells them here with all duties, freight and proffit for $4400 AU . If they can sell them here for that sort of $ what can you get one for there ? They bolt in quiet easily , all you need to do is use your vapour return line to your gas tank for the Diesel return line . They are 12volt and only require a single heavy duty battery . They use no computers and two wires will get one running . It will come with the correct sump but if you need a different type the reverse sump is available . I know of one in an F100 and one in a Landcruiser . They idle a bit rough but are very economical . Do a Google on 4BT Cummins conversions . Not everyone wants to be like the Joe next door , have a look at my truck in my gallery . A new F250 cab on a near new Nissan Patrol chassis and diffs with a Turbo XR6 Falcon engine , dash and firewall . Why ? Because i wanted too ...With the why do'nt you just buy one mentality there would be no resto's , no hot rods , no customs just boring old same "o" .

 

[MikePA]

...With the why do'nt you just buy one mentality there would be no resto's , no hot rods , no customs just boring old same "o" .

greenthumb - you indicated you could not do the work yourself. Did you also want to create a resto, hot rod or custom truck?

 

[Eagleview]

greenthumb - you indicated you could not do the work yourself. Did you also want to create a resto, hot rod or custom truck?

greenthumb// Your question was can it be done ? Not , what is your opinion , should i just buy another truck . As i seem to remember you could not afford a new truck , you wanted to keep your old truck as it was in good shape and that you wanted to run Bio Diesel . Google the 4BT Cummins i'm sure you will see it's a good engine to "customize" your truck with and will run on Bio Diesel . Now where's that picture of that 8N .

 

[MikePA]

greenthumb// Your question was can it be done ? Not , what is your opinion , should i just buy another truck .

Some of us did answer his question even though the answer was obvious and greenthumb most certainly knew the answer, i.e., with enough money and time almost anything can be done. Others even suggested almost any local shop could do the work. Still others answered a question that wasn't asked (how dare they!), that having someone else do the work would probably make the conversion impractical.

Now where's that picture of that 8N .

Since it didn't have a frame, hanging on the wall of failed designs.

 

[Eagleview]

If i said i had a Black dog you'd say yours was Blacker , get over it .

 

[MossRoad]

O.K. Settle down folks.

To summarize what I have read so far... it can be done. It looks like it will cost a lot of money compared to replacing the gas engine.

So I ask the original poster:
Are the costs worth the end result?
Is that what you relly want, with diesel a dollar more a gallon than gas right now. Also, look at the HP rating of that diesel conversion mentioned... it is something like 120HP VS a gasser at 200+. After reading some of the conversion notes at one of the companies that does the conversion for Toyota Landcruisers, they will no longer put used engines in as they are becoming increasingly rare, and the ones that are out there are of unkown condition, so they are buying reconditioned motors from cummins.... at over $7000.00 a poke. OUCH!

My opinion is that if you really want a diesel, buying a used diesel pickup would be the most responsible thing to do with your money.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

greenthumb// Your question was can it be done ? Not , what is your opinion , should i just buy another truck . As i seem to remember you could not afford a new truck , you wanted to keep your old truck as it was in good shape and that you wanted to run Bio Diesel . Google the 4BT Cummins i'm sure you will see it's a good engine to "customize" your truck with and will run on Bio Diesel . Now where's that picture of that 8N .

You forgot to mention his admitted lack of mechanical knowledge. Putting myself in his shoes, I would not want a "yes" or "no" answer. It can be done, yes. So with no explanation of what it would take, he loads the diesel engine in the back of his truck and goes down to the local garage and tells them to swap engines. After the laughter subsides, he leaves feeling like an arse because his buddies on TBN said it could be done. If I were in his shoes, I would feel grateful to get the answers I did. I feel it would have been irresponsible at best to give a one word answer in this situation. The picture of the 8N is next to the picture of the guy that successfully did this.

 

[Eagleview]

You forgot to mention his admitted lack of mechanical knowledge. Putting myself in his shoes, I would not want a "yes" or "no" answer. It can be done, yes. So with no explanation of what it would take, he loads the diesel engine in the back of his truck and goes down to the local garage and tells them to swap engines. After the laughter subsides, he leaves feeling like an arse because his buddies on TBN said it could be done. If I were in his shoes, I would feel grateful to get the answers I did. I feel it would have been irresponsible at best to give a one word answer in this situation. The picture of the 8N is next to the picture of the guy that successfully did this.

As its a well known conversion it would only be a person like you that would laugh at him , but not to his face .