The 5.7L diesel that was offered by GM in the late '70's and early '80's was gasser based.
I had one of those, an 82 Chevy wagon. I retired it for a 1988 Thunderbird, it had 286,000 miles and the only issue it had was the injector pump which GM replace free at 98,000 miles.
"There is an enormous misconception that the 350 Olds is based on GM's 350 gas engine. While they share similar architectural dimensions, this is a rumor. Not only would such a design be engineering suicide, but the gas engine would never live up to the cylinder pressures created by the 22.5 : 1 compression diesel. In fact, GM's official statement regarding these rumors was that "All of the major parts: block, crankshaft, rods, pistons, and lifters have been strengthened to handle the higher compression ratio." The rumor that the engines are related likely stems from a combination of the following:
• Because of the engine's identical bore and stroke, the Olds diesel could be manufactured using pre-existing tooling.
• Not only is it easy to assume the 350 diesel is based on the 350 gas engine, but owners and outsiders alike needed to place the engine's problems on something.
Regardless, the 350 Olds was capable of up to 30 miles per gallon in the right car and with the right driver. GM continuously tried to sell buyers on its Olds diesel by identifying it with "prestige" and "status". Unfortunately, by the time most of the kinks were worked out, their customers had fled. "
350 Olds Diesel | 5.7L Oldsmobile Diesel Specs & History
