Installing Diesel Motor???

[mars1952]

I have a 1975 BLAZER with a gas guzzling 350 :I]

Want to sell your Blazer? PM me.
Mars

 

[zzvyb6]

What about options to improve the mileage of the Blazer? Drop some weight (bumpers, cab, add aluminum manifold, remove seats and glass, etc). Get a newer carburetor and manifold to go with 2 barrel operation. Run high pressure low rolling resistance tires. 0.304 rear end gear. Pinchout brakes. High temperature thermostat. Fuel economy cam. Straight exhaust. Lower cab height, tupperware skirts and air dams. All these things reduce fuel usage.

You could also consider knocking out 4 cylinders and running only on the other 4. This was an option GM was working on in the '70s by putting a flapper valve in the intake plenum. The manifolds are designed with 2 sets of runners. By shutting off 1 runner from the carb, you feed only air to it. You could make it manually operated such that in case of necessity, it could be switched back in.

 

[gengine]

Maybe someone can confirm it, but I think I remember the 6.2l GM diesel block is a 350 cu. in. block, just different other parts. The 6.5l GM diesel is also the same block, different stroke and a turbo. Both are mechanical motors, and the weight isn't too much different. The idea of a tractor engine mod is pretty cool, but way past my patience. I think you will find one of those two will be a better fit for you. Put a solinoid on the inner fender for with a switch on the dash for glow plugs, fuel filter swap, and maybe a little research for your fuel tank, and I think it could be done. We bought a '84 gmc with a 6.2l diesel for $2500 last winter. You can find them pretty often for prices like that. The glow plugs are a pain to change, being located under the exhaust manifolds. We used to swap the 6.2l's for the turbo 6.5l's in Humvee's when I was in the Army. Overall, motor wise, the 350 should be a bolt in for the 6.2l or the 6.5l. The fuel filter and housing I picked up at Napa, I don't remember the price. The solinoid is also a very common Napa item.

 

[bgeddes]

I drove a 6.2L '83 Suburban for about 150K miles. It had a 700R4 Trans. If you drove less that 65-68 on the highway, it would get right at 30mpg. Nearly that in city driving too. I pulled a lightly loaded two axle Uhaul from CT to PA and MPG dropped to 29. With a 40 gallon tank, the range was incredible. My longest single tank trip was Grand Rapids, MI to Ft. Bragg, NC, about 900 miles. One tank of fuel, one potty stop, and 1/4 tank of fuel remaining on arrival. I pulled cars on trailers with it, campers, all kind of stuff. Patience is key, it was a DOG.

All of those factory parts are available for your swap. The Army had a bazillion of them, CUCVs, and they are showing up in parts yards all over here.

I drove the truck out from around that motor. At 275K, the truck was done, the motor was not. It is in someone else's project right now.

 

[jetboat]

I pulled/swapped allot of 6.2 for 6.5's in my Army days. Prior to that I helped my dad put our diesel chevette motor into 3 different chassis (kept wearing out the cars but not the motor). A 6.2 or the better 6.5 Turbo weighs nearly the same as a bigblock. Ive only swapped in 1 6.5 in place of a 350 and it was relativly easy. Needed bigblock motor mounts, new fuel tank, new fuel lines and a hydro booster (astro van ones work). Bolt pattern is the same as other chavy small/big blocks but you will need a diesel starter.

As for power and milage... the 6.2's will get you the best milage but you can barely get out of your own way (hence why we swapped them out for 6.5's in the Hummers). They live forever and you can get hummer take outs with under 20k miles for under $1000. Ive seen them on CL for $500.

6.5's came in mechanical versions that are the easiest to swap. Great reliabilty and the turbo version can make some big power numbers. My guess would be you could see 25mpg. Prolly total swap cost could be done for under $2000 depending what you can get donor parts for.

if you switch to diesel, just grab some 2500/3500 front springs and you should be good.

 

[Boeing]

Alot of interestng info here.....I agree with most of you that changing to a diesel would cost more than the project would ever be worth.
I WOULD consider selling this Blazer. I'll enclose some photos..
It had been my "Baby" for years, I put a "crate" engine in it about 4 years ago, headers, torque cam, holley, electronic ign, new 'vertable top, wheels, glass hood, 4" lift springs, 700R overdrive tranny and transfer case out of a '87 Blazer , new leather buckets and it was looking good.
BUT....(always a butt) Old man RUST came around, bottom of doors, L.door POST, front of L quarter panel and bottom of tailgate. Being the brilliant financial strategist that I am I ordered new quarter panels, new doors, arizona door post and tailgate (no rust) and I hired a local drunk who convinced me that he was a retired body man to do the work. My BM (bodyman?) proceeded to remove the fenders, doors, rollbar, tailgate...tack weld the quarter panels on and after collecting $1200 of money....disappear. The truck has sat for almost a year now....sad, depressed begging me to get someone to finish the job. I start it monthly and added "staybil" to the tank. It is in Columbus Ga now but could be towed, trailered or putting the tail lights back on....driven.
Ideas....suggestions hire no more BUMS, right?

 

[jetboat]

stick a diesel in it! you can get a wreck donor for cheap or check CL and find someone parting out a truck with a 6.5. I would bet for under $2000 you could have a good running diesel truck.

If you want some work but also want some major power, find a 5.9 cummins either a 12v or a 24v. The 12v mechanical would be "easier" and can still produce allot of power. Way harder than a drop in Chevy but worth it.

 

[dixstir]

years ago I had a 1956 chevy half ton pickup and I put a 4 cylinder iszue diesel in used a 57 chevy 3 speed overdrive manual trans what a good set up put over 300 thousand miles it had lots of power and got 35 miles to a gallon god I wish I still had it.

 

[Boeing]

Wow, now that was a good conversion. I had an Isuzu sedan diesel years ago....40MPG. hmmm....had kids and sold it. bummer. It would be GREAT in a smaller pickup

 

[Boeing]

I was just on a military surplus site that had 6.2 Diesel BLAZERS.....1985 (I think). They wanted $6000. Is that high? What kind of mileage life is acceptable? If they have 100,000 miles is that acceptable for $6K? Can a turbo be put on a 6.2 or will that eat bearings?:confused2:

 

[slowzuki]

Lots of power? BS. Lots of torque at low speed maybe. I'd bet it could barely get up to 65 mph, and took all day to get there, unless you had that Izuzu highly modified.

years ago I had a 1956 chevy half ton pickup and I put a 4 cylinder iszue diesel in used a 57 chevy 3 speed overdrive manual trans what a good set up put over 300 thousand miles it had lots of power and got 35 miles to a gallon god I wish I still had it.

 

[MacLawn]

That "shade tree conversion" website is full of rubbish: a Ford 3000 engine cant be more efficient in a pickup truck, just because it has to be stretched to the max rpm to get alittle speed from it.

My neighbour runs a landscape business and has a Merc Unimog with a monstrous Hiab crane on it, which he uses for tree cutting and all other sorts of lifting. The crane weighs as much as the Mog. Their first was an 85hp model, which was slow pulling a trailer with a 5 ton excavator. they bought a 160hp mog last year, and he says the fuel consumption dropped drastically: 160hp has the torque to maintain speed and reduce the need for gear changes. With the 85hp non-turbo they had to keep shifting and keep it at max rpm to maintain the average speed.

You dont need 350hp in a pickup truck, but anything under 100hp wont save you any fuel.

Just search Youtube for Detroit 4-53 or Cummins 4BT conversions in Broncos and Jeeps. In full size pickups, the six pots seem to be more popular.

HOWEVER:

when i tow a 2 ton tractor behind my Volvo 2.5 TDI, i make a round trip, picking one up in the other end of the country. Then i get 10 km to the liter, which is about 23.5 miles to the gallon. My TDI is 140hp which is enough to take a drag at the traffic lights (which i sometimes do) and i still get 35 miles to the gallon on average.

50 miles to the gallon just isnt possible in a pickup truck weighing over 2.5 ton. With an industrial Cummins (high torque, low rpm camshaft, not the low torque, 3200rpm camshaft of a Dodge version) and tall gears you might equal the mileage i get in my Volvo, but 50mpg in a pickup truck is just ********. Just the wind drag alone makes it impossible.

You certain about that, Renze? I surely don't know, but I do know about Japanese diesels; I have driven them in Japan for over 25 years, from Izuzu, Mazda, Toyota, and Nissan. All of mine were 4 cylinder, and two Toyotas and the Mazda I had were turbo diesel. Plenty of power in those. Now, I do think the old boy in Warner Robins is using older tractor diesels, probably made by Yanmar, another Japanese made diesel. I am pretty sure one of those would push the Ford on his site okay - granted, it might take a little time to get up to speed, but I think it seems to work okay. I go to Warner Robins often, so I think I will try to stop by and see it for myself; if I do, I will post back here with my impressions.

I have even seen diesel outboards in Japan! I like them...

 

[dixstir]

Lots of power? BS. Lots of torque at low speed maybe. I'd bet it could barely get up to 65 mph, and took all day to get there, unless you had that Izuzu highly modified.

I know it worked good for me I had a lot of seat time in it to bad you didnt if you had some I think you would think different/

 

[Renze]

All of mine were 4 cylinder, and two Toyotas and the Mazda I had were turbo diesel. Plenty of power in those. Now, I do think the old boy in Warner Robins is using older tractor diesels, probably made by Yanmar, another Japanese made diesel. I am pretty sure one of those would push the Ford on his site okay - granted, it might take a little time to get up to speed, but I think it seems to work okay.

Just keep in mind that a Toyota HiLux with the 80hp 2.4 liter 4 cylinder, weighs 1200kg. Put that motor in a 2400 to 2800kg chevy and every gust of wind will take you a yard back...
It may feel powerful because of the flat torque curve and low vehicle weight, but 80hp really isnt enough for a full size pickup truck...

I know it worked good for me I had a lot of seat time in it to bad you didnt if you had some I think you would think different/

I have seat time in plenty of vehicles with similar sized diesel and gas engines... my old Volvo 440 with a 1.9 turbodiesel, 90hp, weighed 1100kg and was a nice and nimble car. However with a 2 horse V nose trailer behind it, you could use a formula to calculate windspeed from the speedometer. Also we had an early Mercedes Sprinter at work, with a 2 liter 70hp diesel. That van had a hard time moving itself, with a trailer with just some scaffolding on it, it wouldnt go past 70km/h.

It seems many folks dont realise that our economic European (and Jap) 4 cylinder diesels also need to power a car which is half the weight of what you guys are used to. You're just dragging dead weight around, theres the biggest gain.

 

[jbooth]

Haven't had much experience with late model diesels. Did have just a little experience with some of the late 50's diesels in cattle and oil field trucks. They were all underpowered by todays standards, but that's all that was available. Guess that's why they had all those gears was to shift down. The only experience I have with the late model diesels is being on the same roads with them. Some of the drivers of late model 3/4 ton pick-ups with all that diesel power scare me a bit. It appears to me all that power is just going to get them to the scene of their crash a little sooner. I'm not an over the road trucker so I don't mind taking a little more time (slower speed) for a little economy. Don't think a diesel would ever pay me back no more than I drive or tow so I probably should have just kept my dogs out of this fray.

 

[saltbranch]

Check this out
Overview

 

[brokenot]

The Shadetree page is a lot of bunk. The person narrating the videos talks and talks....and says nothing. They show the trucks being started, but include no *real* performance or mileage data. 75-100 hp in a full-size truck will net you the kind of performance and fuel economy you would expect. Their math doesn't add up. Perhaps even they realize it...because they don't bother to demonstrate how they arrived at the figures they quote.

The most hilarious thing about the site is the FAQ page. Typically, (on sites that have legitimate information to offer up), FAQ pages contain information about the topic the site discusses. When I clicked on the FAQ link, I completely expected, (well...not really), a page to pop up that contained test data including performance and mileage. I also expected information about expected costs for a conversion. Another question you would think they'd have gotten at some point, would be "What if I reside somewhere that requires vehicle inspections? How can my mid-90's truck with a conversion done as per your instructions pass an inspection when none of the original equipment is in place and operational?" No such information is present.

Anyone remotely considering purchasing their book or plans should visit their FAQ page, see what's there....and then stop and think about whether or not the "information" sounds like it came from someone whose opinions and expertise on engine conversions is extensive enough to be trusted, OR....if the author is just another example of someone trying to capitalize on the frustrations of people that are upset about fuel prices.

I like this quote from one of the press links on the site:

Working with several of his mechanic friends, he’s successfully converted several pickups, trucks that now get 40 to 50 miles per gallon with no noticeable loss of performance.

"No noticeable loss of performance"

Think about that for a minute.

 

[JoeL4330]

Wow, now that was a good conversion. I had an Isuzu sedan diesel years ago....40MPG. hmmm....had kids and sold it. bummer. It would be GREAT in a smaller pickup

I have an Isuzu I-Mark diesel sedan sitting in Northern VA ...ran fine when we last shut it off a few years ago. Interest?

 

[dixstir]

the one I had in the 56 was 235 cubic inches and a turbo may be 130 hp.I had a spare and never used it for backup.

 

[Rancher Ed]

I have never done any swaps but have thought about swapping JD 3029T into a 90s jeep and turn it up just a little (~10hp). It is the engine that is used in the 5075E now and the 5073 before that. It makes 71hp at 2500rpm and 181 lb-ft torque at 1600rpm and is turboed. The torque is between what the 4 cylinder and the 6 cylinder in the jeeps made and if I could bump the power up 10hp and move the rev limit up to 2700rpm I think it would work great. The only problem I see is the weight could be to much(723lbs dry).


I think for your blazer a tractor engine that would make enough power would weigh too much and you will need to use a engine from somewhere else.

Ed