spid anyone?

[GreyGoose006]

bad as in...
i was considering a new cam, but was thinking about a truck/towing cam
then i wised up and realized that i should just buy a new engine...

i was actually considering a diesel if you know any that would be a good match.
i know that there was an option for a 350 diesel. olds built i think.
but i have heard that it was a horrible engine.
i was thinking more along the lines of a 6.1 or something
any thoughts?

[silicon212]

If you really want a diesel ...

I haven't worked with them, but if you do, get the 6.2 liter truck engine. It's a BIG swap, and you had better become familiar with the fundamentals of diesel engine operation, because it's mechanically different than gasoline when it comes to the fuel system.

However, with diesel containing much more energy per unit than gasoline, you can have the power you have now with much, much better economy. Heck, that 6.2 V8 will give you perhaps 25MPG in that car, and you can even make your own fuel for it (biodiesel).

The 5.7 liter diesel is in fact based on the Oldsmobile gasoline 350 - and that's what's wrong with it. Diesel engines require substantially more compression than a gasoline engine does - this is how the fuel is ignited in a diesel - on the order of 18:1 and all the way to 22:1 - the engine was not up for the task and it was common for one to grenade before it hit 50k miles.

[GreyGoose006]

well i would be happy with gas, but it would be cool to have a diesel.
would the engine even fit?
i kinda doubt it.

what kinds of things would i have to change.
my plan would be to strip it down and build it up with minimal electronics

[silicon212]

Your best bet is to stick with gasoline.

You can go with a 350 setup, but please do keep the electronics on it working and fully functional. Your wallet will thank you, your lead foot will thank you, and those of us who have to breathe your car's air will thank you.

Go with a PCM/ECM setup out of a 1986 or newer car.

[mike561]

whats with those bio-deisel gases? i saw a thing on tv talking about it, though ive never seen them at any gas stations around my area

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by mike561

whats with those bio-deisel gases? i saw a thing on tv talking about it, though ive never seen them at any gas stations around my area

Before you try to do this, you need a diesel vehicle! This stuff won't work in a gasoline engine. Biodiesel can be made from used cooking oil. You need to separate the esters from the glycerin components of the oil - you can google for information and required equipment to do this - but in the end, you can make the fuel for less than a dollar a gallon if you can get the used oil for free.

The glycerin is pretty much disposed of, but the ester is saved and this is the biodiesel. It has most all of the properties of a low-sulfur petroleum diesel, including energy content, cetane numbers, etc. The only problem is for those who live in colder climates - the ester tends to gel at a somewhat higher temperature than petro diesel.


It is highly solvent in nature and will clean out a diesel system, meaning you will experience plugged filters if you have a dirty fuel system. You will also need to replace any rubber fuel system hoses with Viton hoses - for the same reason just mentioned.

Also, remember that biodiesel made from used cooking oil, and when burned in the engine, will produce exhaust that smells like whatever was fried in the oil. In other words, if you get your used oil from Dunkin' Donuts, you will be smelling french crullers wherever you drive. Probably not what one might otherwise expect when they see that diesel Silverado barreling from a dead stop.

[mike561]

yeah i remember hearing that it will smell like whatever was cooked in, too bad there arent any alternatives for regular gasoline engines yet, not that i know of anyway, unless there is.

[mike561]

also, since we were on the topic of vehicle numbers and such, i did one of those history reports from carfax last night on my caprice, it diddnt show any problems except that it failed one emmissions test back in 1991, but that was the oldest date noted about the car, it diddnt show any info that dated back to the 80s. how come?

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by mike561

also, since we were on the topic of vehicle numbers and such, i did one of those history reports from carfax last night on my caprice, it diddnt show any problems except that it failed one emmissions test back in 1991, but that was the oldest date noted about the car, it diddnt show any info that dated back to the 80s. how come?

Don't worry, mine doesn't show anything before 1994. As to why, I do not know.

[mike561]

hmm strange

[GreyGoose006]

what was on mine, if i may ask

[silicon212]

Yours actually has the original title issue date on it, August 16th, 1984.

A CARFAX Vehicle History Report is based only on information supplied to CARFAX. CARFAX checked over 4 billion vehicle history events and found 10 record(s) for this 1984 CHEVROLET CAPRICE CLASSIC (2G1AN6999E9******).


08/16/1984 14 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Charlottesville, VA Title issued or updated
Title or registration issued
First owner reported
Exempt from odometer reporting

10/17/2000 46,298 Service Facility Vehicle serviced
Lubed oil and filter changed
State inspection completed

05/31/2001 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Charlottesville, VA Title or registration issued
Exempt from odometer reporting

09/25/2001 46,768 Service Facility Vehicle serviced
State inspection completed

07/11/2002 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Charlottesville, VA Title or registration issued
Exempt from odometer reporting

12/21/2002 47,312 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Charlottesville, VA Title or registration issued
New owner reported

12/18/2003 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Charlottesville, VA Title or registration issued

11/04/2004 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Charlottesville, VA Title or registration issued

05/05/2005 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Charlottesville, VA Vehicle purchase reported

05/06/2005 49,235 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Charlottesville, VA Title or registration issued
New owner reported

[mike561]

here is what mine showed: A CARFAX Vehicle History Report is based only on information supplied to CARFAX. CARFAX checked over 4 billion vehicle history events and found 11 record(s) for this 1983 CHEVROLET CAPRICE CLASSIC (2G1AN69H0D*******).

11/09/1991 Florida
Inspection Station
Fort Lauderdale, FL Failed emissions inspection

11/13/1991 Florida
Inspection Station
Miami, FL Passed emissions inspection

11/06/1992 Florida
Inspection Station
Miami, FL Passed emissions inspection

10/14/1993 Florida
Inspection Station
Miami, FL Passed emissions inspection

10/25/1994 Florida
Inspection Station
Fort Lauderdale, FL Passed emissions inspection

12/01/1995 Florida
Inspection Station
Fort Lauderdale, FL Passed emissions inspection

10/15/1996 Florida
Inspection Station
Fort Lauderdale, FL Passed emissions inspection

11/04/1998 Florida
Inspection Station
Fort Lauderdale, FL Passed emissions inspection

11/06/2000 Florida
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Title #002******* Title issued or updated

11/10/2005 Florida
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Fort Lauderdale, FL Registration updated when owner moved
the vehicle to a new location

04/27/2007 Florida
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Boca Raton, FL
Title #002******* Title issued or updated
New owner reported (me)
Exempt from odometer reporting

[GreyGoose006]

thts kinda boring stuff.
i was expecting more interesting info
oh well.

so by my spid, i have 2.73 gears then?
i calculated it to be a 3.08, but its possible it was due to transmission slippage. i wasnt locked in gear, so if the tcc wasnt locked, then that would be why.

[silicon212]

Man, ar those 1984 codes hard to read or what? You wrote them down the same way that GM wrote them on the label.

Beginning in 1985, they went side-by-side instead of up-and-down.

Anyways, yes, the RPO GU2 is 2.73 gear. I wouldn't expect much different in that car with a V6. GU4 would be 3.08.