Converting 350 into diesel?

[carljohn96]

I am rebuilding my '77 k5 blazers 350 and was thinking of coverting into a diesel instead of unleaded. Is this possible and how hard would it be?

[tblake]

why diesel? Diesel is just as expensive if not more than regular unleaded. Here's food for thought, why not look into converting it into running on e85? After all its made from corn, so the price of crude oil wont matter, and recently e85 is selling for a buck 85 around here. Not bad, I wish I had the know how to convert my car over, I'd do it in a heart beat. Sorry no clue on converting your 350 to diesel, just had to drop in my 2 cents worth, good luck.

[OverBoardProject]

The old Chevy Diesel motors were built out of a Buick 350 block, but they had nothing but problems with them.

It can be done though.

Q. Why Diesel?
A. 35+ mpg in a full sized truck, along with more torque than you can shake a stick at
+ they will usually out live a gas powered truck by a long shot

[carljohn96]

Originally Posted by OverBoardProject

The old Chevy Diesel motors were built out of a Buick 350 block, but they had nothing but problems with them.

It can be done though.

Q. Why Diesel?
A. 35+ mpg in a full sized truck, along with more torque than you can shake a stick at
+ they will usually out live a gas powered truck by a long shot

Do you have any suggestions on how to or where to find out!!
Thanks again!

[Jeremy Fitch]

Not to mention a diesel engine requires far less maintenance than a gasoline engine.

[OverBoardProject]

I would look for a (92ish) Dodge Cummings Turbo

I believe that 92 was intercooled, and still not electronic making it the best choice

[scholzee]

35 mpg no way!! I have freinds with 04 Ford 6L and Chevy 05 Duramax, these are Ford and Chevy's latest hi tech diesels. They will blow away any previous diesels Ford or Chevy made. Real life MPG no load Highway about 20 MPG tops. Around town 16 mpg, towing and heavy loads about 14 mpg.

Less maintenance BS it is about the same as a gas but 3 times more expensive. 18 quarts of oil that need Diesel rating, $8+ oil filters, water seperator filter, $30 + air filter etc.

[OverBoardProject]

Kinda funny that I've got several friends with full sized diesel trucks, and the only one that doesn't get 35 or so is the only one that doesn't do the little bit of maintence required.

He still gets around 25mpg with general driving, aln 20 while towing

[scholzee]

Quit your BS go to MotorTrend.com here are the test results from Dodge, Ford, Chevy 17.4 mpg 16.6mpg and 18.6mpg. Stop polluting the internet with crap.



2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Quad Cab SLT 2004 Ford Harley-Davidson F-250 Crew Cab 4x4 Super Duty 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 HD 4WD Crew Cab
Test Data
Acceleration, sec to mph
0-30 2.7 2.5 3.1
0-40 4.3 4.1 4.6
0-50 6.5 5.9 6.5
0-60 8.9 8.5 9.1
0-70 11.7 11.6 11.8
0-80 16.7 15.3 16.3
0-90 22.6 20.2 21.6
1/4 mile, sec @ mph 16.5 @ 81.2 16.2 @ 84.0 16.7 @ 82.6
Braking, 60-0 mph, ft 158 150 159
600-ft slalom, mph 56.3 54.7 53.1
200-ft skidpad, g 0.71 0.69 0.68
Top-gear rpm @ 60 mph 1750 1800 1800
Consumer Info
On sale in U.S. Currently Currently Currently
Base price incl dest $32,125 $36,555 $41,043
Price as tested $44,750 $48,825 $47,583
Airbags Dual front, f/r head curtain Dual front Dual front
Stability/traction control No/no No/no No/no
Basic warranty 3 yrs/36,000 miles 3 yrs/36,000 miles 3 yrs/36,000 miles
Powertrain warranty 7 yrs/70,000 miles 5 yrs/100,000 miles 5 yrs/100,000 miles
Roadside assist period 3 yrs/36,000 miles 3 yrs/36,000 miles 3 yrs/36,000 miles
Fuel capacity, gal 34.0 29.0 34.0
MT obs mpg @ 70 mph 17.4 16.6 18.6
Recommended fuel Diesel Diesel Diesel

[blazes9395]

Overboard is right, GM had all kinds of trouble, basically gas powered engines are simply not built strong enough for diesel conversion. The block itself has thinner piston walls as compared to a diesel engine. You would need stronger connecting rods, the mains would have to beefed up...its really not worth it. If you want diesel, find a factory diesel engine already, either to rebuild, or just drop it in.

[OverBoardProject]

[quote=scholzee]Quit your BS go to MotorTrend.com here are the test results from Dodge, Ford, Chevy 17.4 mpg 16.6mpg and 18.6mpg. Stop polluting the internet with crap.

If you've never driven a diesel you'll biased.

Try one for a month, and compair your expenses to your present pig of a truck. Then you'll see for yourself

Until then your the one poluting both the internet, and the air quality

[scholzee]

First I am stating 35mpg with a full size diesel truck from Ford Chevy or Dodge is impossible. The only benefit is if you tow over 50% of your time wiyh the truck. They kick A over a gas towing but after that gas wins. Maintance on diesel is higher and MPG savings take about 8 years to break even.


Buy 1 new gasser and 1 new Diesel, Diesel costs $5,000 more.

Gasser gets 15 mpg, Diesel 20 mpg, both fuels cost $3.00 gal

Drive 12,000 miles a year, gas needs 800 gal x $3 = $2400
diesel needs 600 gal x $3 = $1800 save $600

$5000 intial extra cost / 600 takes about 8 years to break even.

Maintance by the owners manual schedule will be higher $ on Diesel

I tried to simplify the math for you hope you can understand it.

[biv343]

5.7L diesels were junk - the 6.2 liter engines were a bit better. Not sure it's worth converting the engine IMHO, maybe find a 6.2L engine at the boneyard?

[GMMerlin]

Originally Posted by OverBoardProject

The old Chevy Diesel motors were built out of a Buick 350 block, but they had nothing but problems with them.

Actually the 350 diesel from the late 70s-early 80s was an Olds engine.
If the engine was used as designed, there would have been less problems..unfortunately people just used them just like gas motors and it didn't work out...a diesel engine runs better and longer the hotter it gets (all the componants reach operating temp for a long period of time)

Here are some of the problems you may run into.
First, compression ratio...its got to be high over 18 to 1 to get enough heat from compression to ignite the fuel.
This means you have got to have a fairly strong engine design..gas motor may not cut it.
Injection, you have got to get fuel in the cylinders at just the right time and under tremendous cylinder pressures.
Controls...the 5.7 was a simple diesel engine..as long as the pump had power, the engine would run.
6.2 was pretty much the same
When you start talking 6.5 and D-max, those were electronically controlled engines and you would have to disign a control strategy for them (6.5 would be fairly simple)
DMax is an Electronically fuel injected Diesel engine and is a rather sophisticated engine as far as the control systems go.

Could it be done? yea, but I would think it would be cost prohibitive.
Personally I like diesels, especially the Duramax. And if the cost of the option was more in line with my budget, I would be the owner of one.

[OverBoardProject]

GMM, I like and completely agree with your signature