My Detroit Diesel powered 61 K20 project!!

[pope]

This is my 61 k20 Chev project. I wanted something different from the rest of them out there and to keep it all GM, so I fit a turbo charged 4-53 Detroit Diesel under the hood

[Mechanic77]

Way too cool!

[rambler]

wow!

[onequickchevy]

Nice fit! Is the radiator big enough to keep it cool? ( I know jack about diesels, but I thought with the high compression they would run hotter?)

[Altec]

Very nice. A 4-92 swap is something I want to build. Something I can use to drag cummins truck around with, while making a noise that scares small children.

Gotta love that 2-stroke sound.

My uncle has a 3-53 I want to swipe one of these days. Stuff it in a mini truck.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very cool build! The 4-53's are very reliable. We have one in a push back at work that gets used 6 times a day to push 160,000lbs+ 727's up a slight grade on the ramp. Poor thing sure is under powered, but gets the job done.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Altec

Very nice. A 4-92 swap is something I want to build. Something I can use to drag cummins truck around with, while making a noise that scares small children.

Gotta love that 2-stroke sound.

My uncle has a 3-53 I want to swipe one of these days. Stuff it in a mini truck.

2 stroke diesels can make decent horse power, but not so great torque. They are noisy and have their own sound for sure.

[Altec]

I don't know about that man. I always noticed that the ratio of horsepower, to torque to be pretty impressive on the 2-strokes. Better then the 2:1(-Ish) on most 4-strokes. I just haven't seen much in the way of tuned up ones. Do they fall on their face when really cranked?


No doubt on the sound! After seeing Convoy Duck, and Maximum Overdrive I knew I had to know more about these mills!

Although a Twin-Six peaks my interests too.

[fryer1979]

Very cool and unique. You gonna leave it a flatbed? I really like the look of the truck originally, I'd had a really hard time changing that if it were mine.

[Maxxd07]

Does it sound like this but with one more cylinder? As in do you have jake brakes on it?

YouTube - MY 64 Chevy Detroit Diesel 353N...

[Dieselwrencher]

Jake brakes would be sweet! It doesn't look like his has them. Usually there is an aluminum spacer in between the head and the valve cover, that is the Jake Brake housing. His engine doesn't look like it has it. I could be wrong though. I really like how the cab and front clip are so nice for the age. Not severly rusted, or beat to death. It is a very cool truck!

[padresag]

I drove my 64 4 x 4 panel for 18 years with a 453 in it. I didn't drive it far enough any more to get it warmed up properly and that is a problem for these. for 18 years I never turned the radio on.
they require the right gearing to get the best performance out of them.It was the most dependable and economical eng that I believe that i have had save for my old 911t years ago
ron

[pope]

The radiator (63-66) type is plenty big enough for, in fact the electric fan didnt run too much this past summer!

[pope]

they only went as big as the 71 series with the 2 ,3, & 4 cylinder engines. I have seen the 4-71 and even 6v53 twin turbos in pickups now!

[pope]

They are in fact reliable if taken care of, and really easy to work on. Theyre not torque monsters at low rev, but it definately pushes the truck around good! I really enjoy driving the truck, and people sure take notice when it goes by! I don't have jakes yet, but that definately is on the list!

[padresag]

now what do you want a jake for, just to be noticed?. mine did have one on it once upon a time
if you really have to work that truck, you will notice the heat rise pretty quick if you don't understand it. the heads don't like high heat
ron

[pope]

I am well aware of what the heat can do to the head on these engines and how these engines like to run! I have seen many cracked heads from over exertion! I live in Montana, the jakes are nice for the terrain that surrounds me. I climb over a 6,500 foot mountain pass daily to get to work. The engine might as well slow me down as well as speed me up.

[padresag]

how many ft. alt are you starting at. with the compression that these engs have and the light duty truck it should hold it back pretty decently descending without a jake.
what are you running for a trans.. I did have a np 5 spd. od. in mine along with a 205 t/c(ind). the 3-4 split had to great of an rpm range which made it more difficult pulling a good load uphill. there were times pulling 16,000 lbs thru the fraser canyon that at the bottom of the hill that I would just put it in second and put it on the pin at 2950 and just let her go-no temp difference, but let them lug a little and that temp climbs pretty quick. these little motors can only do so much, but used wisely will pretty well do whatever that you ask of them.
I also did have a 4core rad with eng fan and an electric backup, which worked when required
in 18 years the only thing that I had to replace was an oil cooler that leaked into the rad.
dropped the pan once to replace the pan gskt and it was the cleanest eng that I have looked into
ron

[pope]

My house is at around 5200 feet, and where I work is around 4800 feet. I have a np542 transmission with the T221 t-case and 4.57 gears in the eaton rear.... I definately need an overdrive and have a 3 speed brownie, but run out of space for it. I have been looking for an O.D. medium duty trans to run, I just haven't found any that are close to me yet. That 64 panel of yours must have been something! How did you come to own it?

[padresag]

By rondavid at 2008-10-09

By rondavid at 2008-10-09

By rondavid at 2008-10-09

looks like mine sat in there a little higher than yours, but just thinking about it, you must have a body lift as you have a later chassis
I ran 3:73 and 33" tires on mine and at 55-60 mph on the highway it was nice, right in the range; good for passing, good acceleration. you are never the first one off at the traffic light unless you have your boot in it, but one catches up fairly easy.
yours will run quieter than mine due to the turbo. they say mine sounded like one of those early greyhound buses going down the road. Everybody knew though who was coming down the road, they didn't have to look
ron
mine was a 1/2t, I also put 3/4 axles under it
when I pulled the detroit the frame went up 2 3/4" and when the 283 went in it only went down 1/4".

[Dieselwrencher]

Very cool! Do you have any pics of the whole truck?

[padresag]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very cool! Do you have any pics of the whole truck?

he does. right at the top in his first frame. just click on the thumbnail
ron

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by padresag

he does. right at the top in his first frame. just click on the thumbnail
ron

Ron, I was asking you.

[padresag]

By rondavid at 2010-12-17

By rondavid at 2010-12-17

By rondavid at 2009-03-04
1st pic is my 64. the whole body was rotten. there is suburban body going on
2nd pic is when I am taking the honda out
3rd pic is trying the 67 4 x 4 eng crossmember for the 283 that is going back in. couldn't find a set of stock 4 x 4 frame perches(looked for years). that eng crossmember will stiffen up that area . there is really not much in the frt of these trucks other than the small member under the rad. I was going to remove the bellhousing crossmember as the trans is rear mounted but am going to put it back in as it adds support at the back end of the frt springs. have a t5 in behind the 283 and still with the indendent 205 t/c. if the t5 doesn't hold up ,I will either go to a tremec version or 700r4 which I have for it
the winch bumper is gone and the bumper horns have been replaced and have an orig chrome bumper and grill for it
ron

[Dieselwrencher]

Very cool.