Fitting a Deutz-engine into a 72 Suburban?

[Tom Fitch]

Hello all,

I'm trying to validate an idea for a story I'm working on.

One of the characters in the story only drives classic cars but has them rebuild with a contemporary engine and new parts.

I picked a 72 Suburban as his travel SUV. Mainly because it really strikes a good balance between sixties charm and the more modern look of the later Suburbans.

I want to fit it with a big (minimum 7l) V8 turbo diesel engine. A low reving torque vomiting thumper kind of thing. I did not really find anything that really checked all the boxes but then came across this: http://www.deutz.be/Data_sheet_TCD_12_16.pdf. 15,9 liter V8 with close to 3000 Nm of torque at 1400 rpm.

But would such an engine fit in a 72 Suburban? And is it feasible to use such an engine in a car?

I got the idea from this movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAKdmM21UgI. Unfortunetally the link in the description seems dead.

What's your thoughts? Is it a feasible idea to use the Deutz engine to power a car?

Thanks in advance.

Tom

[lowrollin70gmc]

That is a very large engine, more fitting for a semi truck than a 'Burb. I don't think it would physically fit (46 inches tall isn't going to be possible).

For a modern drivetrain, a 6.7 Cummins, 6.6 Duramax, 6.7 Powerstroke would be more believable. Or, if you want to keep a euro flair (I see you're from Belgium) the Duetz 6.1 looks like it would theoretically fit.

[Tom Fitch]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm mainly looking to have a V8 diesel engine with massive torque. Doesn't have to be a European engine. The V8 is important as that seems fitting for an American icon.

I did some more looking around. Cummins may be an option but rather the 5.0 V8, even if less power and torque. I think the 6.7 is a 6 in line.

The Duramax would probably be an even better option. V8, massive torque and a GM engine to top it off.

Thanks for the tips.

Tom

[v30crewcab]

the v8 won't have as much torque as the straight 6.

[Tom Fitch]

According to the spec sheets on their respective homepages, the Cummins has 900 lb of torque. The Duramax V8, 910 lb. That difference is probably symbolic?

Tom

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by Tom Fitch

The V8 is important as that seems fitting for an American icon.

That's what everybody claimed until Dodge came out with the inline 6 Cummins in 1989 and they sold like hotcakes - American's like inline 6 diesels.

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

the v8 won't have as much torque as the straight 6.

This is just a gross generalization that is false. Do some inline 6's produce more low end torque than some V8's? Yes. Do some V8's produce more low end torque than inline 6's? Yes they do.