Is anyone running a diesel engine?

[Zumo]

Just curious. I liked to build a 3/4 4x4 one day and am considering diesel power.

[1971 Cheyenne]

We have a 6.2L diesel in our m1009 84 Chevy Blazer (military). It is an "allright" engine. I say just allright because it dosen't seem to have too much extra power over most 350's 454's etc. The only things it has going for it is a good amount of torque, and good gas mileage.

all in all, You'll never catch me putting one in a truck. Too much work involved in tireing harneses etc... Much easier to put a healthy big block in it....

[Zumo]

Yeah I guess so. I was just concearned about gas milage. I used to work on then a little in the Navy, like the one you are reffering to.

[SWEET7T]

It would make a world of difference if you put in a diesel, and then installed a turbo on the engine!!! Naturally Asperated diesels and just plain sluggish. But aftermarket turbos are kinda pricey, just depends on your wallet.

[Zumo]

I guess I could modify a late model Turbo Cummings diesel to fit. Depends on how deep my pockets are.

[72 CustomCamper]

When I got my 72 from my uncle he had installed a 6.2 diesel out of an 86 blazer. He also used the 700r4. With the factory 4:11's it would get 22 mpg on the highway. Now the truck has a 402 and probably will only get 5 or 6 mpg...

Chuck

[Tx Firefighter]

I have 2 Dodge Cummins trucks for my landscaping business. The basic engine weighs 1100 pounds, so be prepared for that.

600 ft lbs of torque will impress anyone. Don't let the guys with N/A diesels scare you. An intercooled turbo diesel running 20 lbs of boost is amazing.

I regurally get 18 mpg pulling a very heavy trailer at 70-80 mph.

[Blue_71]

our 94 6.5L turbo diesel is MUCH better then the 350 in my 89 or any gas truck ive rode in for pulling... mileage is around 14mpg though, the injectors have been turned up

[TP from Cntl PA]

I'd like to put a Detroit 4-71 in my truck...........I haven't been able to find one in decent shape or I'd try it! I just love a truck with a screamin Detroit!

[dinnut]

Originally posted by 72 CustomCamper
When I got my 72 from my uncle he had installed a 6.2 diesel out of an 86 blazer. He also used the 700r4. With the factory 4:11's it would get 22 mpg on the highway. Now the truck has a 402 and probably will only get 5 or 6 mpg...

Chuck

5 or 6 what did you do to that engine to think youre gonna get that bad of mpg

[charlieo]

I've thought about the 4 cyl cummins, its called a 4BT. They use them in bread delivery trucks around here . Sombody makes an adapter between the engine and the trans also. I think it adapts the cummins to a GM trans . Put the Banks system on it & your ready to roll !

[Baradium]

I personally would go with a 6.9 or 7.3/powerstroke diesel... V8 diesel with a lot of power, not as sluggish as the GM diesels with a TON of go fast goodies availible for them.

Cummins are real $$ engines and the only thing you'll get to fit in a truck is a 4bt, you might get a 6cyl to fit but they are really really long engines.

You could go with a V8 cummins, there's an international for sale around here with a V-903 cummins V8 diesel in it... swap is almost complete, they got to the point of putting the heads on and stopped... engine is mounted and transmission is installed. It's a lot of motor for a pickup truck though. And this truck had to remove the inner fenders and go with a tilt front with a scoop to clear the motor.

I'd put a 4bt in a scout, but don't know about a full sized truck. I'd rather have a powerstroke or something in that....

[68 Suburban]

Originally posted by Baradium
I personally would go with a 6.9 or 7.3/powerstroke diesel... V8 diesel with a lot of power, not as sluggish as the GM diesels with a TON of go fast goodies availible for them.

Powerstorkes are real thirsty engines.

[dinnut]

remember that video with the powerstroke we had on here? hehehehehe

[Blue_71]

personally i wouldnt want a powerjoke, if you cant make the engine yourself then dont put it in your vehicles, ill take my GM diesels. the only non GM diesel i like is a detriot, cat, and perkins

[TP from Cntl PA]

Originally posted by Baradium

You could go with a V8 cummins, there's an international for sale around here with a V-903 cummins V8 diesel in it... swap is almost complete, they got to the point of putting the heads on and stopped... engine is mounted and transmission is installed. It's a lot of motor for a pickup truck though. And this truck had to remove the inner fenders and go with a tilt front with a scoop to clear the motor.

....

A 903 in a pickup!!!!!!!!!! That is crazy! How did they get it to fit? I spent nearly the whole summer swapping in a 555 V-8 Cummins into a Fleetstar IH............I don't see how they could get an engine nearly the same size in a pickup.

I know I'd never put a 555 in a pickup or BIG truck as long as I live, just another boat anchor IMO!

[Baradium]

Originally posted by TP from Cntl PA


A 903 in a pickup!!!!!!!!!! That is crazy! How did they get it to fit? I spent nearly the whole summer swapping in a 555 V-8 Cummins into a Fleetstar IH............I don't see how they could get an engine nearly the same size in a pickup.

I know I'd never put a 555 in a pickup or BIG truck as long as I live, just another boat anchor IMO!

The "triple nickles" as they are called are known for that from what I've heard. In big truck applications the 903 is known as a "nine o nothing" but supposedly would have a ton of power in a light truck application.

So you swapped the engine in and didn't like it? They are fairly large engines. This truck has a tilt front clip now to help fit the engine in and I almost wonder if the reason they stopped the swap was trying to get the steering to clear. Don't know though. I do know that it'd be big $$$ to finish since it's sat long enough it'll need a rebuild... those engine parts don't come cheap.


Blue, isn't Detriot GM?

And where did you decide there was a problem with powerstrokes? you seem to not like f@rd using them, but that's all I see. I'd say get the International application, btw,known as the DT444, just because f@rd gets thier own control modules and injectors and international considers them substandard and uses better quality stuff in thier own rigs.

So, you don't like Dodge or Chevy's current diesels either? Since they all farm out thier diesel engines now?

Cummins, Cat and perkins are all very good motors, but the larger cummins are either hard to come across or too large for a chevy pickup, same goes for the cat and perkins. The V8 IH diesels tend to be easier to fit is one of the reasons I think they should be a good candidate. I know I could fit one in the scout so it should be doable in a chevy application. Be a little tight though.

The I-6 cummins would require firewall or front end mods which makes it harder to stomach. You can go with smaller ones, but then you lose some of that pulling capacity.

Down side is... anything bigger than a 4BT cummins and you pretty much have to have a Dana 60 or larger front end to handle that huge motor. The International ones weigh in at around 1200 lbs, and I imagine the others come in close.

[Blue_71]

nope, sure dont have a problem with the engine, im just sick and tired of seeing dodge flat beds with stacks and oh powerstroke is so good, and ive never liked dodge diesels... wouldnt own one for anything. the duramax is the ONLY exception ive ever liked to putting other companies engines in trucks.

ever wondered why there called cummins? listen to how bad they rattle, they're cummins apart

[Baradium]

Originally posted by Blue_71
nope, sure dont have a problem with the engine, im just sick and tired of seeing dodge flat beds with stacks and oh powerstroke is so good, and ive never liked dodge diesels... wouldnt own one for anything. the duramax is the ONLY exception ive ever liked to putting other companies engines in trucks.

ever wondered why there called cummins? listen to how bad they rattle, they're cummins apart

ROFLOL!


I don't like how the duramax is an aluminum block... makes me nervous. For a while I heard they were cracking blocks/heads pretty badly, but havn't heard anything since. I have heard they have a TON of power though and I'm guessing they fixed whatever problem since it hasn't become a major issue.


Technically, I wouldn't want a power stroke. WAY too much electronic stuff. I'd rather have a 7.3L with mechanical injection. The way I see it, half the nice thing about a diesel engine is not needing an electrical system. Same goes with a duramax. Nice in a new truck, but do you want to be trying to diagnose problems with it 20 years from now?


I've always heard Cummins makes good engines... but I've heard for a long time that dodge doesn't use strong enough parts with them. They like to tweak frames and break transmissions and engine mounts.

How's it been going? Havn't talked to you in a long time...

[charlieo]

I worked for a company that fixed/rebuilt heavy equip. We used to get in Champion motor graders with the 6BT Cummins motors (same as the dodge truck motors) and some of them would throw a rod through the side of the block. This was due to the operator lugging the motor too low, they were used to running the Cat graders and they can be lugged low . These operators had to be trained to operate the Champions at a higher RPM to keep this motor in it"s operating torque band ! After that no more blown motors. I'm not saying the cummins are bad motors because they are really good . I just think the Cummins 4BT would be the motor to use in a pickup .

[Tx Firefighter]

Edited by Tx Firefighter

[72 CustomCamper]

Originally posted by dinnut


5 or 6 what did you do to that engine to think youre gonna get that bad of mpg

400 horses 4:11 rear and a heavy foot...lol

Chuck

[dinnut]

Originally posted by 72 CustomCamper



400 horses 4:11 rear and a heavy foot...lol

Chuck

lol makes sense to me

[SWEET7T]

Originally posted by Tx Firefighter
Blue 71- you go ahead and talk all the crap you want about Cummins engines. You are ignorant.

I can show you many examples of Cummins engines in Dodge trucks with over ONE MILLION MILES and no engine repairs.

Yes, sir, 1 million unrepaired miles. I know diesel engines up and down. Go over to the Turbo Diesel Registry and do a little reading. I'm the Hillbilly Hotrodder over there.

I've visited TDR quite a few times, it's neat

My dad has an '01 Cummins HO, we love it. We put a chip in it and are currently putting out 700ft/lb at the flywheel w/ 32psi boost. It is just shy of 100000mi with the chip on it for ~70000mi. Runs like a champ.
We also have a '95 Powerstroke. Other than the stock E4OD tranny going out, it has been a killer engine! It has a Banks Get-Kit (chip and turbo down pipe) 186000mi and 80% of them pulling a load.

I just wanted to share my experiences with the Cummins and Ford. Blow smoke and

[1969 GMC]

my father is a school bus mechanic, and almost all the new buses they get have the Cummins 6BT (same 5.9L as dodge, but different HP ratings). he gets a laptop that plugs into the buses to diagnose problems and check stats. he hates the cummins diesels. maybe i should specify, the computers on cummins diesels. he said that when they work right, they are beasts. but that is rare.

on the other hand, his coworker owns an older (early 90's) Dodge 1 ton 4x4 dually flatbed with the older Cummins. he loves the thing. approaching 300k, only minor repairs and general maintenance. i have heard nothing but good in the dodge applications. heck, a couple years back, a dodge 2500 was in 4WOR's 4x4 of the year competition, and they expected it to win until the cummins broke the transfer case (probably an aluminum chain drive) and was therefore disqualified.

ford has been having some trouble with the new 6.0 powerstroke, massive recall and they have bought back quite a few units. i think it is because they are in a hp/tq race with the Cummins HO and Duramax and overstressed engine components trying to win.

id swap in a Navistar (IH) DT466, if they still make it. big and heavy, but awesome.