Jeramiah,
I would suggest the idi7.3 if you were going to do this swap, I realize you are NOT. BUT, none the less, they use the same block, etc. so might as well get the cubes and extra power from the cubes. Same as the OP, I would try to go with a 6.5 and get the exgtra power. Or as I did to a 69 convertable bug many years ago, it had a stock 50 hp 1500 motor that needed rebuilding, might as well make it a 1600, and get 60 hp out of the thing. That was the std rebuild any how!
As stated, the non turbo diesel motors do have a bit more power at idle and off the line initially, so for city slower driving this could be better for some. But wrong for others. I know of a lot of folks with boats prefer non turbo setups, sorta the same for farm type equipment too. Now why my mini trackhoe has a 750 cc turbo diesel producing 16HP.....next model did not have a turbo, also producing 15-16hp. works just as well!
Marty
