Can I switch my 350 Chevy engine to a 6.2 diesel?

showme wrote:
I've just purchased a 1982 Chevy 1 ton dually, and I"m wondering how much trouble, if possible, to change out the 350 gas engine to a 6.2 (or any, for that matter), diesel. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

Not much trouble and very possible. The 6.2 is all mechanical so you just hook up the fuel line, return line and electrical things like starter ect and you're good to go. You should get the big block radiator also if you do this.

But as others have said why? If you're looking for great fuel mileage this is the engine to have. Buddy had one and pulled down 24 on the hiway consistently. With around 160 HP you can't pull much fast. If you abuse them and overload them, they will blow up.

Just a correction. A 6.5 turbo truck engine will not fit in the place of a N/A 6.2. A 6.5 van engine will; or so I have been told. :) So will a Banks if you can find one.

Personally I would put a 12 valve in it and make it a Chummins. But that's just me. :B

If you really have to do a gas to diesel swap, the turbo'd 6.5 would be a better option, and bolts in the place of where ANY 6.2 would go. You can also get 6.5's with options of upwards of 250/500 built reasonably enough. I remember one place with a twin turbo that was doing 300-400hp or something in that range. Of course the original specs were out of whack from stock per say......

But to put a basic 6.2 in your truck, no thanks. The HP/torque specs were on par with a 305 V8 from the time, and it was ment to be a high mpg305 equal, "IT DID" that very well, but with a 120/240 hp/torque amount, no its not going to tow anything big at a reasonable speed per say.

The stock 6.5 did not do too bad if one had the NV4500 manual behind it. the auto left you needing a gear or two, and overheated a bit. I would imagine the nv5600 or better yet, the zf6 sp would be better options for a built 6.5. THis is from a person that owned one for 200K miles and pulled upwards of 12K with it. It is/was not a speed demon like my dmax is! Then again, a dmax with 185/385 specs would not be that fast either!

Marty

There are still companies building up 6.5 turbos, which supposedly swap pretty easily into the small block spot. This info is worth what you paid for it.

Moved to Tow Vehicles from 5th Wheels

I have a 454 Vortec and it pulls a 36 ft Mobile Suites very well.

Find a 5.9 cummins and put it in. I have seen it before and it is an awesome swap. :Z

Raise hood, pull of radiator cap, drive new truck under it, install cap. I'd put in an 06 LBZ, and a 6 spd Allison. Last year before additives and better mileage. Install biggest intercooler 4 inch exhaust and radiator you can find. Mine gets hot in country above 5 K ft. and you have to keep your foot out of it.

There was a company in fla, (might google it) that installed diesel engines of choice in trucks. Good luck.

Cummins.

I have the 6.5, with the newr generation block (cause the origional blew at 180,000) its not a duramax by any means and my old 454 would kick its you know what in a flat out drag race, but this one keeps up pretty good and is good on fuel.

I personaly would do a 454, and actually I have an '82 with 120 something thousand KM (about 60,000 miles) on it that I am lookin to get rid of.

I went from a 350 (suburban) to a 454 (crew dually) and went almost 800 lbs heavier at the same time and actually got better fuel mileage while towing with it.