Thread: Diesel Chevelle?

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All manufacturers use power steering on they're diesels so it shouldn't be too much trouble. Another thing to think about is brakes. GM used a hydraulic boost system that used a second p/s pump to assist the brakes. It worked very well and was even used on some astro vans. You might have to make custon mounts and use odd belts but it shouldn't be an issue... What brand of diesel are you thinking of using? A cummins may be too long for the car, just a thought.

They sell biodiesel in Texas. Willie Nelson has a company that makes it. He's been running it in his tour buses for years. And yes I have seen Houston when you could hardly breath. Over on the east side especially around the refineries. Built a lot of Wal-Marts in Houston area for years. Some days you couldn't see the Bud plant from the smog.
But biowillie diesel will pass inspection in Houston. Age of a vehicle only determines if smog control is required, you still have to have emission testing. If you register avehicle as a classic or antique in Texas it is only legal to drive in parades and special events, not an everyday driver.

Yeah, there's a place in Texas City that sells, but it's a bit far for me.....I'll make mine............But right on, 1970 doesn't require smog pumps or anything..........pinche chito..........Oh, and I live on the downtown east side........Eastwood, near 2nd ward.......Once you get out further toward the warehouse dist. and the ship channel it gets as nasty as Pasa-gitdown and TXCity.........Lordy........I'm from Galveston Co. and I'm tired of everyone having to work in cancerville..........

dare to be differnt? are you F**KING NUTS!!!!! id like to see you try to re-sell it also

Actually gasser, theres a market for the strange. And besides, since when does a person build their rod to sell it? If i had my way, i would have been Buried in my first! Anyway, the diesel should keep the body fairly rust-free. even the shell will be worth something then

Banks is making 700hp from the duramax at 7000rpm. Can you imagine that sucker screaming by?

Soooooo, how much is gas running up in Spokane?......I know some folks in No. Cali. cooking up biodiesel for about 25 cents a gallon................Just something to think about gasser....

Don't concern yourself about the people who don't like your ideas. If you like it, and it's not hurting anyone, and you think it is a good idea...than do it! I wouldn't be suprised if Willie Nelson would help you fund it if he knew what you wanted to do. Stanger things have happened from more normal people. As I said, it's not my thing, but I'm all for it. Maybe Gassersrule---196 is worried that you will be able to pull it off and get lucky enough to have some hardcore diesel speed parts in the thing and run a faster time at the track than his nova, all the while getting all the people that come around your car suddenly hungry for french fries! Yeah...I got it. Go see if a fast food chain could sponsor you! Hardees racing, they sponsor race cars right. I'll bet none of theirs smells like french fries. Now that's marketing.

George

All right skolaiks, I was begining to wonder about you myself. I'm gald we didn't turn you off. Now that I have a better idea of what you're tryin to do let's see if I can help with some input of my own. You're just tryin' to buld a driver, so let's narrow down your engine choices. I'm not tryin to bellittle anyone here, but take it from me and I think it was the swiftster, 5.7 GM diesels are crap. You can try to convince me with all of the new goodies that are being made to make them decent motors, but they are junk. I've done more gas conversions with these than I can count on my fingers and it wasn't because they were great motors that produce mad power. If you want something earlier and GM go with either 6.2 or 6.5, preferably the 6.5. You can find them with turbos and there are a number of companies that produce aftermarket parts and I've seen a number of them that produce 300+ ponies. That should put you around 600 Ft. lbs. The bonus here is that you can set it up without much electrical work, as in a computer.

If it were me I would probably do the 12 valve cummins. The earlier ones used very little in the way of the computer and can be setup to be use without one. There are also tons of hop up goodies for them so you should be able to get some real usable power. I feel that this is the best choice just from a dependability standpoint. Those old cummins motors are indestrucible and I've seen them run for well over 500,000 miles without a rebuild, in-frame or otherwise.

The powerstroke, I feel personally, is way over rated. Don't get me wrong it's decent motor, but it's huge and unless you find a good 7.5 that was made for an industrial application (meduim duty truck) you're looking at a lot of computer goodies for it. Same with the Duramax, good motor, lotsa computer stuff.

As far as power steering goes, like someone else mentioned, all manufacturers used power steering, so that should be no more than getting the right hoses made or bought and hooking it all up right. Shouldn't be a problem.

Like I said, I think I would start lookin' at the 6.2, 6.5 GM or a Cummins B model. Those cars came factory with big blocks, so settin' it up to hold the weight shouldn't be a problem. 6.2, 6.5 are V8 models, the Cummins is a straight, look for the 6 cyl out of a full size truck. Once they went to 24 valve in like 97 or 98 they added a lot of computer crap. With the 6.2, 6.5 trannies should be a dime a dozen also and all your mounts should be pretty close to stock if not right on the money.

Good luck and keep us posted, I'm interested in what you get going

Gassersrule...I apologize, no point in getting anyone upset. Just diving you a hard time. The last thing I want to do is get this thread off track and off subject. Skolaiks is interested in "presumably" breaking new ground here. It's different, yes. It's definitely not the "accepted" thing to do to a well loved muscle car body. But it's his car and as far as I'm concerned he should be able to make it solar powered if he wants to. You like your car (it's a cool car, my 'bird' is about the same shade of yellow) I like mine, and hopefully he'll like his. He came here because he was trying to find smart people who might be able to help him figure some things out. UROTU, among others, sure seems to be one of those people. I just don't want him to be totally discouraged before he finds out if his idea could be feasable and realistically doable for him in his situation.

George

Yeah, we oughtta keep it on the level........ Anyhow, so I'm thinking GM 6.5.......It's about $800 less for a rebuilt long block than the cummins 12.........I figure buying one rebuilt might be a more viable decision than trying to find one at a junk yard or something....Thunderbolt does good work as far as I know........And I'm just learning about diesels anyway.....I've rebuilt a few 350s, a flathead Ford tractor (that was a trip) but never touched a diesel.....So, a '92-'01 6.5 doesn't have much in the way of computer stuff (if any)?.....I know the gassers had 'em mid-80s.......Oh, and some folks have commented about the sound of the diesel, but I figure it's not that much different than a lopin' cam........Eh?

I'm the one who mentioned the exhaust sound thing. A diesel sounds way different! I'm sure that there is much that can be done to alter the sound of the exhaust to a point. But then there is still the diesel motor itself singing it's own song between the fenderwells. That is probably your biggest hurdle to overcome when it comes to "acceptance" with the old school crowd. The v-8 rumble from a carburated gas motor is a big deal for the senses to many. You're probably going to have a difficult time making it sound like anything but a diesel. Oh well!!! But that will set you apart... that's for sure. Consider it a very serious conversation starter. Don't be suprised if you get some guy throwing a fit watching you fill up a 1970 chevelle with diesel at a gas station(if you ever need to go to one that is)
I really hope this project works out for you. Plenty of people will mock you for trying it, but nearly all will respect you for what you accomplished when its done. I sure will.

George

heck, i'll just say what my next would be if i ever got to it, but i wont so heres my idea. take a 40's - 50's dodge 3/4 ton pickup and put a 5.9 cummins in it with some old retro cummins badges on the motor and fenders. i think it sound pretty cool so someone have at it

Ahhh the 350 Diesel....

We had one in an Olds. On a Sunday drive over the local "hill"
the infamous hwy 17... Pulling the first grade...

KABLOOOOWIE!!

The rear tires locked.... Let me describe the autopsy results.

One of the rods failed.
It flailed around...
It severed the oil pan so all the oil poured out on the steep road.
After severing the pan it lined up nicely and stacked the block web.

The web was sufficently stout to stop the the crank INSTANTLY.
This caused the crankshaft to break.

However before it broke other damage was done...

The camshaft also broke in the very center.

The front half came out of the front of the engine through the front cover.

That didn't stop it though.. the water pump impeller stopped the camshaft.

This caused a large percentage of the entire cooling circuit to blast out the back of the ruptured water pump. This also ran back down the steep busy incline.

The sudden stop of the engine swept three teeth off the ring gear. This was the cause of the rear wheel lock up preventing even the CHP from shoving it outta the fast lane.

To top this off after converting the whole thing over to a 350 GAS engine and replacing the third member. We started it up only to find that the transmission had been lunched in the "event". We had to remove and ultimately replace it...

350 Diesel... no thanks.

The 350 diesel was a bad motor for only driving in town. It's a diesel and it's true place is on the open road. My father knew and old lady that had one with over 150k miles on it.. She only drove it on trips, and never just to grocery. He did all the maintenance on it for her.