Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

I have a '69 GMC with no engine. So I thought id try my hand at a diesel with some stacks to make it a puller. Now the problem for me is is this. One thing. Money. Im a highschool student working on a farm but havnt gotten the chance too since school. So heres my plan, getting a diesel in her and getting a tranny behind it. Ive never worked on a diesel engines before. What kind of mounts do I need? whats the most inexpensive engine that I can get and keep suspension mods and a zero or at a minimum. I want to put a 5 speed behind it and make it roll some coal. So what can I use for a 5 switch? So the main question is this. Im lookin for a I6 or even a 4 banger, just want some torque and a five speed. Im in Nebraska as far as prices go. Thanks Guys!!!! :chevy: :gmc2::flag::flagw::g2: Thanks again and cant wait to start the BUILD!!!!

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

If money's short toss in a 350 and trans of your choice. Going diesel is never cheap. I run a 12 Valve Cummins in my burb and even with a donor truck the cost was much more than a traditional small block.

Get the old gal running and driving with a gasser and when you have more cash start planning a diesel swap and buying parts. A truck on the road is much more fun than one in the garage.

-And rolling coal is just wasting fuel and abusing your hard earned parts. I have a small haze under full throttle and can pull my trailer at 80 plus without thinking about it at part throttle. And that's with 35s and a lift.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

2X ^
A truck on the road is better than two in the garage. Converting to diesel is no small task. Going with a 4 cylinder will help on the weight issues only, but you won't like the power. It will run out of legs real quick.

Get the truck running on a gasser and enjoy it. Then look for a 3/4 or 1 ton to drop a Duramax into and tune it with EFI Live. BIG POWER!

Chicks dig old trucks... you'll soon find out. Use your money and time making it a chick magnet.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

Do a Cummins 6bt or 4bt. Go Cummins or go home. And if you do the 4BT with twins then you wont run out of legs, it will make a 350 look stupid.

BTW Cummins is American, I believe the Duramax is Isuzu.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

The easiest and the cheapest would be a 6.2/6.5L Chevrolet.

Any transmission able to put up with a diesel is likely to be as costly (or more) than the engine.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

The two (24 valves) in my daily drivers were made in Brazil ;)

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

American design, where as the duramax is designed by Isuzu. Nothing is actually made in America anymore. ;)

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

For price, the 6.2/6.5 is the cheapest way to go. What you want to do with it is going to be what costs the most money. A cummin's swap as said would be expensive but is the best diesel to have in one, but a lot of work and money.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

I lot of people are telling you to put in a 350 and drive, that is true. You should find one with a tranny and be up and running for around 1200 to 1500 depending on what you already have with the truck and if you have some help that know something about trucks. Now to get a Diesel in and running and driving in that same truck [assuming it is 2wd] it is gonna cost around $4000 to $6000 still assuming you have some help that has some knowledge. This isn't a project for the faint of heart or weak of wallet. I don't want you to give up on your dream, I build and rebuild trucks for a living and have since I was a teen and opened my my own shop in 1987.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

The cummins swap wont be that bad money wise, can pick up a decent 12 valve 6bt for $1000 all day long up here.

best thing would be find a pre 98 ram thats rotten and use it for a doner

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

Cummins!!!!!!
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Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

6.2/6.5 turbo mounts bolt to it any small block tranny will bolt to it parts are cheap they don't weigh much more then a big block good on fuel and last for ever if you don't abuse them. A cummins swap is expensive and heavy have to use a tranny with a cummins bellhousing bolt pattern. Also parts for cummins is expensive and a lot of modification. Do not use the 5.7 diesel you may find it cheap still do not use it.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

6.2/6.5s are junk tho. Never seen one that didn't have horrific blow by. The cummins may be a bit heavy but parts are readily available and considerably easier to work on.

Chances are you will want more power out of it down the line, honestly when is enough really ever enough, and a p-pump 12 valve will be one of the strongest bases to build off
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Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

Never had one that was junk just tore mine down had 275000 miles and looked like it had only 50000 on it. Like I said if you take care of them which might not be a good idea being you have never worked on a diesel. Maybe get some hands on before you swap something in your truck. My .02
p.s not trying to steer you away from a diesel swap just better to know how to work on them when swapping

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

They get a bad name the 6.2/6.5 because they're not the powerhouses that cummins are. Member 67_C_30 I believe is the one who did a 6.5 swap into one and it is a very well documented build thread.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

I used to work as a fleet mechanic for the Post Office here in Fort Worth Texas. We had a whole bunch of 6.5 powered trucks and they were very good ones. The drivers just put the accelerator on the floor everywhere. Across the whole fleet, I don't ever remember needing to go into one of the engines. Basically injector pumps were about the only thing we ever had to mess with. They clattered their way down the road six days a week driven by abusive drivers.
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Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

12 valve cummins.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

Cummins is German my friend. Look it up. But still a great motor.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

I would do Cummins or a D-Max.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

My mistake thinking of a different motor, don't mind me.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

Here's a link on their Headquarters building..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cummins...ffice_Building

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

Have you ever had a 4BT? That thing will shake the teeth right out of your head. What good are Twins without supporting mods on a 3.9L?

6.6 Duramax engines are built by DMAX LTD. in Ohio, A joint venture between Isuzu & GM, Yes Isuzu designed the engine FOR GM, So what......Isuzu has a lot of light/medium duty diesel experience.


The founder of Cummins Engine Co. Clessie Cummins was born in Indiana.

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

You could have it balanced.

My opinion? 6>8

Hard to come by, but an Onan/Cummins 6AT will mate to a SBC/BBC bellhousing. I think* the motor mounts are similar to a 250 or 292.


*I am thinking that I read this somewhere but could be wrong

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

It's not a balance issue.....All 4 cylinder engines without harmonic/balance shafts shake. A 17:1 4-cylinder will shake ALOT, Only firing 2 cylinders per crank revolution makes this an Inherent issue.
All engine manufacturers balance rotating assembly's.

How is 6 greater than 8? All B series Cummins owners think their engine's are supreme. In my opinion if Cummins made a V8 version of the B series....It would be "all the rave"!

Re: Putting a diesel in my 69 GMC? What engine to use?
 

Doesn't seem to be shaking to bad. Can't be 100% positive but looks very fun to me.