[jg09]

Since "Big Blue" (my '62) has been brought back from the dead, I've been doing a lot of thinking about what direction the project will go in. A friend of mine keeps tell me that an LSx swap is the way to go, but I'm leaning toward diesel, specifically something on the simple side, like a 6.2 swap. Ultimately, I want to do something different with this truck. But I have a few questions regarding the swap and the end result.

What's the weight of the 6.2 compared to an SBC 350? Diesel engines are generally heavy, and I'm trying to actually level the front end sometime down the road. Will this be a substantial concern?

What transmissions are you guys using behind the 6.2? I've got a Muncie SM420 behind my 350 right now and I really would like overdrive. As far as manual vs. automatic, I'd prefer to keep it stick but if auto is the easiest/best way to go, I'd consider that too.

What do you guys think of the power/torque compared to a small block chevy? The 350 that Big Blue has is VERY tired out, and I wouldn't mind a bump in performance. I've heard that the 6.2 is real low performance motor. How is stock performance? How is the aftermarket for those engines?

What kind of fuel economy are you guys getting with the 6.2?