Project 67 GMC custom 6.5 turbo diesel

[6772owner]

Ok thanks, I appreciate all the information, this looks like a very interesting set-up to me. My 67' K10 could use a swap in the future and I would like to go diesel without having to give up both arms and a leg. Sounds like the 6.5 could be a viable option.... Awesome job and I will be watching this one.

[mal68ibu]

Since my last post I found out that my injection pump took a dump on me while it was hanging out on the shelf not doing anything. I have the wiring all hooked up, engine turns over great but no juice. I bought a remanufactured unite from Badger Diesel with a military grade hydraulic head. In hunting around for a new pump I found out that the older style head unit I had has historic hot start issues. The military units do not. So I got my new pump and put all the crap back on the motor and it fired right up once we bled all the lines out. I just forgot to line up my marks on the pump and the timing is off a little. Next step is to put an oil pressure gauge on it and make sure I have good pressure and adjust the pump. Assuming that is all good. I need to make up a manual waste gate, do the brakes, and finish off the veggie oil fuel system, rut it a little longer and make sure I don't have any leaks anywhere. Then put the sheetmetal back on it. Sounds simple enough. Oh ya somewhere in there I need exhaust.

[djw32]

Very cool! How many gallons will that ss tank hold?

David

[Lippyp]

I'm assuming these big US diesel engines must be torque monsters as they don't seem to put out a lot of HP for the size. My wifes daily driver Nissan X-Trail 4x4 has 173 horses from a 2.0L four pot oil burner and it goes like stink (six speed manual box helps)

[dieselarmy13]

Originally Posted by Lippyp

I'm assuming these big US diesel engines must be torque monsters as they don't seem to put out a lot of HP for the size. My wifes daily driver Nissan X-Trail 4x4 has 173 horses from a 2.0L four pot oil burner and it goes like stink (six speed manual box helps)

These old engines are a tad bit different than what you are used to driving. They do have a good amount of torque, but speed demons they are not. What they are though is a good, dependable, fuel efficient, readily available alternative to a gas burner.

I've driven diesel X-trails, as well as many other euro market diesels when I lived in Germany, (my favorite being the Benz C220) and they are a whole different story. It's a shame that the US is finally, albeit slowly, letting these superb TDI's gain acceptance over here.

I am in no way putting this engine down, as I work on them almost everyday, and have found a soft spot for them, and for that reason have been following this build from almost day one.

[Lippyp]

I wasn't knocking them really, just curious as to how they perform. I know you guys over there don't have a huge number of small diesel engines, the model after my current daily driver Isuzu Trooper had a diesel with a Caterpillar designed injection system on it thats absolutely atrocious and results in the sump filling with diesel to the point the engine starts to run on it until it explodes! Here in the UK we have a lot of diesel engined cars, both mine and the wifes dailies (2.0L X-trail and my 3.1L Trooper) are diesels and frankly I wouldn't go back to a modern small petrol again as I love the torque these things put out.

[mal68ibu]

The take holds 11 gals of diesel and 44 gals of grease. Stock this engine is 220ish HP, and 440ish torque. With the mods I'd be happy with 300HP and 500-600 TQ. Combine that with the fuel economy and this murders anything reliable that runs on gas that I can put under the hood. My 300 HP small block I had in there only got 10mpg if I feathered the gas. I've been given mpg numbers for this engine ranging from 15 to 23. I'll find out when I start driving it. As far as your euro diesels, they are 10 times the daily driver that this will be. I tried to talk my wife into a TDI, but she wanted a civic. I will always have my gasoline gulping tire frying chevelle.

[dieselarmy13]

Originally Posted by Lippyp

I wasn't knocking them really, just curious as to how they perform. I know you guys over there don't have a huge number of small diesel engines, the model after my current daily driver Isuzu Trooper had a diesel with a Caterpillar designed injection system on it thats absolutely atrocious and results in the sump filling with diesel to the point the engine starts to run on it until it explodes! Here in the UK we have a lot of diesel engined cars, both mine and the wifes dailies (2.0L X-trail and my 3.1L Trooper) are diesels and frankly I wouldn't go back to a modern small petrol again as I love the torque these things put out.

No hard feelings at all, and I didn't think you were knocking them. Sucks to here about your experience with good 'ol American ingenuity I never have been a big fan of alot of Cat's engines. They've had some good ones, but they have definitely had some questionable designs over the years.