diesel conversion

[wickedhd69]

I have a 78 gmc that i have had for all most 20 years now. i would like to put a diesel motor in it. Do you all know of a place that has a kit to do this and what would be the best motor for this type of conversion.
John

[stump0331]

is the gmc a 1/2 ton, if so yur gonna spend a ton on that buils since the engine weight is more, the front end will have to be done up right

[wickedhd69]

Its a old 3/4 ton 4x4 standerd cad long bed.

[stump0331]

oh you might not be in too deep, id drop a cummins in it, i dont know of any chevy to cummins conversions for it though

[pipelayerjdh]

I would go with a cummins also. Use an old 12V and you will only have to make engine mounts and tranny mounts. What kind of tranny does it have? You could use the tranny/transfer case from a dodge or find one out of a medium duty truck. The drive shafts will have to be made also. Sounds like a good project.

[wickedhd69]

It has a t400 in it right now. I have been keeping my ears open looking for a cheep diesel truck to use as a doner for all the parts i will need. That is a good thought on the older cummins there is not a hole lot of electonics on them and that would make it alot nice.

[bigcountrysg]

The 6.2 or 6.5L GM diesels would be the easiest to drop in the chevy truck. Because you could keep the TH400 trans as it will bolt right up to those two engines. Both of those engines are mechanical ran so not alot of electronics on them either. If you want a cummins that would be the next easiest. Contact 6lcummins on this site, I know he has a cummins in an older chevy.


Oh if you go with the 6.5L banks makes a turbo kit for them. Also some 6.5L came with turbos. That is if you want to run a turbo.

[geekdownrange]

A 6.2L would probably be the easiest swap. Military CUCVs had a 6.2L and a TH400. Any required parts will be relatively easy to find. Banks has a kit to put a turbo on a 6.2L.

I had an '85 CUCV Blazer with the 6.2L/TH400 combo. It should run great for you.

-Brian