Conversation starter/flame-fest fuel

[five7kid]

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a '95 C2500 Silverado with the 6.5l turbo diesel, 4L80E. It's got 285k miles on it, and runs like near-new. Really nice power, quiet, clean.

Okay, the fuel for the fire - why didn't GM put that powerplant in B-bodies? Man, what a cruise/tow/econo combo that would be!

I haven't looked it over thoroughly dimensionally to see if there's any hope of it fitting, but it doesn't look any bigger externally than a BBC (except for the turbo sticking out on the passenger side).

Somebody ought to try it.

[Chris 96 WS6]

GM is just not there in terms of diesels in domestic cars. That may change eventually.

[Transamman25]

jeez i didnt think about that .. think of a b-bod with the 6.5 turbo (with one of those diesel controllers that put down like 500 horse) "that might be worth puttin my pants on fer"-sheeb

[five7kid]

In 1988 I considered buying an '82 Malibu wagon that had the 5.7 diesel. Everybody knows the 5.7 was an exercise in disaster, but it had an '84 replacement engine installed (like they all did). It was really in great condition, and driving it on the road was a dream. But, with a young family, we couldn't quite swing buying it. That's one car that I really wish hadn't gotten away.

This diesel truck has brought back those memories. The family is older now, still dreaming about possible projects. The 6.5 turbo is rated at 190 horse @ 3400 RPM, which doesn't sound too impressive, but man, the thing just doesn't have to work hard! I don't know what the weight difference would be between the 3/4 ton heavy duty truck and a B-body, but I'd guess it must be somewhere between 500-1000 pounds. Then, you start doing things like intercooler, turbo upgrade, controller change. . .

[mrcadillac]

GM is not putting diesels in cars for the Reason of the 80's Olds 350 Diesel disaster. Plus, there Gas engines are really picking up. And, I think they would Struggle to put a BBC in there current lineup. To much cost, not enough reason. why spend extra money to put a 200hp BIG(in size and displaement), heavy diesel in the spot of a 200hp v6?(comparing 95 motors, as I have not followed current stuff.) My friend worked for a snowmobile(and bikes, and so on) shop. they had a newer(like 03) gas silverado. then the owner sold it to buy an even newer(04) diesel silverado. thing got nearly double the milage, and the thing straight up MOVED! But if the gasmilage, along with HP wars continue. and get worse, I could see GM stuffing diesels in there cars.

[mrcadillac]

I just read somewhere, that I think Chrysler is working on putting diesels in there cars bound for europe. It might have been GM, or Ford... I forgot which one it is. But give it some time, and it might become an option in the US. But only if they can find a way to clean up the emission on it. IIRC, the car would fail US emissions standards, but not by very much.

[stillsolvr]

you asked about weight. a 90's b-body weighs around 4200 lbs.
i for one would love to see it. diesels have advanced by leaps and bounds in just a few years. i always have to think twice before i challenge one in my impala.

[Zupercharged28]

a diesel motor of that size would be WAYYYY to heavy for any bbody or car. even with suer heavy duty suspension frame AND everything it would be WAYYYY to heavy and hard to work on. think about it. the diesel motor and trans combo would way more than a bboy WITH an lt1 and a 4l60e. theres no way that would ever work! im sure you could do it but its going to cost wayyy too much and is going to take wayyyy too long to do the conversion. its not worth it and it will but very hard to do. the chevy 6.5 turbo diesels are EXTREMELY hard to make big power out of. they make big torque and low HP. its not worth it the $10,000 it will cost you just for a 6.5 TD an a tranny

[five7kid]

$10,000? I just paid less than $2k for an entire truck!

I don't know how much the engine weighs. It looks to be somewhere between an SBC & BBC dimensionally. Really not that big.

Not asking it to outrun an LT1 b-body. But, it should hold its own easily enough, considering how it runs in the truck.

[mrcadillac]

the diesel motor and trans combo would way more than a bboy WITH an lt1 and a 4l60e. theres no way that would ever work! im sure you could do it but its going to cost wayyy too much and is going to take wayyyy too long to do the conversion. its not worth it and it will but very hard to do. the chevy 6.5 turbo diesels are EXTREMELY hard to make big power out of. they make big torque and low HP. its not worth it the $10,000 it will cost you just for a 6.5 TD an a tranny

Are you serious? A Chevy 6.5L diesel+trans weighs 4400 lbs? really.... Wow.

[mrcadillac]

http://www.thedieselpage.com/readers/vet.htm not the turbo 6.5, but close. :) Looks like the non-turbo one weighs about 650lbs, and can bolt up to a th400... thats no where NEAR 4400lbs. I do agree they seam to be hard to make big power. the turbo ones can see 230hp, and 430lbs at the wheels, with some bolt on stuff. That'd be pretty fun. BAM, smoke the tires. :)

Did I miss something?

I'd do it if I had interest in a torque monster, that was fun to drive, and wasn't after all out power.

[Zupercharged28]

hahahaha nice huh? i love to bullshit. you could do it im sure, but im not sure wy you would want to. the lt1s can get good gas mileage and can tow a decent load as they are gents! if you wanna go diesel go cummins or a duramax.

[stillsolvr]

91 Roadmaster Wagon, 6.2 diesel
http://impalassforum.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=005425#000000

[mrcadillac]

I just read that, and was gonna post it.

[five7kid]

I don't know what the weight difference would be between the 3/4 ton heavy duty truck and a B-body, but I'd guess it must be somewhere between 500-1000 pounds.
For what it's worth, I hauled some junk blocks & tranny to a recycle scrap yard this past weekend. The truck weighed a tick under 5700 pounds empty. That's a ton more than my '57!