GM 6.2L Diesel - "Gutless Wonder"?

I've got a buddy who refers to the one he drove in high school as "the gutless wonder." Were they really that bad? They're common as dirt and nearly as cheap. Seems like they'd be a good, low-tech way to build a diesel '50s shop truck.

-Dave

 

Was that the GM diesel based on an Oldsmobile V-8 block?

 

No, I don't think so. That would be a 5.7 and didn't last very long. Early eighties only, I think. This would be the truck motor immediately preceeding the Duramax.

-Dave

 

I think it was a 403 Olds block and yes they were TOTAL DOGS, If you put a Turbo on it....... Well who knows?

 

A buddy had one in his 3/4 ton suburban, and it defenitely wasn't gutless. Taking care of your stuff and knowing how it is performing can make a world of a difference.

 

I ran a fleet of those vans in the early 90's. They were not "fast" as all. They were decent and reliable as long as they didn't overheat. The glow plug electronics ****ed *** too.

Eventually they came out with a 6.5, with or without turbo. They moved along much better.

I'm glad you can find them cheap. I get close to $1000 for a core.

 

Joe Mondello sells a kit that will allow one of those Olds diesel blocks to be punched out over 500 cubic inches...gas of course!

 

The 5.7 diesel is based on the Olds 350.

I have a shop manual kicking around somewhere that covers them.

Shawn

 

Yes, gutless wonder is correct. But can give good mileage. I have one and it has always been a hard starter. Got tired of pulling it home when it would not start so I just parked it. Life has gotten much better since then. Neal

 

Injector timing is a huge player in performance and can vary a little from truck to truck, but a 6.2 is never gonna impress you.

 

Got a similar idea now. I have a 61 International 1/2 ton crew cab ex air force pickup, and a 90 3/4 ton Dodge diesel pickup. Planning to put the IH body onto the Dodge ch***is. Repaint it Air Force colors and drive the wheels off it.

 

I used to drive a Chevy pickup with one of those worthless pieces of **** in it. It wouldn't even spin the tires in the sand. It just stopped moving and got stuck. They would probably make a good boat anchor.

 

They can do CRAZY good mileage...but I'll keep my ***mins in my Dodge Ram thank you!

 

6.2 is ok. For pulling a load it will hang with a tired, stock 350, while getting 10-30% better mpg. They like to spin under 2500rpm's. The 6.5td's are much better in the driver/towing dept. I have been driving a 1998 6.5turbo 3500 4x4 as a daily for a while. It gets 15-17mpg, pulls a single car hauler well, and has plenty of power for general driving.

If I want to tow real fast, or lots of weight, I will use my built 5.9***mins. 6.2/6.5td's would not be my 1st choice, but for a cheap diesel I guess it would be fine, but no hotrod.

 

I ran my own Diesel repair shop from 1986 to 1992 and saw some of the worst examples. My Dad's 1 ton Chevy dump went through 2 engines(6.2L) First one broke the crankshaft in half(common problem) the second one broke a connecting rod. Keep in mind that this was a stickshift work truck, but I still think Fords/International held up better. Also the Roosamaster fuel injector pumps had an internal plastic governer weight retainer ring, that would get hard and deteriorate. When this happened the "coffee grounds" would plug up the return pressure regulator and shut down the motor or kill what little power was left. Fords did not have the plastic ring.

I could rant and rave all day long, but bottom line....go for the 6.9 Navistar if possible or the ***mins. Won't even go into the blown headgasket issues on the GM engines. Some where ok if in a light duty van or truck, but good luck finding one and they go for big bucks $$$!

BTW...glow plug issue is an easy fix.

JT
P.S. on one of these threads I saw a ***mins diesel powered '49 Merc??

 

This is great! im in the market for a new tow rig right now and i will only buy a 88-98 chevy truck. and i was thinking about a diesel. but then looking on ebay and in the paper 8 out of 10 have blown motors? I think ill stick with a 350

 

If you can get it REAL CHEAP...give it a try.
You have a back-up just in case right?
They do respond to Turbocharging and playing with injector timing.
Are you real **** about oil changes and maintenance?
I hope so...otherwise.....forget about it.

 

I used to work at a diesel perf place. 6.2 will never be a hot rod but I understand 25 mpg is not uncommon at all in a 1 ton p/u-STOCK. As others have said injectors, turbo (banks used to make a system...expensive), intercooler off another wrecked veh, good intake and exhaust and it should do pretty well. After that, it wouldn't be economically feasible, though.
p.s. stay low power. they won't hold up to a whole lot...but good fuel mileage

 

I was interested in looking at one last winter to replace my suburban (some pinhead on a cellphone driving a ford focus sideswiped me and 'totaled' her-as if) It seemed like too good of a deal- from what everyone has said so far, I can see why now. Lucky for me, I guess, I missed on it.

 

I drove a 6.2 3/4 ton Suburban for years. Fairly slow, even slower with a trailer. BUT, it will pull a house, and get great mileage doing it. 905 of the problems you hear with these motors involve lack of preventative service, and/or abuse. A very very slight tweak to injection pump will net good power gains.

I drive a brand new Silverado now, and daily wish I could order a brand new 1984 Suburban.

The 6.2/6.5 and 6.5TD get a lot of the bad rap as a carryover from the 350 diesel. From what I can tell, people thought they were the same and never gave them a proper chance.

 

Here is a great forum about Chevy diesels, including the 6.2. Hours worth of reading...

http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/

 

If you are seriously looking at getting a diesel, go with either a Duramax or ***mins. The Powerstrokes are decent, but with real heavy towing use, the stock turbo will go.The Duramax will bull a house off the foundations, and the ***mins could probably uproot a ******* mountain. My ***mins gets about 22mpg towing a 9500 lb. race car trailer on the freeway.

 

Aren't the Duramax and the modern ***mins all loaded down with electronics, though? Kinda defeats the purpose of working with an old vehicle to turn it into a computer. :/

Thanks for all the imput, guys.

-Dave

 

The older 12 valve ***mins are a breeze to work on (From a diesel tech point of view). But not "Cheap".
Perkins makes smaller 4 cyl diesels for mail trucks and airport Ukes.
They are available with a ford bellhousing pattern as well as chevy.
PM me if you want more info.

 

PM'd ya.

-Dave

 

Look at the 366 BB if you want to tow. It's a tall deck so you've got lots of stroke and that means torque and that what you want right here in Trailer City

My dad had one in a C65 Chevy tandem axle grain truck and it would never quit, even when the 22' bed was loaded to the max with grain or silage.

 

None of this sounds like diesel MPG to me.

My 2.4 Turbo-charged Direct Injection Ford C-Max will do 0-60 in under 9 seconds, tops out at a little under 130MPH and gets 45 MPG all day long - however hard you press it.

Cruising at 65MPH in sixth gear it will do 100mpg.

Why bother with a Prius when you can get those numbers from a Ford??

 

heres the deal IMO.
i have a 6.5 turbo dieselin my wifes sub.
its got 190,000 trouble free miles on it.
i also have a 90 sub with a 6.2,its got over 200,000 miles on it,the speedo quit at 202,000 5 years ago,its got a waste veggie oil kit on it,it runs on diesel or veggie,it runs great,has way more power than i ever thought it would,cruises at 75mph no problem,i do pull atrailer with it,its not bad towing with it.
i would buy another one in a second,if it was cheap!
i also have a dodge/***mins,its bad*** for heavy hauling.but the sub is my DD and swap meet car.
the 6.2 and the 6.5 are better than people think,and the 5.7 was a good engine too,my wife drove those cars for years,we would buy 2 year old caddys with the diesel for 3 grand,and she drove them to work daily.
i was a diesel tech back then,keep sharp batteries and clean fuel and filters in them and they were fine
anybody know of a running 5.7? i want to put one in my astro van!
Randy

 

The 6.2 was an actual diesel engine not a converted gas engine. They wern't actually not all that bad and engne thogh. Great fuel milage. but a little lacking on power

 

I hauled a lot of hogs with a 6.2.

We just got a 'Burb with a "new" 6.2 from a diesel mech.
Runs like a champ and has a T400 with and add on OD.
Were gonna put the whole thing in a '64 GMC.
Should work well for a shop truck.