6.2ltr diesel in 52 chevy.

So, if I am going to go all out and swap my entire drivetrain...why not make it interesting. Idea was to use a 6.2l Chevy diesel, mechanical fuel injection, backed by a NV4500. Question is...which rear end would be suited best, as in not ripping to pieces from too much torque. I know that I can use a 55-57 chevy, 68-72 Nova, or a 70-81 camaro rear end. Will any of these be strong enough? Do any have easily obtainable gears, maybe stouter ones? I know I'm not gonna be winning any drag races, but do want to be able to cruise the freeway at 80mph. Any help would be appreciated. I tried searching the forum, but didn't find a lot. Maybe the this is the wrong forum for diesel tech, but it's going in a 52 chevy...so I figured you guys would be interested. Thanks.

 

Definitely the wrong forum for a diesel motor in any car, but I'm sure someone can and will help you with the rear end selection. Being from Australia I am not familiar with the rear ends you quoted. Sorry I couldn't help.
Doc.

 

no spark ..no HAMB

 

6.2 L chevy diesel didnt impress me much..dont think its as big of a torque monster you think it is..it would have to be pumped up alot from stock to worry me..

your also going to be limited on what axles will fit right out of the box so to speak..

if you want to go cutting one up to make it fit , than that opens up your options alot..

you could probably get away with a chevy 10 bolt..or those you listed..your WMF to WMF is whats going to dictate what axle you could use unless you decide to do some work on a more stout rear axle set up..JMO


VVVsee what i mean?....read what Bullrack just put up

you could even do the S-10 4X4 rear axle

 

You won't harm any of the stock later model rearends with the 6.2l diesel. They only had:
379 cu. in.
21.5:1 comp.
3600 rpms max
indirect inj.
130-143 hp
240-257 lb. ft. @ 2000 rpms
weighs 700lbs.

You would be more likely to wring the rearend with any smallblock chevy motor than with this. I hang around in diesel pulling circles and have seen a 6.2l making 300hp but not reliably.

It does make for an interesting engine choice.

 

the idea is cool never seen it made before but also must say wrong forum...

 

thanks for the replys. Will definetly go elsewhere for the engine building and such...but figured you guys would be able to help with the rearend choice. Thanks. Any more ideas/insights would be great.

 

Camaro rearend!

 

That's what I was thinking. Can you guys help me out with gearing. New to the whole custom car scene, so I don't know much about it. I know it's gonna be work tracking down what years had what gearing, and then finding the one that I need. Could use some help with what gearing would be ideal, and then I can start looking from there. Want to be able to cruise the freeway, no problem.

 

i think alot of the rear ends that have been listed will probably have a 3.73 gear..(alot of them will come out of OD trans type vehicles (700r4..200r4)..and depending on the year donor car for the axle it may have even been mated to a 4L60e)
not sure on the diesels needs but sounds like it should work.

most of the OD trans like the 3.73 gear sets..from my knowledge

 

The 1/2 ton 1980s Suburbans have a 10 bolt that isn't a hell of a lot different from the 70-81 Camaro rear that is a near bolt up in these cars.

I wouldn't go higher than a 3.41 or so unless you're running a TH400 or 4-speed with no OD. Most 6.2L trucks including both the ones I've had came with a 3.73 with a 4.11 optional, that's both a 1/2 and a 3/4 ton.

As for the 6.2 it shouldn't be any harder to install than a small block, except you have only one choice of exhaust manilfolds on the 6.2 (unless later 6.5s have something different) so if it interferes with the steering, you have a big problem.


The 6.2 runs out of go about 3600 RPM, but on the bright side in a 3400-lb Chevy you may be able to pull 30-35 MPG with it.

Personally though if I were going diesel in an older car I'd try to come up with a Dodge ***mins 5.9 inline, they're better motors. Or a 4BT out of a delivery truck.

 

was hoping to keep with the Chevy/GM parts. But will look at Dodge ***mins 5.9. Want to stay away from as much wiring as possible...but if the gains are significant enough, I"ll look into it. Plan on going with a turbo, which I would have to get a 6.5 setup if going with the 6.2 block. But the Dodge is a good idea, and you can get a NV4500 to go behind it. And it's an inline6, just like my 235...only different.

 

I don't want to rain on your parade but the 6.2 was not a great engine. If you have one for free and know that it works/have diesel mechanic friends it may be something to try.

I would not though. The 6.5 was better and the duramax/powerstroke/***mins all have it beat by miles.

 

6.2 isn't a bad motor per-se, but it was at the upper limits of it's design as it came, when they break it's almost always terminal - crank, rods, crankcase itself comes apart. Great if you want to burn vegetable oil and that's about it.

 

all good points. if I want to stick with chevy...is the 6.5 better? Has a turbo, which is what I would like. The Dodge 5.9 sounds nice, just need to find one and a ******. This car isn't gonna be period correct, isn't gonna follow any set "rules", or gonna be under any type of scrutiny from car show judges, so I guess it doesn't matter if I got with an alternate drivetrain.

 

Maybe you already know, but here: http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/
is a good place to talk about 6.2 and 6.5 diesels. I have one, a 6.2, in a OT 1/2 ton 2wd and it is a dog.

I'm not posi***ve but believe 6.5 have close to same basic dimensions/weight (similar to BBC) and yes 6.5 can have turbo, and better flowing heads, IIRC.

Not a very "pretty" motor either. I agree with previous poster who said that if you have one already, maybe.

 

La La La La, I can't hear you!! I am calling your mother!!

 

The 6.5l is better. They redesigned the heads, and strengthened the lower end of the block. Not all 6.5l's are turbos, but most are. I just put a turbo one, with a 4L80e into a Lincoln. It has a modified military pump, and is running 15psi of boost. It is plenty fast, and it gets 24mpg if you keep off the loud pedal.

Automatic or manual will work just fine, but be aware, if you want to run a 4L80e you will need an external shift computer, as it has no internal controls. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

The Dodge is nice, but it is a tall motor. Measure before you buy.

 

6.5 beats the hell out of 6.2L. The non-turbo is a mega slug. Had one in an ex-fire department truck and it really couldn't get out of its own way. Not so great on gas either. The 4BT is a killer motor though. Much easier to fit into an older car since it's an inline 4. GM did use them heavily in commercial trucks.

Look up the thread on here about the 47 1.5 ton turbo diesel being built. Lots of motor and fitment shots.

 

V-8 is nice but I would stay inline.

 

At the top of the page, (almost), there is a drop down tab, says "community", click it, click "social groups", and there are some diesel minded folks "socializing" on there occasionally Just view all groups, and you'll find it............

 

If you want to get 80 MPH use a 3:00 gears. I'm using 8in ford rear 2:76 gear ratio
in my model A, works great

 

The 6.2 is a great engine if you want reliability and economy. The 6.5 is good also IF you get an early one with the mechanical injection pump. Neither engine is a stump puller or race engine but both will outlast 3 sbc's ESPECIALLY if your abusive. Be all that as it may, in regard to your question, the 6.2 produces peak torque at 1800-1900 RPM (IIRC). With something like a 235R/16 tire, 3.73 gears and a 700R4 trans, you will be turning right about 1850 rpm @ 60mph. If you go with a TH350 or TH400 (or anything else without OD), 3.08 gears should get you pretty close.

 

I think the 5.9 ***mins is the king of diesels. They can easily be pumped up to 300Hp and over 600 lbs of torque without pulling the head. I did mine for a few hundred bucks. I can pull my 30 ft travel trailer up the SoCal g****vine and accelerate all the way in OD. I could change out the turbo and make a couple of other mods and get close to 400 hp and a few hundred more pounds of torque. There are plenty of 1000 hp ***mins running on the streets. The earlier, intercooled ones are best, I think. Plenty of speed equipment, no computer. BTW, I still get 20-22 mpg running empty on the highway

 

Traditional ????????????????????????????

 

Obsolete = Traditional?

 

You could set the oil pan of a 5.9 ***mins flat on the ground and it still wouldn't fit under the hood. That engine is very tall and weighs 1100 pounds.

And the guy who said you could turn a ***mins up to 300hp and 600 ft/lbs...that's stock rating of the newer ones. It's easy to get 1000 ft/lb out of one without going inside the engine.

I will stop with the ***mins talk now so we can get on with some traditional discussion.

 

Having had a Dodge of the type the 5.9 comes in, I can't think they're going to be so tall they won't clear the hood on a 49-52 GM car. I doubt they're much if any taller than a 235.

 

personally i would not put a 6.2 in a 52 chev. first off 6.2 engines do not have much horsepower they dont have much towing power and they dont last that long compared to other diesel engines. and it isnt traditional. I own a 6.2 drive one every day. The 6.2 is a good alternitive to a 350 that gets around 12-15 mpg but has more power and towing capabilities then a v6. i get a little over 20 mpg in my 3/4 ton 4x4 truck. 6.2 is okay for a 80s chev truck but not in a 50s vintage car.

 

I was speaking rhetorically but the engine is 36 inches tall.