Might be a good time to switch to diesel?

[VBOD]

Thanks all. The little diesels are darn scarce around here, unlike 80's 6.2L Burbs'. If my 350 dies then it'd be cheaper to get one of those & swap parts. An NV4500 would sure make it nice combined with my 4.56:1 rear-end. This is no commuter it's a work truck, no carpet or cloth, so basic it doesn't even have dash vents, just the manual kick-panel vents; remember those? 2mpg; that'd be a 15-20% gain, now your just teasing me.

[tjts1]

Diesel fuel costs 20% more than gasoline. Find a more efficient gas engine.

[diesel_john]

Diesel is 25% higher today here. That being said, the duramax is suppose to be GM's better engine. I have noticed both GM and Ford have gone through a lot of growing pains trying to make V8 diesels. Dodge finally says they have a manual 6 speed that can hold the Cummins. The new DI gas engines should approach the diesels. Diesels aren't for everyone, that's all I'm saying, they can be expensive.

[VBOD]

Diesel's 10-20% higher here; I run the numbers every time this idea pops up. When I learn enough, I could get into a 6.2L and breakeven in about year; longer if I used a Cum., MB, Isuzu... I'm thinking Diesel as a replacement for the worn TBI-350 in the Green Mach. and/or in the '53 BelAir. Mostly because I wanted something non-computerized and could possibly use small amounts of the alt. fuels (wvo/wmo/bio...). These aren't commuters but a way to learn about Diesel for future options.

[VBOD]

Originally Posted by tjts1

Diesel fuel costs 20% more than gasoline. Find a more efficient gas engine.

I appreciate that. However, (I'm not trying to be a jerk here) but keeping swap costs low, do you have any recommendations? My top end would be the rebuild cost of the 350, logically, so I'm looking for an alternative of same or less cost that I can do myself.

[Diesel_Dave]

If you could find a good deal on a Cummins 4BT, that might be an option for you. Google "Cummins 4BT conversion" and you'll come up with lots of stuff. The 4BT is the 4-cylinder version of the more well known Cummins 5.9L (6.7L after 2007) 6 cylinder engine. The 4BT is 3.9L (now 4.5L), but I think quite a few people have put them in 1/2 ton pickups and love them. I think they'd probably be okay for a Suburban. Max power is probably less than the 350, but I would guess the toque is probably about the same.

Not sure what the bill would be, but this guy put one in a '93 4x4 Suburban and is claiming 26 mpg (which seems optimistic, but believable to me):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV903Ai7Uhg

Just a thought...

[redpoint5]

I don't have experience with any diesel other than my Cummins, but I do know the engine is much heavier than the gas counterpart (I've read it weighs 1000lbs alone). Would the diesel swap make your front end heavier and wear suspension and front end components?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Diesel_Dave

this guy put one in a '93 4x4 Suburban and is claiming 26 mpg (which seems optimistic, but believable to me)

Optimistic, coming from a guy getting over 30mpg in a full-size pickup? Seems very reasonable to me considering many Dodge/Cummins guys break 20mpgs with their 5.9L Turbo mills.

[Diesel_Dave]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Optimistic, coming from a guy getting over 30mpg in a full-size pickup? Seems very reasonable to me considering many Dodge/Cummins guys break 20mpgs with their 5.9L Turbo mills.

I was just saying 26 mpg is probably towards the high end of what I would expect for semi-normal driving with a 4BT.

I re-read the OP and realized the this was for a 1-ton pickup, not a Suburban. If you do real work with the truck, the 4 cylinder Cummins is probably a little undersized.

[VBOD]

A 4BT would be nice in the '53, a bit loud; 6BT in Green Mach. even nicer but those cummins are like gold around here, thus the 6.2L idea.