Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > EcoModding Central
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 05-31-2012, 02:55 PM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: West Coast
Posts: 2
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
57 Chevy pickup Diesel? (suggestions for swap?)

Any ideas for a good diesel motor to swap into a 57 Chevy pickup? I have been kicking around the idea for a little while and am ready to get serious about it. Something with a little "go" to it, but still efficient. I have been thinking maybe a Cummins 4BT or a really economy tuned 7.3 powerstroke, or something out of a delivery truck. Shooting for around 30 mpg

What are your thoughts on an efficient, mid size diesel motor?

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 05-31-2012, 03:18 PM   #2 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Sven7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Warren, MI
Posts: 2,456

Boo Radley - '65 Ford F100
90 day: 13.28 mpg (US)
Thanks: 782
Thanked 669 Times in 411 Posts
Welcome to Ecomodder! If you do a search there are several threads here about diesel swaps into classic cars. That would be a good place to start.
__________________
He gave me a dollar. A blood-soaked dollar.
I cannot get the spot out but it's okay; It still works in the store
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2012, 03:47 PM   #3 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Silly-Con Valley
Posts: 1,479
Thanks: 201
Thanked 262 Times in 199 Posts
How about a small-displacement turbodiesel, like a VW TDI?

-soD
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2012, 03:57 PM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Ryland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 3,903

honda cb125 - '74 Honda CB 125 S1
90 day: 79.71 mpg (US)

green wedge - '81 Commuter Vehicles Inc. Commuti-Car

Blue VX - '93 Honda Civic VX
Thanks: 867
Thanked 434 Times in 354 Posts
I'd put the drive train from a Dodge Sprinter in, friend of mine has one of their one ton vans that gets 28mpg and is tall enough that you can stand up inside of it, so 30mpg should be possible.
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2012, 04:25 PM   #5 (permalink)
The Dirty330 Modder
 
Gealii's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North East Ohio, USA
Posts: 642

CruzeRS - '15 Chevy Cruze LT RS
90 day: 41.29 mpg (US)
Thanks: 10
Thanked 67 Times in 59 Posts
go with a smaller diesel for sure, the bigger the diesel the more fuel it takes so a 7.3l would not be a good choice unless your going to tow with it as well.
__________________



"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing."
- Henry Ford
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2012, 08:19 PM   #6 (permalink)
Corporate imperialist
 
oil pan 4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NewMexico (USA)
Posts: 11,265

Sub - '84 Chevy Diesel Suburban C10
SUV
90 day: 19.5 mpg (US)

camaro - '85 Chevy Camaro Z28

Riot - '03 Kia Rio POS
Team Hyundai
90 day: 30.21 mpg (US)

Bug - '01 VW Beetle GLSturbo
90 day: 26.43 mpg (US)

Sub2500 - '86 GMC Suburban C2500
90 day: 11.95 mpg (US)

Snow flake - '11 Nissan Leaf SL
SUV
90 day: 141.63 mpg (US)
Thanks: 273
Thanked 3,568 Times in 2,832 Posts
A 6.2L or 6.5L chevy diesel will bolt right up to your frame and would likely work with what ever transmission you have in there, if not a transmission would be very easy to find and be fairly cheap.

You can get a BT4, but how economical is a $4000 engine that will require a lot of fabrication work to get it to fit. And good luck finding a transmission (and you will need a custom length drive shaft too)

If I can get mid 20s with a 6.2L in my suburban than a 57 should get closer to 30.
__________________
1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2012, 02:23 AM   #7 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: West Coast
Posts: 2
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks for the input! The sprinter drivetrain intrigues me. Good point about the 4bt. I don't like the idea of spending a ton of coin when there are cheaper options that are as good or better. Any opinions on electronic vs mechanical motors (power and mileage wise)?
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2012, 03:29 AM   #8 (permalink)
Corporate imperialist
 
oil pan 4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NewMexico (USA)
Posts: 11,265

Sub - '84 Chevy Diesel Suburban C10
SUV
90 day: 19.5 mpg (US)

camaro - '85 Chevy Camaro Z28

Riot - '03 Kia Rio POS
Team Hyundai
90 day: 30.21 mpg (US)

Bug - '01 VW Beetle GLSturbo
90 day: 26.43 mpg (US)

Sub2500 - '86 GMC Suburban C2500
90 day: 11.95 mpg (US)

Snow flake - '11 Nissan Leaf SL
SUV
90 day: 141.63 mpg (US)
Thanks: 273
Thanked 3,568 Times in 2,832 Posts
Absolutly under no circumstances use an electronicly controled DB4 serries injector pump.
The after market has been working on fixing the Pump Mounted Driver for over 20 years now and still cant get it right.
I have had 0 problems with my injector pump in 6 years and I have abused it in ways that make DB4 guys cringe, mainly because I do things like put used motor oil in my fuel on a regular basis. That would instantly put a DB4 pump into limp mode, due to blinding the optical sensor set up they use.
__________________
1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2012, 10:38 AM   #9 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: na
Posts: 1,025
Thanks: 277
Thanked 218 Times in 185 Posts
Find a 1980-90s 6.2/700r4 chevy van donor if you want to do it cheap. Almost all the parts you will need.

1996 Chevy 1 ton Diesel van

Didn't know they made non-turbo's 6.5. But something like that would be cheapest easiest way to go.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2012, 11:13 AM   #10 (permalink)
home of the odd vehicles
 
rmay635703's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere in WI
Posts: 3,891

Silver - '10 Chevy Cobalt XFE
Thanks: 506
Thanked 867 Times in 654 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by roosterk0031 View Post
Didn't know they made non-turbo's 6.5. But something like that would be cheapest easiest way to go.
You need to be carefull how you setup your 6.2/6.5 some get moderate fuel economy, other suck.

The best were the C-code 82-84 motor because of the small cups, if you make a frankenstein using the smaller cups on a newer motor (like a 6.5 for example) you can improve its fuel economy at the expense of a bit of power.

Nice thing about 6.2's is they can occasionally be had for as little as $50 from the military.

Good Luck
Ryan

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
classic, diesel, hot rod





Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com