Might be a good time to switch to diesel?
 

Just discovered my 350 Chevy 1-ton 4x4 is going to need a rebuild and also just saw a local add for a good running 1987 6.2L maybe less than the 350 rebuild cost. This might be the good time to get into diesel compatible alternative fuels. It'd be nice to get better mpg than the low teens the 350 gives and get some diesel experience. Anything I should watch out for or avoid?
Thanks

May need to switch rear end for diesel, they run lower RPM.

Diesels run the same rear end gears as gas trucks.
Diesels do use a lower stall torque converter with 6 bolts connecting the flex plate to the torque converter (gas uses 3 bolts).
Other than that the small block chevy and 6.2L share the same transmission bolt pattern.

I know a lot about the 6.2L and 6.5L diesels.

Diesel only get 2 mpg better that V8

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First off, 2 mpg is a pretty big deal in percentage terms when you're in the teens.

Secondly, I'm not sure what you're going to see from EPA numbers. Currently, nobody offers a diesel in a 1/2 ton truck, and the EPA doesn't give fuel economy ratings to trucks larger than that.

Third, 20 mpg is about the most I've ever seen anybody sqeeze out of a V8 gasser. I average over 30 with my diesel. I'm just saying...

Had a neighbor in the early '90's with an early '80's 4WD 6.2 Suburban . . I had a hard time believing his 27-mpg on trips from Texas to Michigan and back. I became a believer after a while.

Said by some one who really has no idea what they are talking about.
Not all of us commute to go to work in an indoor job.

The cost of the swap and diesel fuel being nearly $1 more per gallon would influence my decision greatly.

I really don't think the benefits are there to justify a 6.2 diesel swap. I think it would be better to build a more "economic" 350...

Of course if you're interested in some "diesel experience" this may be the time. Maybe look into burning veggie oil or used tranny fluid. :) It's a lot of work...

If you don't need a 1/2 ton truck, maybe look into a Chevy Luv diesel or a little VW Caddy diesel...you should be in the 30+ mpg arena with one of those...

If you need a 1/2 ton + maybe look into a late 80's/early 90's Cummins Diesel Dodge. You can find a decent 2wd for $3k and should easily be in the low 20's for gas mileage...

Just my .02

~Jason

Makes sense to me. Biodiesel is cheap to make.

Word of advice from a 300,000 mile 6.2 owner.

In for a penny, in for a pound.

Convert the truck to a NV4500 manual. There are kits out there to do this. There are NV4500s with GM bellhousings.

It's get better MPG and you'll avoid the heartbreak of slow-revving diesels destroying car-type automatics.

I went through SEVEN automatics with my 6.2. My much stronger 7.3 is on the OEM clutch at 283,000 miles.