'83 6.2 liter diesel questions !

[landon4421]

I just got my self a 1983 chevy with the 6.2 diesel in it and I am planning on taking out the diesel and swaping in a small block 350

Fly wheel, toque converter, bell housing ???????????????

When I pull the 6.2 out of the truck, will I beable to just slap in the 350 with out having to change anything ? I am planning to build me and my son a beater, mudder, truck, so the less it cost me the better :p

Oh ya it has the 4 speed auto trans in it now ! :p

Any Ideas or Help Would be Great

Landon

[72 CustomCamper]

Hey Landon, I did that swap in a 72 pick up I got from my uncle. The small block will bolt to the trans and motor mounts. You might have to change the flywheel and it would be a good idea to change the torque converter as a diesel converter has a lower stall speed than a gas converter. Also drain as much diesel as you can out of the tanks and when you're done with the swam fill them up with a good grand of gas. A small amount of diesel in the gas shouldn't hurt anything. You might need to go to a junkyard and get a engine wiring harness from a gas powered truck to hook up any sensors the motor might have. I could probably help you out there as we have an 86 blazer that we are parting out...


Chuck

[rockman20]

I didn't do the swap on mine, but there are a few things to look out for.

As already said, the torque converter should be swapped as should the govener. You may not be happy with the early shifts as it sits right now.

I believe that the accessory brakets that are on my engine are actually from the 6.2 and they do not line up right. The alternator is good, but the A/C is way off. I have to shim it out almost a 1/2" to get the pullies to line up with each other.

You shouldn't need a seperate wiring harness if you are just running a non-smogger 350. Mine has no sensors or extra wires. The only thing connected is the oil pressure, the temp, volt meter, A/C control, a power to the dist, and my solenoid wire on the starter. The guy who did this swap just black taped the existing wiring. Not the cleanest thing, but it works.

Also beware of the fan. I am not sure, but the water pump must stick out more on a 6.2. You can see where the guy who did this before must of just mounted the fan to the Gas 350 pump and the blades of the fan hit the power steering pump.

I won't be much help since I wasn't the one who actually did the swap, but from the looks of it, it isn't that hard at all.

[landon4421]

72 CustomCamper, I am planning on stripping everything out of the truck and redoing everything, totally stripped, just a shell

As far as the torque converter, flywheel, thanks for the info I can probally get them pritty cheep some place !

rockman20, Thanks for the Info as well ! Every little bit helps

[arveetek]

I'd suggest you leave the diesel in the truck, it would make a better crawler and trail rig. It won't stall on steep angles, has more torque at lower rpm for better crawling and less stalling, and gets nearly twice the fuel mileage of a gasser. However, if it's mudding you're into, then a high-revving gasser might be better.

Casey

[Devil'S Ride]

Hey Landon!

Fergot you were on this board. As per yer truck, I too would stuck with the diesel fer trail crawlin and playin around. Unless you are gonna be playin in mud pits like mine, the diesel should do you fine, and the fuel mileage wont kill ya. :P I love the power I got, but sometimes a diesel would be nice. You might weigh your options a lil more and decide exactly what it is you want to do with it. You could always strap a turbo onto the diesel and have some more power that way as well....
just my .02$

[boraxman]

The nice thing I see about this truck is being a diesel. Im pretty sure its smog exempt in Cali. You could throw a blown big block in it if you wanted to.

[firefighterpickett]

From talking with another person who did what you want to do the only real problem he had was adpating his hydroboost system from the diesel to the gas. This was due to power steering pump differences. However I just swapped my 76 blazer from a 350 to a 6.2. I would agree with the others as to the 6.2 being better unless you are wanting to race or something with the same demands. A non-emmision controlled 350 is amazingliy simple, which is part of what makes them so wonderful. Everything will bolt right together and the ealier post on wiring is correct. If you do go ahead with the switch and decide to part out the engine I'm am looking for a good vacum pump. Seth