6.2/6.5 in a corvette?

[JDmills]

I have been toying with and wondering about converting a corvette to diesel.. I never drive it now-a-days due to the price of fuel, and it's mid 15s fuel economy.. It was my dad's and he was not a real stickler on orignality, but more towards " lets get in it and go" kind of a functional enjoyment type of fella..

I have been thinking a 6.2 N/A would be all I would need to start with, not looking for somethign to burn rubber with, but as a project, that would make the car more driveable, and unique.

questions are: would it fit? what challanges do you forsee?

do you think it would totally destroy the value?? (in some respects it does not have much value to me, as I like drivers, not trailer queens)

What else needs to be considered? Size, weight, fuel system, electrical changes, volume of noise for when the top is down? would a OD automatic fit where a powerglide is? I am thinking that it will.. and a larger radiator..

The car is a 67 convetible, with a semi-sick 327 (valve job at the least) and powerglide auto. 3.46 rear gears..


if the project might tickle 28-30 MPG, and run fairly unobtrusivly I would consider it a huge success. I dont have much expeience with the GM diesels.. drive an 84 mercedes 5 cylinder right now, and used to have a 6BT in a dodge D300 which was an amazing engine.

and one more quesiton regarding the 6.2's why dont you ever see someone putting a supercharger on them? would that be an option in this case, where exhaust routing would be a bit of an issue, as well as the added heat in the engine room? A moderate supercharger might (if It was ever deemed necessary) give the car more power.. but I suppose it would be bad for ecomomy...

[a5150nut]

IIRC, there was a Corvette posted on this site some time ago. Maybe Jim can pull it back up or you could try the search feature to find it. Oh and welcome to TDP.

I found this http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/showthread.php?t=27855&highlight=diesel+corvette

[67_C-30]

Here's a supercharged 6.2L for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVssSrgwuww



Whipple used to make a supercharger kit that was popular with the Hummer guys because of underhood room. They still pop up on ebay from time to time.

[67_C-30]

IIRC, there was a Corvette posted on this site some time ago. Maybe Jim can pull it back up or you could try the search feature to find it. Oh and welcome to TDP.

I found this http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/showthread.php?t=27855&highlight=diesel+corvette


That guy clamed to be getting the equivalent to 38-44 mpg in his Vette. I can't say I completely doubt it because I have used to get 28 mpg all day long in my '84 K10 with a 700R4. That was the equivalent of 4800 lb brick vs probably a 3500 lb bullet.:D

[JDmills]

Here's a supercharged 6.2L for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVssSrgwuww



Whipple used to make a supercharger kit that was popular with the Hummer guys because of underhood room. They still pop up on ebay from time to time.

Thanks for the information. I am not hearing anyone say it is a really dumb idea.. and that is encouraging. The supercharger can wait, but it is nice to know that such a thing exists out there.

[67_C-30]

I definitely won't say it is a stupid idea. I love outside the box ideas! My turbo'd 6.2 powered 67 C-30 dually pickup is a mutt if there ever was one!
http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/showthread.php?t=32825

My other interest is 60's GMC V6's. I have 351 V6 powered '69 GMC dump truck, and I have a 401 V6 with high-flow Magnum heads and a custom 4 barrel itake that I'm dying to put in something. I have seriously thought about turbocharging it also!:D

[67_C-30]

BYW, as far as the supercharger and economy goes, diesels benefit greatly with forced induction and are more effecient unless you really start cranking the IP up for max power.

[More Power]

Forced induction is a power thing. A turbocharger can add 30-40% more power and torque to a 6.2L diesel. From an efficiency standpoint, the non-turbo 6.2 is about as efficient as it can be. Adding a turbo doesn't necessarily improve fuel economy. I ran the same 6.2 both ways in an 80's GMC. The best fuel economy came when non-turbo - by a little. ;)

Jim

[67_C-30]

Forced induction is a power thing. A turbocharger can add 30-40% more power and torque to a 6.2L diesel. From an efficiency standpoint, the non-turbo 6.2 is about as efficient as it can be. Adding a turbo doesn't necessarily improve fuel economy. I ran the same 6.2 both ways in an 80's GMC. The best fuel economy came when non-turbo - by a little. ;)

Jim

If driven the same way, I'm sure you are right. I found myself the keeping a lot of my N/A 6.2 trucks to the floor trying to make it GO!!;) I gotta say though the most fuel effecient truck I ever had was a '84 1/2 ton SWB 2WD Chevy with a 700R4 and 3.08's. I wish I had it back now with today's fuel prices!:(

[JDmills]

Thanks for the replies. I will take heart in the fact that people are not sounding too concerned about the idea of putting a diesel in the Vette.. and continue to toss the build idea around, and keep my eyes open for a donor vehicle.

[JDmills]

I have started to haunt Ebay a bit, in search for opportunities to fill the Corvette with a diesel...

Would starting with a diesel out of a van be the best idea?

How about a 6.5 N/A? could that be given a turbo/supercharger later on, if it was absolutely necessary? or are the N/A engines totally different (asside from the injector pumps, and manifolds??)

last specific question: do people usually have to change the springs when converting a big block gas motor, to the 6.2/6.5 engines? or is the weight fairly close?

a more general question, where can I find some more information on this forum to get a head start to reasearching this project. any and all advice is welcome.

[DmaxMaverick]

A van 6.5L would be fine. If you retain the turbo, a better option, IMO. Other than the induction/exhaust plumbing, they are essentially the same as PU 6.5's.

There are very subtle differences between the N/A and TD engines. None of them preclude from just adding a turbo system. The engines are materially and dimensionally identical. The only differences, externally, is the intake/exhaust plumbing. If you plan on a turbo later, install a TD engine, with N/A intake and exhaust. You can add the turbo stuff at any time. The IP should be detuned for N/A, and turned back up for TD. No biggie.

The springs depend on the vehicle. On the 'Vette, you will likely have to do something with them, and more so with a TD (more weight). And, a 'Vette BBC is significantly lighter than a truck BBC. Much may depend on the accessories you include.

The Members Forum and 6.2L/6.5L forums will have a bunch more info. Try a search in each of them. The Member's Area (http://www.thedieselpage.com/password.htm) will probably be the most helpful. Most of what you are planning has already been documented there, in the form of articles and guides.

[JDmills]

Thank you Dmaxmaverick. for those answers, they prompt another round of questions which should put me on my way to independence from relying on those with hard won knowledge.

Is the pass word for accessing the members page different than the password for logging on the forum? I was just trying to get into some of the member's pages information and had no luck giving the pop down password request the correct answer... and where would it be best to ask stupid questions such as this?

[DmaxMaverick]

I have yet to hear any stupid question yet, here. And, if you don't know where to post a question, post it where you think best and most applies to the forum relevant. If you put in the wrong place, it'll get moved, with a redirect left in its place.

The Member's Website (http://www.thedieselpage.com/password.htm) require a subscription (https://thedieselpage.com/form.htm) for most of content. I have yet to hear anyone say it isn't worth every penny of it.

[JDmills]

I have yet to hear any stupid question yet, here. And, if you don't know where to post a question, post it where you think best and most applies to the forum relevant. If you put in the wrong place, it'll get moved, with a redirect left in its place.

The Member's Website (http://www.thedieselpage.com/password.htm) require a subscription (https://thedieselpage.com/form.htm) for most of content. I have yet to hear anyone say it isn't worth every penny of it.



To the best of my knowledge, I am a member.. or I am am subscribing forum member, but not having any luck accessing the member's area...? Thank you for your help Dmax..

[DmaxMaverick]

Many members area pages require a different set of login credentials. If you are a subscriber and still can't get in, contact Jim HERE (http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/sendmessage.php).