From France...

[lion10]

Hello

I am Lionel, I live in France
I am a new GMC 6.2 Diesel driver, I bought a 1982 Suburban in January.

Here is a few pictures

Near my Renault 25 V6 turbo, a "big" car in france...
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5131/photo0193lowcopie.th.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/i/photo0193lowcopie.jpg/)

The 6.2L diesel engine, not really powerfull but it seems reliable (I believe)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4792/photo0177lowcopie.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/i/photo0177lowcopie.jpg/)

I don't really know all the version, if anyone can tell me

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4222/photo0176lowcopie.th.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/i/photo0176lowcopie.jpg/)

Space for all the family, space for hobbies... no car like that in France

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/6210/photo0172lowcopie.th.jpg (http://img63.imageshack.us/i/photo0172lowcopie.jpg/)

Near my father's Mercedes ML... a little one!

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/2695/photo0310lowcopie.th.jpg (http://img30.imageshack.us/i/photo0310lowcopie.jpg/)

This Suburban is well equiped, with overdrive transmission, rear AC (doesn't work), cruise control, Rally wheels... etc...

The main problem in france is for the spare parts, the only way is to buy in united state. I will probably need your help for maintenance tips.

In Europe a 6 meter long vehicle is like a UFO... you can't park everywhere, Petrol is expensive, and everybody says I'm mad
Maybe right...

Lionel

[JohnC]

everybody says I'm mad
Maybe right...

"I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane" - Waylon Jennings

Welcome to the mad house!

[67_C-30]

Welcome! I bet that big 'Burb really does stand out in France. The non turbo 6.2's are not really strong, but they are much stronger with one added.

[Edahall]

Judging by the valve covor color, it looks like it still has the 82 motor in it. They have the least power (130 hp) but they deliver the best fuel economy. If you're looking for more power, the best place to start is going with a free flowing exhaust along with turning up the injector pump.

By the way, does your Suburban have Hella or Bosch H4 headlights. The reason I ask is I just bought a pair of export Bosch H4 headlights and I believe export vehicles came with them. I haven't installed them but they are suppose to be much better than the stock sealed beam headlights.

[lion10]

Thanks for your nice reply

That's right the engine is the 130HP.
In France get more power of an engine is illegal on the roads, but a few modifications could be interesting...
A free flowing exhaust, and the sound could be great. I saw a lot of exhausts for non-diesel engines, but not for the 6.2 diesel. Perhaps I just don't know where to find it...
Turn up the pump... do you know the way to do it? Is it safe for this engine?

This burb was bought in Texas in 1982, and imported in france a few years later.
All lightning is like in US, and the headlight are sealled.
H4 would be better, sealled lights are more expensive and hard to find.

[Edahall]

Turning up the pump is safe as long as there is enough air to burn the extra fuel. In stock form, the engine is pretty choked up and turning up the pump without any other modifications would just make more black smoke and more heat with little power increase. So one of the easiest ways to open things up is exhaust since the stock setup is very restrictive. I recommend dual 2-1/2" with an x-pipe and some free flowing mufflers. On my 82, I have Thrush mufflers like the following:
http://www.custom-chrome.co.uk/shop/catalog/images/CB4%201%20CHERRY%20BOMB.JPG
As far as exhaust for the 6.2, this company makes exhaust and headers for the 6.2. The setup increases power to about 80% of a Banks Turbo.
http://www.stans-headers.com/diesel.htm
You could also have an exhaust shop bend the pipes for you.

For instructions on turning up the pump:
Do a google search and type the following search string "Turn up the fuel on a GM 6.2" and select the article called "Turn Up the Fuel on a 6.2 - 6.5 GM Diesel Mechanical Injection Pump"

[lion10]

I saw this video yesterday, it seems to be easy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnoct-21vNY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnoct-21vNY)

But I don't know the easiest way to turn up the pump... on the top or on the side?


I believe the exhaust headers is the best to get a faster engine, with dynamic air intake and a turned up pump.
I'm not sure of the headers references I should use on the burb... same than pick up? Can you help me once again?

Thanks

[Edahall]

It's pretty easy to turn up the pump. You just need to make sure everything stays absolutely clean. The pump opens up from the top.

The Suburban would use the same headers as a pickup. They're not cheap but they really do wake up the engine and unlike a turbo, you'll likely pick up some gas mileage.