Got Diesel ?

Does any one know what year Gen 1 vans had a Diesel motor. Looking for motor size and if one can "bolt up" to frame? Does anyone have one installed or seen one installed in a Gen 1 van?

Don't believe there were any Diesels in any Chevy Vans till the 80's

It may have been a couple years, but I'm thinking someone was going to or did put a small Cummins in one. maybe somebody else can recall better...

Isnt Gasoline a high enough price ?? Id hate to be filling a rattling , oily , smokin, Diesel up with redicously expensive fuel!!

Twinpilot001 wrote:Isnt Gasoline a high enough price ?? Id hate to be filling a rattling , oily , smokin, Diesel up with redicously expensive fuel!!

Aww, come on Pilot, I can see a nice little 90 HP Jetta TDI turbo diesel going in there somehow. Maybe the transaxle powering some all time AWD? My wife gets 45 MPG driving her 2,900 lb 2000 Jetta. (sorry, just daydreaming lol)

Just don't go putting those hap hazardly engineered Oldsmobile Diesels in there!

my excursion is nearly 8k lbs and can get 15+ mpg… I stil get 13 mpg when pulling a 3k lb airstream, and it will run on vegetables if necessary. I doubt many of our vants get 20 mpg.

IF you could get a decent diesel in there, you oughta have good torque and MPG, sure the fuel costs more, but it’ll get you further.

my mom has a vw tdi and easily gets 45, sometimes 50 mpg. and the torque is addictive, lotsa fun to put the go pedal down feel it take off.

mercedes also makes decent diesel engines.

austinmodhouse wrote:my excursion is nearly 8k lbs and can get 15+ mpg… I stil get 13 mpg when pulling a 3k lb airstream, and it will run on vegetables if necessary. I doubt many of our vants get 20 mpg.

IF you could get a decent diesel in there, you oughta have good torque and MPG, sure the fuel costs more, but it’ll get you further.

my mom has a vw tdi and easily gets 45, sometimes 50 mpg. and the torque is addictive, lotsa fun to put the go pedal down feel it take off.

mercedes also makes decent diesel engines.

School Time
I have learned that there were two diesel engines used in chevy trucks
1963-65. Source was not sure if any were put in vans (general market)but could be special ordered- 4-53 and a v6-53 and they both can run on vegetable oil.

4-53 is a 4 cylinder, 212 displacement, 17.0 Compression Ratio,Gross Horse power 130@2800, Net horse power 118@2800, Gross Torque 271@1500 Net 263@1500(which is more than my present 230 L-6)

6V-53 is a 6 cylinder, 318 displacement, 17.0 Compression Ratio,Gross Horse power 195@2800, Net horse power 183@2800, Gross Torque 423@1500 Net 415@1500

Now the search is on to find one:

Those are old school Detroit Diesels, Probably if in a truck they were military for a guess, at least some kind of hauler. Noisy, Dirty and currently almost no parts support for older engines of that nature. They are also heavy. You could tell when they were out of oil ,, they quit leaking. Our LinkBelt crane runs a 4-53 and I have an extra on a skid in case that one goes.

Ok, I'll bite , how about a isuzu truck(NPR) 4 clinder diesel. You coulds even use the standard tranny and best of all they are cable shifted so you could use the shifter also. These motoes are pretty small, and would definitly fit in a early.

Biggest thing everyone isnt thinking about is the real costs for repair to fuel pumps, injectors & even turbos if so equipped/? also - the re do of fuel systems with return lines & pressure thpe stuff - motor mounts & all such- lots of real fab & work and for what - mileage?? Yet the one guy that does that will be likely the only one thats done it . Think ill kep my gas burner that when i break down on a sunday i can still get parts for it cheaply. Kinda like the ford, chev, & dodge parts costs & availibility?? Happy Vannin=i]

Yep, definitely would not be an inexpensive or anywhere easy drop in. I just dig diesels. Started when I was given a near basket case 4 speed MB 240D for free. Scary to drive it. Absolutely no power. It had a bad thermostat, no shifter handle, frozen wiper bearing, no horn, etc. Gave it some TLC, adjusted the throttle linkage so that it would open all the way and with a decent operating temperature it achive 64 HP and you could comfortably drive in traffic.

Me and the Mrs loved that rust bucket so much we bought a new Jetta TDI. I swear she's going to run that thing until the wheels fall off.

How about a 123 HP turbo 6 cylinder Merc motor from like '81-'85?

As far as I know no early or second generation van had a diesel motor unless it was built for the military and even then that is doubtful.

Interesting, very interesting

I'm building a 4x4 '67 Chevy panel on a '87 pickup chassis with a 350. It's a mini monster truck wanna be in the making (yes I'm nuts) and I think it would be cool as hell to have a Cummins in there. I don't have the cash for anything like that now but should the opportunity present itself I'd be all over it. Also have daydreamed of the rear axle from a Denali pickup with the 4 wheel steering set up independent so it could "crab walk".

pan58head wrote:Ok, I'll bite , how about a isuzu truck(NPR) 4 clinder diesel. You coulds even use the standard tranny and best of all they are cable shifted so you could use the shifter also. These motoes are pretty small, and would definitly fit in a early.

Thanks Pan58head for the idea Isuza truck motor!!!! I'm on it!

Yucky! Diesel=stinky and slow.

Vanner's Creed:
I don't try to explain why I am a Vanner. For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, no explanation is possible.

I guess the same can be said for diesel lovers

I don't like diesel myself but that is just me. I definitely wouldn't desecrate an American made van with a foreign motor.

vanishingbreed wrote:I don't like diesel myself but that is just me. I definitely wouldn't desecrate an American made van with a foreign motor.

igend

Its not about desecrating an American made van it's about giving less of my hard earn money to foreign intrest. My van is a daily driver and gasoline is costing me $200 a week. Just looking for alternatives. Thank for your input.

I personally see know problem using a foreigh diesel motor. Let face it you can't buy a US auto without foriegh parts in it. It's the times and that won't change. If it get one of these cool vans back on the road I'm for it

Chris his van is on the road now. It sounds like he is driving it over 900 miles a week since he is spending $200.00 a week on gas. Our old vans were almost totally if not totally made with American made parts and to me should be kept that way. It is his van and he can do as he pleases with it.

I was speaking in general, I wish things were like they used to be also. Buying all American made stuff, but even the few that are all American made I'm sure many of there suppliers they have someone deals out of the US.

I hope your motor change project works for you and you can save some cash. If you do under take this give us some pictures as you go.

Put an LS motor with all the factory injection. You'll be running smooth and get decent mileage.

Depends on your budget too...

Hey Roman , don't be giving my ideas away. But serious I'm putting a 2000 5.3 LS with a whipple supercharger in my 64,should say was in but I pulled it to paint the van. This also the van I'm building the cable shifted 4 speed set up for. Sorry for the highjack. I still have a vote for the izusu 4 clyinder diesel,turbo charged of course!!!!! Bob

Leftcoast65 wrote:

vanishingbreed wrote:I don't like diesel myself but that is just me. I definitely wouldn't desecrate an American made van with a foreign motor.

igend

Its not about desecrating an American made van it's about giving less of my hard earn money to foreign intrest. My van is a daily driver and gasoline is costing me $200 a week. Just looking for alternatives. Thank for your input.

Leftcoast65 - good meeting you the other day...how did the radiator repair go? How much $$$ was it? Thanks!