6.2 to 350 k5 blazer

[k5erforever]

I'm gonna b putting a 350 in my k5 blazer it currently has the 6.2 with hydroboost I was wondering about any little tricks or secrets I should know about or things I should watch out for when doing this swap. My 6.2 ran great till I went muddin died before I left but started up n got me home. Next morning wouldn't start. Changed filters put in a new lift pump and still won't start my lack of diesel knowledge is holding me back I like the 6.2 and might possibly rebuild it. Any help would b greatly appreciated thanks

 

[diesel4me]

Unless you got mud in the crankcase its probably possible to fire the diesel back up--if you used starting fluid to get it going,you might have ruined something though...

You need to see if fuel is getting to the injector pump,or at least to the filter,opening the bleeder screw on the filter and cranking it over should show fuel if the fuel pump is working anf the filter isn't clogged up--seeing you changed the lift pump the fuel lines and injectors probably need to have all the air bled out you let in when you took the lines off..
...usually just cranking it over long enough with fully charged batteries will bleed it eventually,but you need to allow the starter to cool off several minutes after cranking it 30 seconds or so,to avoid melting it..some guys use ether to get the engine to fire up right away,but it can bust the crank,or rods maybe pistons,especially if you dont disable the glow plugs first..

You could loosen the injector lines and crank it over till fuel comes out of them,then tighten them again,and it should fire up...but if your lines are as rusty as the ones on my engines are I'd say not to touch them,or risk breaking them..

....before doing anything,see if you see vapor or smoke coming from the tailpipe while cranking it over,if so,chances are its getting enough fuel,it could be the glow plugs aren't working ,the 6.2's dont like starting without them working,even in hot weather unless it was just running!..

There are a lot of guys here who know more about 6.2's than I do,and will be able to help you thru the troubleshooting steps...dont be tempted to swap a 350 in it just yet..though I've had the same temptation many times after having some frustration with my 6.2's,they are a decent engine..

I would like mine better, if it were as easy to work on as a 350 and would start like one at temps below 20 degrees when the truck is buried in 3 foot drifts..the price of diesel fuel also is a discouragement too..

 

[k5erforever]

Thanks for the input I've tried these things and then some but I fear its a result of damaged fuel line before the injector pump. For the money on the new pump I'm thinking of pulling the motor for rebuild and putting the 350 in temperarily since its my daily driver. I do like the 6.2 it only has 135000 on the motor well maintained but is it worth rebuilding? I'll have about 1200 into the swap as far as I've figured. Give or take. Is like to keep as much of the diesel components as possible.

 

[diesel4me]

I guess what its worth is up to you,personally I'd lean towards buying a good running used engine from a salvage yard or used truck than spend top dollar at a machine shop for an engine thats not really worth resurecting..there are quite a few 6.2's in salvage yards and military surplus ones around so they are fairly cheap...

If you did swap a 350 in you'll need to do quite a few things...you can use the pink wire from the injector pump fuel shut off to power an HEI distributor,the other wires for the oil sender and temp sender will swap over OK,and the starter is wired the same..you may need to do some fuel system mods and flush all the diesel out of the tank and filter...the radiator is plenty big enough,and most everything will be a bolt in swap for the most part..

 

[k5erforever]

Thanks I appreciate the input. I'm definately putting some kinda diesel back in the truck but for now I've got a solid 350 to use until I figure out what to do. The only concern I really have now is the hydroboost brakes. I'm not 100% sure but I think I can reuse my pump but not sure about the bracket or if its gonna need a new pump. Thanks for your time

 

[1970worthog]

Thanks I appreciate the input. I'm definately putting some kinda diesel back in the truck but for now I've got a solid 350 to use until I figure out what to do. The only concern I really have now is the hydroboost brakes. I'm not 100% sure but I think I can reuse my pump but not sure about the bracket or if its gonna need a new pump. Thanks for your time

If you wanna dump that 6.2 let me know...ive been itchin to swap a diesel into my jimmy

 

[diesel4me]

If you cant swap the diesels P/S pump onto a 350,there are plenty of 1 ton truck with hydroboost brakes that had gas engines,so you can get one off a truck like that 2wd or 4x4 and it'll bolt right up..

I think the only real difference between hydroboost pumps and "regular" ones is the size of the resiviour and maybe the brackets,and the pump might be tweaked to put out a bit higher pressure and volume..