converting from gas to diesel

[beater_k20]

i've been considering a diesel conversion for a while, as well as selling my DD in favor of a heavier, diesel powered rig. what is it going to take to put a 6.2 in my 86? also, what makes diesels so much more fuel efficient than a gas engine?

 

[BlueBlazer]

I have never converted a vehicle to diesel so I can't answer your first question. Diesels are more efficient for a few reasons, biggest of which is the fact that they are unthrottled so have very superior volumetric efficiency compared to a gas engine and they run lean of a stoichiometric unlike a gas engine where the fuel and air have to be kept at a certain ratio for best performance, the fuel has a higher BTU content, and the amount of air entering the engine has no bearing on the amount of fuel that can be injected, so basically a diesel can "lug" much better because it can add more fuel at lower rpms.

 

[6.2 man]

Ditto ...what he said !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Couldn't have said it better !!!!!

 

[arveetek]

Yo Jeremey! Good to see ya!

The 6.2L itself is just a basic bolt-in. It's all the other stuff, like alternator, PS pump, a/c compressor, radiator, etc. that is different from the gassers. The easiest thing to do is buy an old diesel beater truck, swap all the stuff you need to your 86, then sell what's left.

Several of us have done conversions. Not too hard at all.

Casey

 

[beater_k20]

Casey, i almost PMed you the other day, but figured someone else might have a little something extra to add. i'm not 100% sure what im doing for a power plant yet, as i just made the deal for a Dana 60. first thing is first. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[imiceman44]

[ QUOTE ]
I have never converted a vehicle to diesel so I can't answer your first question. Diesels are more efficient for a few reasons, biggest of which is the fact that they are unthrottled so have very superior volumetric efficiency compared to a gas engine and they run lean of a stoichiometric unlike a gas engine where the fuel and air have to be kept at a certain ratio for best performance, the fuel has a higher BTU content, and the amount of air entering the engine has no bearing on the amount of fuel that can be injected, so basically a diesel can "lug" much better because it can add more fuel at lower rpms.

[/ QUOTE ]

One more thing to add, with everything being equal, the higher compression (21:1) also gets you more power out of less fuel so you get better efficiency.