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How do I install(amd convert) a 6.2 Diesel in a 90' Suburbab V1500 4x4 gas with a 350 V8?

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blackandgold51

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I want to convert a 90 Suburban V1500 gas 350 to a 6.2 Diesel.

The Suburban I have also has a 700r4 Transmission with a gear ratio that has the suburban that quick off the line(the engine rpm goes up and shifts quick from gears)

I saw another suburban for a 1000 with a 6.2 that is rear wheel drive. I want to get that one and transfer that engine to the 4x4 I have.
 
Can't think of any real issues with doing that, does the $1000 one run?
Around here $1000 for a non-running 2WD burb seems high to me, but if it's a runner, different story.

Integrating the later trans might be a bit more difficult, some of the diesel/trans guys will have to answer that.

The diesel guys might have some input on the 6.2 with 3.73's, to *me* that sounds too high, but I'm guessing that is what your truck now has. Obviously OD will help, but I'm guessing for economy with stock tires and freeway speeds, numerically lower ratio might be better.
 
dyeager535 said:
Can't think of any real issues with doing that, does the $1000 one run?
Around here $1000 for a non-running 2WD burb seems high to me, but if it's a runner, different story.

Integrating the later trans might be a bit more difficult, some of the diesel/trans guys will have to answer that.

The diesel guys might have some input on the 6.2 with 3.73's, to *me* that sounds too high, but I'm guessing that is what your truck now has. Obviously OD will help, but I'm guessing for economy with stock tires and freeway speeds, numerically lower ratio might be better.
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Yes it runs.

By the way diesel prices here in new orleans the lowest is 2.09 a gallon
 
blackandgold51 said:
Yes it runs.

By the way diesel prices here in new orleans the lowest is 2.09 a gallon
Click to expand...

Diesel prices seem to vary widely. I'm not a diesel guy, but it seems that diesel will be under/over the price of gas depending on the flavor of the wind.

If I was going to swap one, it would be SOLELY for economy. And I probably should be running one, I just didn't know any better when I started down the gas road.
 
dyeager535 said:
Diesel prices seem to vary widely. I'm not a diesel guy, but it seems that diesel will be under/over the price of gas depending on the flavor of the wind.

If I was going to swap one, it would be SOLELY for economy. And I probably should be running one, I just didn't know any better when I started down the gas road.
Click to expand...


That what I want. Economy.

Besides I don't tow like talking about it and I don't race
 
My '85 Burb has 3:73's factory,with a 700R4...those gears are about ideal for a diesel,not too low so it'll scream on the highway,with the overdrive,and have better take offs with the low first gear ratio in the 700R4...

Basically its not that hard a swap,pretty much everything on a 6.2 bolts up to a truck that had a gas engine--you'll need to flush the fuel tank or use the diesel one (the diesel one will have a factory water in fuel sensor and a siphon tap to drain water out,but those aren't a must)...the injector pump needs a switched power wire for the fuel shut off soleniod,the one from the HEI on the gas engine would work...
You'll also need to power the glow plugs somehow--if you'll have the whole truck the 6.2 came from to pick parts from,it'll be easier to just swap that part of the wiring harness to your truck..
Exhaust should bolt up too,as the 6.2 has the manifold outlets in the same spots with the same bolt pattern on the pipes..
 
diesel4me said:
My '85 Burb has 3:73's factory,with a 700R4...those gears are about ideal for a diesel,not too low so it'll scream on the highway,with the overdrive,and have better take offs with the low first gear ratio in the 700R4...
Click to expand...

How are those gears when you are going at slower (10-25MPH) speeds?

Obviously OD is great for reducing RPM at higher vehicle speeds, but I wonder if they hunt for gears or anything at lower speeds?
 
I've only gotten to drive my Burb about 10 miles the day I bought it,so I can only say this--it takes off from a stop much faster than my pickup with the same engine and a TH400,with an unknown ratio rear axle,that I assume is either a 3.23 or 3.42 ratio,as its doggy taking off and can cruise at 65+ mph without the engine revving up much over 2400 rpm or so..

On my way home from buying the Burb,I noticed at a cruising speed of 40-45 mph,it sounded like it was starting to wind out some,the trans has a issue with not shifting into OD or reverse after a fairly long ride,so I couldn't tell if it would hunt between 3rd and OD..I left it in "D" on the way home..

I've had 3:73's in other vehicles with no overdrive and didn't feel they were too low geared for highway cruising...(stock sized tires )..
 
blackandgold51 said:
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700R4
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diesel4me said:
I've only gotten to drive my Burb about 10 miles the day I bought it,so I can only say this--it takes off from a stop much faster than my pickup with the same engine and a TH400,with an unknown ratio rear axle,that I assume is either a 3.23 or 3.42 ratio,as its doggy taking off and can cruise at 65+ mph without the engine revving up much over 2400 rpm or so..

On my way home from buying the Burb,I noticed at a cruising speed of 40-45 mph,it sounded like it was starting to wind out some,the trans has a issue with not shifting into OD or reverse after a fairly long ride,so I couldn't tell if it would hunt between 3rd and OD..I left it in "D" on the way home..

I've had 3:73's in other vehicles with no overdrive and didn't feel they were too low geared for highway cruising...(stock sized tires )..
Click to expand...
The diesel suburban is a 1983 by the way
 
diesel4me said:
My '85 Burb has 3:73's factory,with a 700R4...those gears are about ideal for a diesel,not too low so it'll scream on the highway,with the overdrive,and have better take offs with the low first gear ratio in the 700R4...

Basically its not that hard a swap,pretty much everything on a 6.2 bolts up to a truck that had a gas engine--you'll need to flush the fuel tank or use the diesel one (the diesel one will have a factory water in fuel sensor and a siphon tap to drain water out,but those aren't a must)...the injector pump needs a switched power wire for the fuel shut off soleniod,the one from the HEI on the gas engine would work...
You'll also need to power the glow plugs somehow--if you'll have the whole truck the 6.2 came from to pick parts from,it'll be easier to just swap that part of the wiring harness to your truck..
Exhaust should bolt up too,as the 6.2 has the manifold outlets in the same spots with the same bolt pattern on the pipes..
Click to expand...
I think my 700r4 on the 90 v1500 is 373 gears.

Its like this; the last suburban I had was a 90 R1500 350 with a 700r4. You pushed on the gas and in the first and second gear the engine's rpm will sound like it will go up in the medium rpm range until it gets to 3rd gear and and it goes up. Another thing if I step on the throttle in first gear I can rev it while in first and it will not shift out quick to 2nd. While in the one I have now If I try to rev it in first it won't let me, it will go straight to 2nd quick....matter of fact hears a video of my last suburban;

While with the one I have now with a different gear ratio. In the first second And 3rd gear before 4th(overdrive) th engines rpm goes up and shifts quick. It accelerates quicker than the last one I had
 
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It would be best to use the transmission that is mated to the diesel,as they do differ some from gas versions,the torque converter has 6 bolts,not 3,and a slightly lower stall speed,also the govenor is calibrated to upshift faster...

But you can use a transmission from a gas powered truck too,the three out of six converter bolts will bolt up to the flywheel,(at least on TH400's,I'm not sure if a 700R4 has the same bolt pattern as a TH400,so that might be a snag)-and the govenor can be swapped or modified easily--the stall speed difference isn't huge,so you probably wouldn't notice it much really...
 
blackandgold51 said:
I think my 700r4 on the 90 v1500 is 373 gears.

Its like this; the last suburban I had was a 90 R1500 350 with a 700r4. You pushed on the gas and in the first and second gear the engine's rpm will sound like it will go up in the medium rpm range until it gets to 3rd gear and and it goes up. Another thing if I step on the throttle in first gear I can rev it while in first and it will not shift out quick to 2nd. While in the one I have now If I try to rev it in first it won't let me, it will go straight to 2nd quick....matter of fact hears a video of my last suburban;

While with the one I have now with a different gear ratio. In the first second And 3rd gear before 4th(overdrive) th engines rpm goes up and shifts quick. It accelerates quicker than the last one I had
Click to expand...
You keep mentioning ratios were changed in the trans. That is usually never done. It's not common to change ratios in an automatic transmission. Sounds like you just simply have a shift kit in the valve body, or corvette servo, or possibly a different governor spring. It could also simply be your TV cable is now properly adjusted, and wasn't before.


Next....

You say you want a 6.2 for economy only? You don't list any info. How many miles do you/will you drive this a year? You are going to spend $1000 for this other donor truck, plus probably another $500-1000 in misc. to get it up and actually running. You can buy a LOT of gas for 2 grand. Usually when this type of thing comes up, it pencils out someone has to drive 3454957945978945 miles to get themselves back out of the red financially on a swap that was *supposed* to save them money.
 
dyeager535 said:
How are those gears when you are going at slower (10-25MPH) speeds?

Obviously OD is great for reducing RPM at higher vehicle speeds, but I wonder if they hunt for gears or anything at lower speeds?
Click to expand...
It would behave pretty much like a gas engine would with the same ratio.
 
rjfguitar said:
You keep mentioning ratios were changed in the trans. That is usually never done. It's not common to change ratios in an automatic transmission. Sounds like you just simply have a shift kit in the valve body, or corvette servo, or possibly a different governor spring. It could also simply be your TV cable is now properly adjusted, and wasn't before.


Next....

You say you want a 6.2 for economy only? You don't list any info. How many miles do you/will you drive this a year? You are going to spend $1000 for this other donor truck, plus probably another $500-1000 in misc. to get it up and actually running. You can buy a LOT of gas for 2 grand. Usually when this type of thing comes up, it pencils out someone has to drive 3454957945978945 miles to get themselves back out of the red financially on a swap that was *supposed* to save them money.
Click to expand...
For the transmission part. I have no idea. I just bought them used as they are.

When i had the first one it didnt shift quick out of 1st gear. But when i got the second suburban which is now the 4x4, i was suprised of how it got out of 1st quick andwit quick acceleration.

Put it like this, the 4x4 shifts out just like today's Suburbans with and tahoes
 
rjfguitar said:
You keep mentioning ratios were changed in the trans. That is usually never done. It's not common to change ratios in an automatic transmission. Sounds like you just simply have a shift kit in the valve body, or corvette servo, or possibly a different governor spring. It could also simply be your TV cable is now properly adjusted, and wasn't before.


Next....

You say you want a 6.2 for economy only? You don't list any info. How many miles do you/will you drive this a year? You are going to spend $1000 for this other donor truck, plus probably another $500-1000 in misc. to get it up and actually running. You can buy a LOT of gas for 2 grand. Usually when this type of thing comes up, it pencils out someone has to drive 3454957945978945 miles to get themselves back out of the red financially on a swap that was *supposed* to save them money.
Click to expand...
I can take the 83 suburban body along with the 350 v8 and sell them after taking out and transferring the 6.2 to the 90 4x4
 
There is an engine swap calculator that takes into account: cost of conversion, old mpg, new mpg, and number of miles before you break even on the total conversion costs. Sometimes you have to drive ALOT of miles to make up for all the costs to convert. I couldn't find the formula, but if someone can find the calculation post it up here. I had it bookmarked but where is it?:confused:
 
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