Ok guys diesel time.

[tRustyK5]

Bingo, people think the 6.2 is such a fuel saver....


Might as well push that cummins out to 325HP and 700+ft lbs, won't hurt mileage, and will make you smile a lot more...that or get you killed...

Who said his 5.9 TD was a Cummins? IIRC his is a Perkins diesel.

My reason for going 6.2 was that it gave me the best return versus the outlay to swap it in. If I'd have gone 4BT or 6BT it would still owe me money even 4 years later. As it is my 6.2 swap paid for itself in well under two years...and I don't put a ton of miles on my truck.

Don't forget ease of swapabilty, the 6.2 is pretty much plug and play...where the Cummin's swap are not.

Rene

 

[BKinzey]

Rusty certainly has more knowledge and experience than I do but I'm still thinking if you are pulling a gasser to put in a diesel then a 4BT isn't much different than dropping in a 6.2. A lot does depend on finding the "right" 4bt. I wish I could remember where I saw this build but a guy picked up a Frito-Lay truck for cheap. Basically it had a GM bell housing which mated up to the tranny he used ( can't remember if it was manual or auto) and he was able to use the motor mounts as well. I'm sure he couldn't buy an exhaust system off the shelf but after he was through with the Frito and since the box is mostly aluminum he was able to scrap it to within a couple of hundred dollars of what he paid for the whole truck.

Maybe it's the P-Pump mentioned. I don't know anything about that and tossing that in could change everything.

I just think it's worth Googling 4BT and spend some time reading for yourself.

 

[Fubeca]

I'm with Rene on this one. A cummins (either 4 or 6) would be awesome - but they are generally pretty expensive. I find 6.2s around here for $200 - $1000 all the time - for complete vehicles. The swap is pretty simple. If I ever find a bread truck for less than $1000 I'm on it but until then I'm happy with my 6.2 and 25 mpg! (2wd)

 

[sho_shane]

Well im really out of it now. I dont know what to go with. The 4BT sounds awsome. It would probly have more power and tourq then the 6.2. My main thing is that i want a turbo on mine. SO I dont know what route to go.

 

[tRustyK5]

turbo a 6.2...

Rene

 

[85-m1028]

turbo a 6.2...

Rene

Ditto, with a hopped up tranny I chirp the tires off the line "1rst to 2nd" all the time with a turbo to fill in the top end = lots of fun to drive!!

 

[jdemaris]

A k5 Blazer with 3.08 axle and overdrive trans. can just get along with stock 15" tires when in lockup OD. Go to 32" tires and it suffers a little on uphill grades on the highway. K5 with no overdrive and the 32" tires does okay on the highway. But 35"? It's not just an increase in diameter, I suppose also wider and that increases the rolling resistance. My 3/4 ton Suburbans have 32" tires and they work nicely with 3.73 axles, OD and no OD. I also have a 91 1/2 ton 4WD Suburban with 6.2, overdrive trans. and 3.42 axles and it's just about right with the stock 15" tires. It would be underpowered with larger tires when in OD.
About mileage and K5s - I've got seven with 6.2s. With 3.08s, TH400 trans. (no OD) highway mileage is 19-21 MPG with stock tires. Drops 1 or 2 MPG with 32" or 33" tires (they all do). With the 3.08s and 700R4 OD trans. sometimes as high as 23 MPG. I've also got a K5 with the four-speed manual 833 OD trans. and 3.08s and it's gotten 24 MPG. All my 3/4 4WD Suburbans with TH400 and 3.73s get 18-19 MPG highway in New York. High altitudes it drops to 16-17 MPG.

 

[colbystephens]

fwiw to the original poster, th400's behind 6.2s are known to kill their power and fuel economy.

 

[sho_shane]

Ok so I want a 6.2 with a 700R4 and a turbo right

 

[86dieselburb]

Well im reading on doing a diesel swap. Im trying to find a 6.2 doner truck then it will be on

I just want to know how gutless a 6.2 be in my k5 with 308 gears, on 35" tires? And what kinda milige will I get?

Mine is an 86 6.2 on 36" with 4.10 and it's pretty gutless up large hills or towing. The only saving grace on mine is I'm using a gasser th400 which shifts later than a diesel th400. Can't even fathom driving with 3.08 gears

 

[colbystephens]

Ok so I want a 6.2 with a 700R4 and a turbo right

youd be well set up with that, just make sure you've got some good axle gearing - i'd suggest 4.10's. you've got lots of money wrapped up in that whole set up tho.