jamber2541
1/2 ton status
who has info on these, how common were they and were they any good , I think they were a factory option.
CK5
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Perkins diesel 354 ci, 6 cylinder
- Thread starter jamber2541
- Start date
Definitely not a factory option in any light duty GM pick-up. We have a member here that had one in a K5...Imiceman or something similar. I'm sure he'll see this and chime in.
From what I remember, good motor, good power...but limited in rpm range and heavy.
Rene
From what I remember, good motor, good power...but limited in rpm range and heavy.
Rene
I've seen Perkins in a lot of forklifts and off-highway equipment, and they're very reliable from what I've seen. I remember a guy putting one in a Chevelle, but it was smaller than a 354. He was getting ridiculously good MPG out of it. Is the one you're talking about turbo?
jamber2541
1/2 ton status
its not a turbo, someone local is selling a K30 with one in it, it has me thinking about buying a truck that I dont need
I know how that goes. I just bought another truck I don't need, just cuz it was a good deal. I can always seem to convince myself there's a good reason to buy it. Here's one for ya: it'll get great mileage AND be a conversation piece. Now go get it.
info on said truck ...... if your not getting it 
lectric80
3/4 ton status
Perkins are very reliable engines, all the equipment at my old job ran them. This was equipment running 24 hours a day in 140 degree heat. They would regularly get over 260* water temps, and still kept running. They do tend to be very limited in their RPM range, and they make good power.
The downsides are they tend to be pretty pricey for parts, and they are very heavy.
The downsides are they tend to be pretty pricey for parts, and they are very heavy.
yup.... x3 in the marine biz.... they've been gone for awhile now, but "in the day", they where HEAVY and reliable...
fmstruck
1/2 ton status
We used to run them in our Massey farm equipment. They don't like to start if it's under 50 degrees.
Ned Kelly
1/2 ton status
I"ve seen two home brewed conversions on Chev p/u with the 354 Perkins. Worked well and the fellows were happy with them - used as farm trucks with road use. If the price is fair it may be a good deal. Wasn't that engine often found in agri equipment?
Papi Grande
1/2 ton status
Worked on them a lot in Iraq(being an ex-mechanic was handy in combat
)....pretty reliable....easy to work on....seemed to run no matter how dirty the fuel or fuel filter....can easily adapt parts(to a certain degree) to work on them...pretty fun to work on.
)....pretty reliable....easy to work on....seemed to run no matter how dirty the fuel or fuel filter....can easily adapt parts(to a certain degree) to work on them...pretty fun to work on.lugnut
1/2 ton status
Pretty much what has already been said. They are a little heavy,very reliable,used in alot of forklifts and other equipment,rebuilds can be $$$. Cold starting depends on the condition of the manifold heater. If the heater is working properly they start pretty good in cold weather. Not like a engine with glow plugs but not bad. They have a VERY low tolerance for starting fluid.
Derrrrrr...Blazer...bud? The guy in the NE with health issues. Hasn't been on in a while, few years maybe. He had one in a K5...might have been a smaller version though. He loved it.
jamber2541
1/2 ton status
gonna go look at it tomorrow, dont think there are a lot of people intrested around here (good news for me)
but I may so let me know if your not, pictures would be cool either way
chevy wrangler
1/2 ton status
sucks man I would have jumped on that! could have got a New Mexico title for it easy
Well this one says Turbo diesel, he said the one he's looking at is not.
They came in both non turbo: 6-354 and Turbo T6-354.
Mine is a T6-354, if I find another one here I would jump on it.
And as far as starting in the cold, mine sat buried in snow for 12 hours it was -10 and the truck was stuck in the snow, until midnight when the snow froze, one turn and it came to life and drove out.
Never had a problem starting it, and all that from one 12v battery.
If it weren't for the weight (1350lbs fully dressed) I would put it in anything that fits it, but I will be putting mine a crewcab chevy as soon as I get the right candidate.
dfl701
1/2 ton status
Iceman what trans did you run in the k5. What will you run in the CC
It came with a SM465, if I can fit another tranny on the same belhousing I will but so far I can't find any, so I will run dual Sm465 the rear one being from a medium duty with 1.5" input shaft.
I did at one pint find a tranny but missed out on it, the guy said it will fit a SM465 bell I think it was the clark five speed.
The problem is the RPM range, you need more gears, My top speed was 65 with 35" tires and 3.08 gears.
