Anybody here drive a diesel ?

Dave Hayami · Post by **Dave Hayami** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 8:18 pm

After putting over a 200,000 miles on a 6.2 GMC, I'm starting to look at rebuilds/upgrades. There are so many choices in "swapping" that I now turn to the Tubenet family for any of your personal experiences with swapping
a different diesel in place of the factory 6.2 or 6.5.
Several websites suggest the Cummins/Dodge 5.9 (6BT), or the smaller
Cummins 3.9 (4BT). There is a "kit" to swap in an Isuzu 3.9 turbo diesel.
Anyone out there that has done this kind of thing?
(Rick Denney, you might look at these conversions for your GMC Motorhome)
Thanks,
Dave Hayami

Shockwave · Post by **Shockwave** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:44 pm

Im not sure if this qualifies, but a friend of a friend put a military surplus Detroit 6v-53 diesel in his pickup. It wasn't terribly powerful as it didn't have a turbo, but the sound it made was spine tingling.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/ryq/6V-53_on_dyno.mp3

-Eric

tubeast · Post by **tubeast** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 7:55 am

Gee, Schlep, sounds like quite some power underneath that hood.
Over here we have a separate speed limit for vehicles over 3.5 metric tons or cars pulling a trailer, which is 80 km/h (about 50 mph) on the Autobahn, so our 38 metr. ton semis will have some 400 to 600 hp. Used to be much less in the past.

Personally, I drive an Opel wagon with a 2 litre 100 hp diesel engine. ItÂ´ll drive at about 36 mpg, and even better on the Bahn. Especially in mountainous environment, IÂ´d always prefer diesels for three reasons:
- Diesel engines yield their maximum torque at much lower rev. than Otto-engines, so at low rpm my car will be as powerful as a, say, 150 hp gasoline-guzzler (in european standards). This gives MUCH more fun on serpentine roads at MUCH less insurance-, fuel-, and tax costs.
- Diesels also will consume more torque when SLOWING DOWN the vehicle. So instead of riding the brakes going down a steep hill, you just shift in that lower gear and ease up on that accelerator. This is safer, less unnerving and cheaper in the long run, too.
- At the moment, diesel fuel costs about 3.8 â‚¬ per gallon, while gasoline will cost 4.37 â‚¬. My 2.3 litre, 125 hp gasoline-propelled Volvo didnÂ´t go any faster at 13.5 mpg than my present car does at at least twice the mileage. Any questions?

JohnMCooper · Post by **JohnMCooper** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:44 pm

I drive a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummins diesel engine (6BT). I really enjoy the drivability of this truck. I tow an 8000lb 5th wheel camper and being in So Cal, every place to go out of the LA basin requires a trip over the mountains, if I don't get stuck behind a slow truck, I can hold the speed limit on most grades.
As others have said, there are plenty of parts and accessories available for the Cummins engine.
I bought my truck because of the engine, I couldn't get a Cummins in the Ford or Chevy truck.
Below is a web site for a company that does Cummins to Ford conversions (all the parts, engines, adapter kits, instruction). They claim on there web site that they are about to have a Cummins to Chevy version of their site, telling my that they are working on a conversion kit for chevy's.

www.fordcummins.com

chhite · Post by **chhite** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 4:41 pm

Doc wrote:It appears that the Volkswagen Passat is not offered in the US with a diesel. Is this true in Europe as well? I could see myself driving a Passat wagon if it were a diesel. Unless they bring back the Jetta wagon, of course. Then I'd consider the TDI Jetta wagon. Doc

The diesel Passat is all the rage over here in Europe and I wish they would make it in US spec again. They discontinued last year after the redesign. It seems that NO diesel wagons are being shipped to the States. It's tiresome seeing all these diesels running around and knowing that I can't get one to take back. Today's diesels are so much more effiecient and clean burning than the one's that gave them a bad image from the 70s and 80s. I rented a BMW 5 series diesel wagon a few weeks ago and drove 235k on the bahn and it was just sipping fuel. Somebody needs to get their act together and at least import these models. There is a market for those that know what they're after.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:29 pm

Installed a new Yanmar 1GM-10 diesel in my 26 foot sailboat. It is lighter, half again as powerful as the old Italian diesel. I can cruise at 6 knots on one quart of fuel per hour-faster if there is a breeze.

tubiker · Post by **tubiker** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:05 pm

Yo

I've got 2 Diesels - a Fiat Punto 90bhp JTD - and yes I can get my Meinl 2145 and my St Pete BBb in the boot (but not at the same time...........

)

and a Fiat Multipla (now 140 bhp) JTD - 6 seats - 3 in the front, 3 in the back (these come out and I have had an entire Brass Band in the back - honest........

)

I get 50 to 55 to the gallon out of the Punto and 38 to 42 out of the Multi. I have just had the engine management chip in the Multi remapped which has boosted output from 110bhp to 140 bhp - this gives me a lot more poke from the beastie and puts a few boy racers to shame.

In the UK there has been an explosion in Diesel car ownership to the extent that the fuel manufacturers are having to put in more capacity to meet demand. This has led to an increase in the at the pump price, although over the past month the prices of diesel/petrol have been running parallel which is the first time thats happened for a long time. My cars are both Fiats - a couple of years ago Fiat sold a 49% (I think) share of the company to General Motors. Amongst other reasons, Fiat were in danger of going under and also General Motors wanted to get there hands on the Fiat JTD engine - its a state of the art (for a volume manufactured car) Common Rail, Turbo engine.

broom broom

Andrew M

chhite · Post by **chhite** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:14 pm

I checked Volkswagen's web site and the only diesel they import is the Jetta with a 1.9 TDI getting anywhere from a reported 41-50 mpg. Might be something to check out.

BTW, the Multi and Renault's version are some odd looking vehicles. But the US had the Aztec and some other odd-looking models, too.

tubeast · Post by **tubeast** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 3:42 am

Doc,

was on vacation for a couple of days.
Opel is among the oldest German brands, just like AUDI or BMW (Not their market segment, though. They are slightly lower in price range than VW).
After the war Opel became a GM daughter.
They ruined their good name before the turn of the century, but have caught up with other brands by now. Quite a bargain, especially used.
(No, IÂ´m not a car dealer)

pulseczar · Post by **pulseczar** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:12 am

There are old Mercedes diesels lying around in the US too.

chhite · Post by **chhite** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:42 pm

Saw this week that both the VW Passat and Jetta will be returning in '08 with a redesigned and a stricter emissions-compliant diesel. Didn't get any forecast on prices but we'll wait and see if they're worth it.

chhite · Post by **chhite** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 12:42 am

That, I didn't ask, but I will the next time I'm at the dealer. Once I found the Jetta sedan didn't fit me, I discounted the model in all its possible configurations. The salesman did say that the few remaining TDI Jettas are being grabbed in rediculously short time and the new ones already have a waiting list.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 10:38 am

Doc wrote:in the offering?

in the offing, but what's an 'er' amongst anti-nazi spelling friends?

XtremeEuph · Post by **XtremeEuph** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:23 pm

Havent read the posts but all i can say is im sick of diesels, they deafen me. I flip burgers and up here in farm country, 50% of the people blare through drive thru with their diesels in my ear, ouch!

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:17 pm

I love the smell of peanut oil in the morning....

XtremeEuph · Post by **XtremeEuph** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:45 pm

Doc wrote:You apparently haven't seen or heard a Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, or Audi diesel made in the last 5 years. Drive-thru noise with these models? Horseshit. There are gas engines louder than these high performance motors. Dodge, Chevy, and Ford diesel pickups are, btw, in a different class - don't judge these cars based on your idea of an American diesel pickup. That, sir, is apples and oranges.

If I was in charge in Detroit, there would be an abundance of quiet, efficient diesel cars and trucks. I'd be in collusion with the BIODIESEL industry, just as current manufacturers are in the back pocket of the petrochemical industry. If I was a German auto maker, I'd educate the public with a campaign for a kinder, gentler, more efficient diesel, and I'd promote the **** out of biodiesel, but, I digress...

Yes I understand, I thought you were talking about 1 ton + dual wheel farm trucks heh (sorry, country folk. Guess i should read the topic before posting. Must get it from my mother or something, talk before i think)

Doc

tubiker · Post by **tubiker** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:39 pm

Yo

U wanna see where Diesel is goin....................

Go to

http://www.jcbdieselmax.com/html/home.php

JCB have built a super record breaker - the Dieselmax - running on standard JCB Diesels - did 350mph on Bonneville Flats in August

pip pip

Andrew M

tubafour · Post by **tubafour** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:25 am

Have you guys heard any of the horror stories related to the Jetta's transmissions? I was looking at the possibility of a TDI Wagon, but read some reviews where the they were driving off the lot with grinding trannies. I might be willing to take a chance anyways for 50mpg.

Captain Sousie · Post by **Captain Sousie** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:37 am

My Dad is a Volkswagen mech and he doesn't see too much transmission trouble. He has seen a little exaust trouble from the Jetta TDIs but that is about it.

Sou

TubeNet

Anybody here drive a diesel ?

Anybody here drive a diesel ?

Fly like the wind