Putting diesel engines in V8 cars

**Padmei** · 16th August 2013, 22:46

Out of interest I have been looking at very cool old yank trucks in case my Honda odyssey ( yes i really say that out loud) craps out.

I'm sure someone here would know if it is a big deal or not to replace the v8 with a diesel. Obviously performance isn't the issue but keeping daily driving costs down is a consideration.
if any have done it what did you do?

**BMWST?** · 16th August 2013, 23:11

i guess the question is what engine would you put in?
I am a recent diesel convert.I always had a hankerin to try a peugot or citroen diesel but never did.My fairly recent experience with japanese diesel utes werent impressive(2.7 navaras and older toyots surfs,gutless and or smoky)
The advent of common rail turbo diesels tho is a completely different kettle of fish.My previous car was a 1990 BMW 535 manual 3.5 l 155kw 305nm torque,a nice engine heaps of power,very flexible bit thirsty though.
I had the opportunity to buy a BMW 120d manual which i did because the ol 535 was just too thirsty and i had had it for 8 years.Now the little 2.0 diesl has 120 kw and 340nm of torque.Thats more grunt than a 3.5 litre petrol,and it uses HALF the fuel.Love it.At the other end of the scale my brother has a newish 4.5 litre V8 landcruiser.Now that has torque! 151kw and 450 Nm!

**Woodman** · 16th August 2013, 23:29

You can get GM v8 diesel engines that are similar size to smallblock chevys and fords. Horrible rattly things the ones from my experience.

Something like a Nissan td42 and auto box would work okay. They are in nissan Patrols which are basically trucks anyway, and similar size to old f100 etc.

With BMWST on the diesel car thing, coming up 90000kms in the Epica and its marvelous, and cheaper to run than the old Focus petrol and about twice the size.

Soooo not much help really............

**pete376403** · 17th August 2013, 00:26

Are diesels that much cheaper to run after you take road user charges into consideration?

And I'd really love a Hayes diesel in the KLR.

**ellipsis** · 17th August 2013, 01:01

...I have run diesel in all my vehicles for so long that I cant remember dizzys, and spark plugs, ever existing outside of motorcycles. It is probably wrong to think that dizesils are cheap to run on the road...it's getting to be a 50/50 on the economics...wouldn't stop me from doing it though, if ya want a deesil. (deezil?)

**jonbuoy** · 17th August 2013, 02:22

Originally Posted by Padmei

Out of interest I have been looking at very cool old yank trucks in case my Honda odyssey ( yes i really say that out loud) craps out.

I'm sure someone here would know if it is a big deal or not to replace the v8 with a diesel. Obviously performance isn't the issue but keeping daily driving costs down is a consideration.
if any have done it what did you do?

I´m doing an engine swap at the moment - 4cyl to 8 cyl petrol. Nothing special about doing a diesel swap - anything can be made to fit if you can cut/weld. If you want some performance you´ll be looking at a turbo diesel - which might mean custom manifolds to get everything to fit. With engine swaps its not the engine block that's expensive or the most work to fit - its making all the ancillaries and controls work. Good news is your starting with a yank tank which will have no shortage of engine space. If you add up the cost of the conversion - can´t see it being less than 6K (and I think you´ll be bloody lucky to do it for that) how many years is it going to take to claw back the cash? Might be better off trying to improve the MPG of the Petrol Truck - Megasquirt it if its not injected.

**Grumph** · 17th August 2013, 06:52

Originally Posted by ellipsis

...I have run diesel in all my vehicles for so long that I cant remember dizzys, and spark plugs, ever existing outside of motorcycles. It is probably wrong to think that dizesils are cheap to run on the road...it's getting to be a 50/50 on the economics...wouldn't stop me from doing it though, if ya want a deesil. (deezil?)

In fact, for small stuff, the economics have swung back to petrol. i have a turbo diesel van and if/when it craps out again, I'll be looking seriously at going back to petrol. The differences in rego costs alone if you don't do a lot of mileage are just ridiculous.

**frogfeaturesFZR** · 17th August 2013, 07:32

Originally Posted by Grumph

In fact, for small stuff, the economics have swung back to petrol. i have a turbo diesel van and if/when it craps out again, I'll be looking seriously at going back to petrol. The differences in rego costs alone if you don't do a lot of mileage are just ridiculous.

True, had a diesel Terrano for 11 years, just swopped for a petrol XTrail. Didn't do enough mileage for the diesel to be worth it. Crunched the numbers and I needed to be doing 25k a year. Do miss the torque though.
I remember when diesel hit 50c a litre, thought the end of the world had come !

**scissorhands** · 17th August 2013, 08:06

Its usually better policy to sell the petrol to buy the diesel vehicle, unless you dont mind dicking around for many hours and have a workshop and a dead petrol donk to begin with.

**Drew** · 17th August 2013, 09:34

I've converted a couple Hilux' to diesel. But that's because diesels are better off road. There's no advantage otherwise.

What sort of truck are you looking at? You would save money in the long run, by upgrading the rotten old ignition and fueling for a modern fuel injected motor.

You can get an LS2 chev motor, loom, and computer for fuck all these days. That would bloody near half the fuel usage of an 80's Chev pickup.

**BMWST?** · 17th August 2013, 10:14

Originally Posted by Grumph

In fact, for small stuff, the economics have swung back to petrol. i have a turbo diesel van and if/when it craps out again, I'll be looking seriously at going back to petrol. The differences in rego costs alone if you don't do a lot of mileage are just ridiculous.

You must be doing minimal kilometres then?

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**scumdog** · 17th August 2013, 10:56

Originally Posted by Woodman

You can get GM v8 diesel engines that are similar size to smallblock chevys and fords. Horrible rattly things the ones from my experience.

..........

And a propensity to shit themselves...well the Oldsmobile 350 does.