Chevy Diesel Conversion for a GW?

[niphadlock]

Looks like there's been a few past threads on this topic. I'm a new member looking for advice or experience in converting GW's to diesel.
Has a "standard" emerged? Does enyone do this on a regular/comversial basis?
Thanks for the feedback.

[ohioj20]

My dad and I have done 3 diesel conversions using Chevy 6.2 Diesels. One J20 pick up and two wagoneers. They fit like they were factory! No major mods needed.

[The PIG Smith]

Lot's of posts on this topic
I am sure I could found more, but I stopped at these links:

My 1990 Grand Wagoneer 6.2 Diesel project (http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=39992)

6.2/6.5 diesel owners... (http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=14988)

3.9L 4bt cummins (http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=34101)

Diesel (http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=3625)

My 6.2 Diesel GW (http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=22615)

non turbo 6.5 Diesel on E-bay (http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=5911&page=2)

Project update... (http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=27701)

6.2L Diesel in a J20 (http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=18718)
Here are OhioJ20's comments from this post made on February 20, 2005:

Alright guys!! I'm in NE Ohio, close to Akron. The J20 got her 6.2 two years ago. It came from a 1984 GMC Van. It had the TH 700 tranny, but I didn't have the money to buy an adapter for it to my t-case.

Alright, we removed all the electrical wiring that was for the engine, glow plug wiring, wait to start light, water in fuel light, etc. I also used the motor mounts, but had to make new frame mounts to put on the J20. We used the ignition wiring for the J20. Oh, took out the glow plug relay also. Wiring wasn't that bad, and no pollution crap to worry about. The motor fits in snug around the heater box and the brake booster. We did use the Jeep brakes, as GMC uses hydraulics for brakes, but wouldn't hurt to have a belt driven vacuum pump as well as the gear driven one.

Now, the 6.2 has the same bellhousing as a Chevy 350, as for the bellhousing a bought from a bone yard was for a 350. Now, we had to get an 1/4" steel plate to make our own adapter for the bellhousing and the T-18. Luckily my cousin is a true machinist. So, that saved the money from Advance Adapters, which want $300 for the same thing.

The great thing is, I can access the glow plugs from inside the fender, and it is ALOT easier than changing spark plugs from a AMC 360!!

As for how I like it. I LOVE it when it is above 45 degrees out! If you don't plug it in when it gets colder, it is a pain to start. Also, you don't have the room for the two batteries GMC uses. Need to get the biggest cranker you can squeeze in there.

I also had to use the van's filler nozzle, or you couldn't fill the truck up with the stock jeep nozzle. I also had to cut out the area into the tank, to allow a bigger pipe to go in(diesel foams when filling). Another perk, I put in the van's 30 gallon tank where my spare tire goes, so I now have 48 gallons at 22 MPG, you do the math!

Towing: It doesn't take off like some madden woman, but tows great. It did get hot on a real long grade, but didn't over heat. I also used the stock AMC 3 core on it, just had to get the ports changed. I would recommend a 4 core, that is what I have for the GW. I also bought an electric auxiliary fan to use to prevent that on the J20. The gearing in the J20 and the T-18 is perfect for a 6.2 I will get pictures of the set up soon, the J20 is covered up for the Winter so Ohio Salt doesn't eat her up!

Now, the GW is a work in progress, I have the motor, but I am currently in the process of body work and paint. My plan is to use the TH 700 from the van, but I got a TH 400 that came with the Suburban for the GW. My only concern is the weight of the motor on the front axle of the GW.

There are others members here that have GM Diesels in their FSJ
OhioJ20 has a 6.2L in a J20 Pickup truck
He is also working on a 6.2L in a 1990 Grand Wagoneer

DieselSJ has a 6.5L Turbo in his 1987 Grand Wagoneer

FSJeeper has been involved in several of these 6.2/6.5 swaps over the years
Currently he has a fresh Cherokee WT frame loaded with a built Turbo 6.2/6.5, Eaton fuller gearsplitter/OD, SM465/doubler NP203/205 on built one tons.

The following is a reply that FSJeeper made about I comment I posted:
I believe it was you that suggested that a person could get an easy 300 horsepower from a 6.2

Well, not easy to get 300 HP because it requires a complete rebuild and some expensive parts. Following the 6.2/6.5 page GM diesel buildup, I went with the penisular teflon/ceramic pistons with 18 to 1 compression ratio. BD cam gear drive with advance, 6.5 heads, J series intake, bosch glow plugs, upgraded injectors and injection pump, etc., etc. On top of that, the engine was blueprinted as much as that can be done. Heads flowed, rotating assembly lightened and balanced as an assembly including HB and flywheel/pressure plate. Max torque and HP at at 1900 rpms. A build like this costs several thousand dollars.

It got 20 MPG in a 10,000 lb decked out M715 (4.56 gears) and I expect about 25 mpg in the Cherokee with the OD and 3.54 gears. Should be chugging along at 1900 rpms at 70 MPG and with the gear splitter/OD and doubler setup, I have 32 speeds.

Downside of the diesel is the inability to spin high rpms for sand and mud. The doubler is for the 4 to 1 low range to best utilize the 3200rpm redline the diesel has. Theoretically sitting on top of 3000 rpms or so and the 4 to 1 low should take care of the sand and mud issues a diesel normally has.

Search on their names and their posts will provide lots of excellent info!

[GWDriver]

My dad and I have done 3 diesel conversions using Chevy 6.2 Diesels. One J20 pick up and two wagoneers. They fit like they were factory! No major mods needed.

ohioj20,

Just checked this out and was wondering just how you went about the swaps and how long it took. I'm familiar with the 700R4 in my GMC Suburban and have a healthy respect for just about anything diesel. Any information and pics would be appreciated. Feel free to email me as well. Thanks for anything you can do. Tech write ups??

[FSJeeper]

If there is a standard for diesel swaps, it would have to be the GM 6.2/6.5 diesel. No harder to do than a GM gas engine swap. Conversion parts are plentiful. The GM diesels are the cheapest to buy and parts are plentiful on the military surplus market. It is the lightest of the light duty diesel engines by far. And it makes excellent fuel mileage in a FSJ. Mid 20's MPG are attainable with this engine.

Stock axles are fine with the GM diesel.

There are several of them running around South Texas and they have been running and driven regulary for years now.

I am going Cummins 6BT in my wagoneer and crewcab M715 projects. The conversion is more involved, much more expensive, one ton axles need to be swapped in, frame beefed up, and a lot of other details you do not run into with the GM diesel swap.

[COLOFIREMAN]

This is my swap in a GW. You have to become a member to view the pic's but it's free to do, just like here.:thumbsup:


http://4btswaps.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1278

For cost and MPG you can't beat a GM6.2D but if you have the time and a little more money go for the 4BT or a GM6.5TD

--->added 12/25/07....I changed page with Photobucket pictures so you don't need to be a member now.<-----

[DieselSJ]

Search. Pig Smith took care of that for you.

Read. You gotta do that yourself.

Then come back and ask the questions. Most of the diesel swap answers are in those threads, and others that you will find if you search more.

I get a couple PMs per week from people that are interested in the swap. Feel free to use me as a resource.

Good luck!