How about a GM 6.2 or 6.5 Turbo Diesel?

[243]

According to a few on the board, the smallblock chevy is an easy swap in a FSJ with the TH400.

I keep wanting a Cummins 4BT3.9 but a 6.2 or 6.5 GM makes a LOT more sense. Same size as a SB 350, lighter than most other diesels, original equipped with a TH400. I have not researched either td but I would want a mechanical, turbo and an intercooler.

What am I missing?

[CumminsPower715]

I know that a couple of 715 owners have used the 6.2/6.5L engine. The block is a little bigger and a little heavier than a small block chevy. I had a 6.2 in a Chevy truck and it performed reasonably well but definitly not a powerhouse. The 6.5L with a turbo is said to do pretty well. I know Banks has a turbo kit for the 6.2 but it is $$$, so you would be better off finding the 6.5L with a turbo. 6.2L heads are really bad about cracking between the valves, I don't know about the 6.5L. I know it uses a slightly different head but I don't know if it is as prone to cracking as the 6.2L. The 6.2/6.5L are not up to par with the Cummins or the Powerstroke(International 444) in terms of power or in life expectancy. The 6.2/6.5L have a lifespan pretty much like a gas v-8 (100,000 +/-) where the Cummins can easily go 300,000 if it is cared for properly.
Definitly a much easier swap, just not as hot of a performer. The 6.2/6.5L does use standard Chevy mounts and bellhousing bolt pattern.

I assume you know that the TH-400 you have now will not bolt up. Yours has an AMC bolt pattern. All the other parts are interchangeable, so if your 400 is fresh you could just swap all the "guts" into a junkyard GM 400 housing. Otherwise just find any GM 400 and swap your tailhousing and output shaft into it, if neccesary, as part of a rebuild.

[84_grand wag]

POWER STROKE---- POWER STROKE--- POWER STROKE

[Shake N Bake]

I did the 6.2 swap into a 78 Wag about 3 years back. (Went with the full banks kit too) It was a rather straightforward swap, the 6.2TD fits very nicely, (I did have to beat the inner fenders a touch so I would be able to get at glowplugs) there was no way to run a mechanical fan with the diesel rad and an intercooler (slimline electrics were fitted)

The TH400 behind the diesel is a slightly different beast than the AMC gasser variety, some of the internals are radically different, in the end I ended up with a 700r4/NP205 combo.

What got me in the end was the difficulty in finding a good rebuilt 6.2, I went through 4 engines before I finally gave up.

But to give you an idea, power wise, I was running 39.5 TSLSXs, spooled rear (3.73s), and I could light up the rears at will. Banks makes good stuff smile.gif

BTW 6.2TD was a factory option, look for it. (its still a banks kit but it was installed factory)

Andy

[Shake N Bake]

Just figured maybe I should clarify before someone went and figured that the engine swap alone was all we did smile.gif

After the 6.2TD was fitted, we mounted chevy diesel truck springs to the front (originally 4" superstiffs were in place) Due to the fact that the lift springs sagged about 2.5-3". After a few runs like that on 35s, the front axle housing bent. Went back to the drawing board, (at this time engine #2 was installed, (#1 was putting out something like 220psi oil pressure at idle, had a couple bad bearings)) While R&Ring the engine, we found some stress cracks on the frame in the firewall area, as well as a major crack in tcase x-member, one of the engine mounts was cracked also (that we found trying to bolt the new engine in).

So some major reinforcing and redesigning was done at that time. A D60 was fitted under the front, rear discs were needed (extra stopping power)

I went in figuring it would be a little project, it just never seemed to end...

Andy