Stovebolt.com Forums The Gallery 1973 - 1987 Trucks 1984 Chev K30 5.9 6bta Cummins

Purchased this K30- new in the spring of 1984 to add another truck for pulling my
24K gooseneck hauling my backhoe or dozer.
The 77K30 performed this very well at 28K CGW

However this truck not so much.
I found out early that the GM 6.2 Diesel was fine for a Blazer, marginal for a
3/4 Ton, but pitiful in a One Ton.

Truck was a K30
6.2 Diesel
400 Turbo Hydramatic
4.10 ratio
No-Spin Rear, Trac-Loc Front
In 1988 after considering a New Dodge W350 CTD
I opted for purchasing a New Cummins 6BTA 5.9 200HP engine
Through Cummins and installed it along with a ratio change to
3.73, and Upgraded the TH400 to a Built TH475

This Chevrolet became a whole different animal, and very satisfied
With it's performance.
Tom

You have a great truck. I have to agree with you about the 6.2L diesel. They were way ahead of the Olds 350 that had been put in a few 1/2 ton trucks earlier, but they still did not have the needed power for big loads. I was a tech at a GMC dealer from 84-87. We sold a ton of 6.2's. Part of the reason was the sales hype, and also the fuel economy they offered. We had an 83 Suburban 6.2 that would get 26 mpg pulling a large pop up camper. My sister had a 1983 1 ton 4 door 6.2 that they purchased for their large truck camper. It just struggled to move that rig in all but the best conditions. At the time, CAFE fuel economy standards severely limited the 454 production, and GM got a lot of fuel economy credit and profit with the 6.2. It was an expensive option, and also required another expensive "Desiel equipment package" to go along with it. For many folks, it was a great engine, and the service it was used in was perfect for it. It was an interesting time.

Steve