My 6.2 was a dog till revved up and blowing black cloud as I went. Surely no racer there!
I would think any four cyl is gonna be weaker, specially w/out turbo.
Biggest question is HOW does a trans/clutch attach to it and do you have or can find such parts??? Mounts I suppose could be made. I don't see what the draw is to these old diesels, just rattly, smokey, oily rigs with little power.
Try
www.diesel-central.com for a good forum on diesels and questions for each brand. Or go to Yahoogroups.com and check-out Detroit Deisels for neat stuff on them and maybe other types there. Fellas on there always wanting to put Detroits in the darndest things.