The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Diesel or Gas?

So heres the options:

A 6.2L GM diesel, will be turboed

Or

A CSB 350, will also be turboed

So what do you guys think Diesel or Gas?

Longer life but way more annual maintenance on the diesel. Gas is easier to maintain and HiPo parts are readily available. My choice would be gas just because I own a diesel and know the maintenance costs.

Diesel,
The Duramax is one tough workhorse.
Maintenance is a breeze, just keep a clean fuel filter is the priority and you should have a good 250K+ mile engine with filter and oil changes.
And if your not satisfied with stock power (more then enough stock) add-on options are a plenty.
Just make sure the rest of the power train is able.
I would stick with the mated Allison trans, and at least the minimum AAM 14bolt rear end.

What's the intended purpose for the finished rig? Dad had a favorite saying: "Diesels are like sex- - - -highly overrated and stinky!" If you're going to pull heavy loads and need a lot of low end torque, get a real Diesel like a Cummins inline six. For a V8, stick with gasoline.
Jerry

The SBC has much more aftermarket support, and is easier to maintain and work on. The 6.2 was a good engine at the time, but there are much better engines out there. What is your planned usage of the truck?


Completely agree.


The 6.2 isn't a Duramax, it's a Detroit Diesel engine that GM used in its pickups from 1982 to 1993, which was replaced by the 6.5L turbocharged diesel of the same family. The 6.2/6.5 used the same mounting and transmission bolting as the gas V8 to make it easy to install. I believe they used either a TH400 or a 4L80E, so no Allison transmission on it either.

AH I thought you were referring to the duramax my early morning dyslexia or maybe just one of those engines in ones life that you wish you never owned. I would through away the 6.2 diesel from my personal experience with one..
Had one noting but trouble and no real power.
Seen people who swear by them and still run them (with again low maintenance just keep fuel filter clean).


If you get the good one nice, but if you get the bad one start pulling your hair.


Oh a little odd story related to the 6.2 I had, I traded after getting annoyed at hauling my 5th wheel up mountain grades. I traded it in 93 for a used Dodge Cummins truck. First week out climbing up the Mogollon Rim I got pull over on a 8 percent grade with a loaded 25ft fifth wheel doing 70. Needless to say the officer laughed and told me slow down he was in no way writing a ticket as he felt the judge would never believe it. I have pulled loaded trailers, and car haulers though some of the tough passes (grape vine, Grants Pass, Salt River, Eagles Nest and climbing in freezing to 120 deg plus. With Cummins, Powerstrokes, and Duramax all pulled just as nice as expected. I change oil, filter air, and filter fuel (that is maintenance). The 5th wheel is gone but been replaced with a 40 foot diesel pusher who does not know the difference between 70MPH flat or hill. And in next year the 350 will be pulled from my hunting Land Cruiser and replaced with a 4BT. As much as gas has made improvements diesel has been stepping right along. For my vintage cars and trucks I will keep period gas engines. But for work and play diesel is my prime.
Current work horse 2014 1 ton Cummins, quiet as any gas truck I set besides, when loaded will out pull most all stock gas units off the line or up the hill and with over 20mpg highway.

But as original post only the 6.2 comes in question, one diesel I am not a fan of.

In the last five years they have snuck the price of diesel up above gas most of the time now. It used to be way down. But they know how many diesel pickups are out there now. They are over rated, unnecessary, some are slow up the hill and noisy and stinky. Gas motors are now getting great mileage and have more power than in the past.

Well either way the engine I choose is free. The intended purpose varies depending on the engine we choose. You see the 6.2l would be a novelty item and the 350 would be a hotrod so it really depends. I personally like both just the same,however I think it'd be cooler to have a 6.2

I think the reason I don't like diesels is because I can't work on them. Or at least I don't know anything about them.

No time to write out why, go with gas.

Bart, basically, if you find a good gas engine mechanic and cut out half his brain, you'll have a really good diesel mechanic! They're about as primitive an engine as possible!
Jerry

Giant air pump.

Well we've decided to go with a Gen 2 CSB 350. i guess the 6.2l GM will have to wait its turn.

My ideal situation is to have three 47-53's one completely restored to factory, one a resto-mod
and the other a resto-mod diesel.

If you do use that 6.2 in anything, make sure to check the heads out. They're known for cracking between the valves.

353 Detroit would be a great swap, what are your plans with the truck?