The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 1.5 ton with a V8?

I have a 1947 Chevy 1.5 ton that currently has an old tired 6 cylinder in it. I also have a 6.2 detroit sitting in my garage. I was looking at them both and wondering if it would fit in the engine compartment? It looks like it would be really tight. Has anyone here ever put the v8 detroit diesel in big truck? If so was there a bunch of modifications that had to be done? I searched in this forum but didn’t turn up anything.

Anything is possible with enough money and a good fire wrench. Sounds like fun, document your build and share as you go.

Way more complicated than it appears

Converting to a diesel is a bigger job than it sounds like on the surface, but it would be a unique vehicle when it was done.

If you have the skills and ambition to get it done, go for it!

Thanks for the words of encouragement dosed with a little reality everyone.

The RPM range and the torque band of the Diesel will be all wrong for the transmission and rear end gearing. The suspension system will have to be modified to handle the extra engine weight. You'll end up spending several times the cost of rebuilding the original engine and probably ending up with a poorly performing end result. Save yourself a lot of time, effort, and money, and sell the truck to someone who will fix it the right way.
Jerry

All of these issues are solveable, but very real and valid concerns. Looking back at your original post it sounds like the idea of putting the 6.2 in (as opposed to some other engine) was the fact that you had it sitting there.

If that is the case, you will spend far more making the diesel function than just buying/installing something like an LS or an SBC that will give you dramatically better performance than your tired I6. Doing a gas V8 swap is pretty common and comparatively simple/cheap.

If the goal is to make something unique, go nuts but be aware that it will be a lot of work (and $$$) and might or might not turn out as well as you have pictured in your head.

If you want to go into details on that, moving to the HiPo forum would be advised (HiPo Forum).

Thanks for the response. My main question is will it fit, which is why I came here to ask. Checking it with a measuring tape it doesn’t look like it will with the bigger inner fenders.

Somedat2023,

Just a note that the conversation has been moved to the HiPo Shop for further discussion as you choose to pursue.

Dan

Steering box would seem problematic for a good fit. You need an inline Cummins. Might as well get the turbocharged model. Intercooler too while you're at it. Thank me later. Those Cummins are awesome.

Someday2023, I can take some measurements from my '57 2 ton Low Cab Forward if you need more info. Mine is stock 283 V8.

I’m a fan of the 4BT and they fit right in. They’re just way more expensive than the 6.2 I already have. Looking at the steering it seems like it would be right in the way.

I appreciate that. It’s hard to find what motor the 6.2 is most like when it comes to size. I see a lot of people comparing them to small blocks, however it seems a bit bigger. I can take measurements off the motor I have and get pretty close.

The width of the 6.2/6.5 is wider than a SBC, the DD is very close to the dimensions of a big block Chevy. Depending on the exhaust manifolds, clearance there could be the limiting factor. The 6.5 turbo manifolds are real difficult to work with. I had a stock 1984 with the 454, a stock 1987 dually crew cab with the 454, and a stock 2000 dually crew 4x4 6.5 diesel, all of them were real close to the inner fenders and frame. The 6.5 turbo motor weighed roughly 750 lbs.