The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts questioDetroit diesel engines

I have some diesel engine availability questions. 1. When was the first Detroit Diesel manufactured? 2. What is the first year GMC offered a diesel engine? 3. What is the first year Chevrolet offered a diesel engine? 4. What is the first year GMC offered a Detroit V-8 diesel and what size was it? 5. What is the first year Chevrolet offered a Detroit V-8 Diesel and what size (cubic inches) was it? If someone can answer these questions, it would save me a lot of research time. Yesterday I was told that Chevrolet offered diesel engines in the thirties. My feelings; No Way! Tell me the guy was talking through his hat.

I don't have time to dig up all your answers right now, but I'll start with this much, and I have documentation.


The first Detroit diesels were sold in April of 1938, only 3, 4, and 6-71 engines.

1938 Detroit engines (same as above) were sold to General motors Truck and Coach Division, as well as Gray Marine. in 1939 Allis Chalmers was a customer.

1949 introduction of 6-110 engines, and 51 series. (never automotive use that I know of, except two experimental trucks with 6-110 engines.)

December 1958 introduction of 53 series, in line 2, 3, 4, and V6.
Also introduction of V71 series, 6, 8, 12, 16.

in the early years Detroits were only available in GMC trucks, not Chevy. Best I can tell not in Chevy's until the 60's

I believe V71 Detroit's were offered in trucks very early, perhaps as early as 59, they would be 6V71 and 8V71. 12V71's were not in trucks until later on.

Hope this helps,
Grigg

For those unfamiliar with Detroits, the series (51, 53, 71, 92, 110, 149) represent cubic inches per cylinder. The number in front designates number of cylinders 2-71, 3-71, 4-71... and V engines are labeled as 6V71, 8V71, 12V71....
to find total cubic inches multiply the two numbers.

Grigg

Jay,

Grigg has covered it good, but there is a chart out there that has just about all the info you are asking about. I'll try to find it.

Bill

It was at the Detroit Diesel Sound Clips sight.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/ryq/

The chart is the second block down.

Also, if anyone out there is not familiar with this site, click on your favorite Detroit, turn up the sound and hold onto your chair.

The 12V-71 is well worth listening to.

Bill

Thanks, Grigg. I probably should have called you to start with. This is what I had determined a few weeks ago. Chevy offered the 4-53 (212 inches) and the 6-53 (318 inches) beginning in 1962. In '68 and '69 they offered a 3-53 and a DH478. Then beginning in 1970 they offered the 12V71. I have no idea what a DH478 engine is. Do you? Could it possibly be some other make than Detroit; like maybe Cummins?

Hy jay 1124, the first 2 stroke diesel produced by General Motors was manufactured in 1938, they did not become "Detroit Diesels" until 1965. I believe that diesel engines were offered in the largest GMCs in the 1946 model year. You'll have to be more specific with your question about Chevrolet diesel powered trucks, do you mean Detroit Diesel power, or any diesel engine? The 8V71 Detroit Diesel engine was offered in the 1960 model year, the engine was 568 cubic inches, 8 cylinders times 71 cubic inches. Chevrolet started offering Detroit Diesel engines in the mid 60s when they started matching GMC model for model, hope that helps.

Jay,

The DH478 was a GMC V-6 diesel engine. It was actually a "Converted" gas engine.

Thanks to you also, Bill. I must have been composing my second post when you were posting and didn't realize you had replied. I would still like to know what a DH478 engine is.

I believe the "DH478" is a Toro Flow, based on the GMC V6 gas engines.

Don't worry about total cubic inches for Detroits, that's not how they are refered to. For eaxmple, a 6V53 is indede 318 cubic inches, one version of an 8V71 was 318 HP, see the confusion? Just stick to 6V53, 8V71, 6-71, and so on.
Another reason, with your total cubic inch logic how do you tell the difference between an inline and a V6 71 series?

Grigg

Grigg,

You are right, the DH478 is a Toro-Flow.

The DH478 was a V-6 GMC gas engine converted to a diesel. . .
never heard of the 305-V6 351-V6 379-V6 401-V6 432-V6 478-V6 all gas engine's from 1960-74. . .I do beleive the 351 401 478 all could be gotten as a diesel some have said the 305-V6 was offered as marine diesel tho I haven't seen ay of them. . .

Mike D

6V-71 is a V-6 with 71 cid per cylinder 426 cid V-6 .

6-71 is an INLINE 6 with 71cid per cylinder 426cid I-6.

8V-71 = 568cid V-8 .

12v-71 = 852cid V-12.

the bigest is the V16-149 = 2384cid V-16 .

this is how it was taught to me any how. . .

Cummins: had many engine's there many used the 855cid I-6,1150cid I-6 and the not so great 903-V8 785CID . . .

The 855cid I-6 factory setting's ranged from 240hp - 400hp.

The 1150cid I-6 factory settings ranged form 450hp-600hp.

The 785cid V-8 factory settings ranged form 300hp-500hp.

the 903 was prone to fail thats why i'm replacing my 903 with a KT at the first sign of trouble. . .

"V-" is the V-6 V-8 V12 V-16 ECT. . .
"-" in the Inline 2 3 4 6 ect. . .

Mike

Mike,

They actually made a 20V-149.

Bill

REALLY ? now that i haven't seen, The 16V-149 was the biggest i have seen . . . learn somthing new every day guess. . .

I been more of cummins fan tho I have dabbled a bit into the CAT's. . .I have ran a few detroit's just not by choice. . .everyone i delt with tended to be a leaker and i'm a fan of AMSOIL ! so at $9.50/QT you tend ta avoid motors prone to leak. . .

Mike. . .

Mike,

I have never actually seen a 16 or 20V-149, but I'm familiar with them on charts.

How did that 16V sound? I would love to hear one run.

Detroits have always been leakers. I use Conoco HD Fleet 40 in mine. Last time I bought a case, I believe it was about $2.25 a quart. Mine really doesn't leak that bad, altho I need to replace the valve cover gasket soon.

Bill

the sound of it was insane it was like you could hear each cylinder fire. . . shook the ground i was at a ship yard My dad was there getting a KT-600 cummins for his 10 ton Truck. . .

He had it all set up on like a stand in the ground radator ECT. . . so people could hear it run was just in aww looking at it, he walk's up and say's " i'm about to fire it up wanna hear it run ? " i replyed yes i do. . . so he gave me some ear plug's that didn't seem to do much but I left them in it's loud. . .

Mike