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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 56 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 56 | I have been wondering if anyone has done a gm diesel swap into a warbird. looking at a old gm 6.2 for a power plant and a automatic trans with a new rear diff. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 64 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 64 | iirc griggs has done diesel swap stuff, just cant remember into what
everybody is ignorant @ something.the more we work together, the less ignorance there is floating around
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 323 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 323 | Not that I know a lot about diesels but I was going to put one in my 52 GMC 2.5 ton until I drove a 6.2 for a while.I got the truck cheap but it was Gutless!and hard to start in cold weather.Diesels are expensive might as well use one that has some power.
These old bolts are in my blood. Hard thing is focusing on just one.
1937 Chevy 1/2 ton panel
1953 GMC 2 ton. future car hauler
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | There's better choices out there, that's for sure. The 6.2, besides being underpowered, are also bad about the heads cracking between the valves. You might consider either the 6.5 or the 6.6, or even a B4T Cummins.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 | Sounds like a bad idea to me too. It'll take as much work to fit as a gas V8, (a lot for that model truck) and a 6.2 or even 6.5 is nothing special.... The Cummins 4BT sounds like the best simplest swap for one of those trucks. www.4btswaps.comGrigg | | | | | Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 16 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 16 | The GM diesels (made by Detroit Diesel) were junk. Go for a 4BT or 6BT Cummins or International DT360. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 | Please don't confuse the GM made V8 diesels like the 6.2 and 6.5 as being "Detroit Diesels"..... they are not.
Not arguing the junk comment, just they aren't Detroits.
Grigg | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,775 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,775 | I personally love the old 6.2 and 6.5's. I had one in an 85 K10. The forward band on the 700r4 got smoked after about 50K, but I treated it to TransGo shift kit and a rebuild. Wow, what a difference! If it weren't for the clatter, you wouldn't have known it was a diesel! | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 | I'm no expert on the 6.2's or 6.5's, but from what I see folks with them in small trucks don't mind them, and folks with them in larger working trucks for the most part aren't impressed.
The way I see if if you already have one and it runs that's great, run it and have fun. But I'd never set out to find and buy one or spend much money fixing one. For sure wouldn't build a truck around one.
Grigg | | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 50 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 50 | What transmission is required for a 4BT?
1949 Chevy 4400 GrainbedIn the Stovebolt GalleryPhotobucket picturesThe taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back! Behind every successful rancher is a wife who works in town.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 474 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 474 | What transmission is required for a 4BT? The link from Grigg's post ,there are many transmissions you can use. www.4btswaps.comGrigg | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 | For sure check out www.4btswaps.comYou'll find that pretty much whatever transmission you want there is a way to make it work in most cases. Do your own research and factor the cost of making it work into the transmission cost, some options will be better than others, and which is cheaper also depends on what engine/adapters you start with. Most importantly figure out your gearing from the start, a poorly geared conversion is a waste of time and money and can be quite disappointing. http://www.onlineconversion.com/bigger_tires.htmGrigg | | |
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