The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 8.2 GM Diesel Engine

They are talking about the 8.2 GM Diesel Engine on another truck board. I always thought that they might be a good candidate for some of our older trucks, but it seems like they have their problems. I'm not that familiar with them, but they say that they were built with not enough Head Bolts on them and they like to blow out gaskets. Also read that they are a harder engine to tune.

Even though I personally would go with an old Detroit, I was wondering what you all think of the 8.2?

I've had quite a bit of experience with them on School Buses. Here in North Carolina they were spec'd in all 1986-88 Ford B700 School buses, & all 1988-91 Chevrolet C60 School buses. As you say lots of head gasket problems, water pump failure, & injector rack problems. They did a mediocre job at only 45 mph. Don't think they would hold up good at extended higher highway speeds. Just my opinion.

Very few people that had 8.2 from OEM liked them. I see no reason to go to all the trouble of putting them into a classic. A 53 series will fit in a 55.2 and later without too much trouble. I'm not a Detroit fan and have run Cummins since the 60's. But at least the Detroit was built to be a Diesel and they last forever. My yard truck has a 53 series and all we ever do is fuel it and put in some oil ever so often.

I don't have any experience with them either but nothing I've heard about them says they'd be good for a swap. Basically I hear that those that run run decent, but if it dies scrap it and move on to a better engine.

Grigg

i had one in a truck i once had. for the couple of years that i had it i had no problems. top speed in the truck was 50. stay on the level and it was good on fuel usage. hit the mountains you better get out your check book.

I would have to agree with Spanky. We also had some Ford and GM school buses with 8.2's in them. They ran ok in a bus, but I am not sure how they would hold up under severe service conditions. Not to many people know how to properly tune them up, and it will be harder to find some one that knows anything about them as time goes on, since they aren't avialable anymore.
Just for what it is worth.
Jim

The 8.2 Detroit Diesel was used in the Canadian variant of the M35 2-1/2 ton 6x6.
http://www.military-today.com/trucks/mlvw.htm
Some people love them, others hate them (both trucks and engines). I once had a MSE Op (driver) comment that she preferred the old M135 with the GMC 302 motor. Also, my M135 (light) would outrun the later (loaded) model on the highway. It was always fun to see their faces as they were passed by the older truck that their "new, improved" truck had replaced.

The factory Reman.($) ones are reportably better as far as longevity, not HP.