The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop just what I need, another diesel

been offered a 4 cyl Perkins (no turbo) for a pretty good price. They say it runs great and is a really sound engine. I've known the owner for years, it's a good one if he says so. Might make a good power plant for the 41. Anyone have any experence with these engines? I have some, but not in an automotive application. The question is how it would be for power, say compared to GMs 6.2 litre. The 6.2 has maybe 60 CID over the Perkins, I think, not sure. But the Perkins might have as much, or maybe even more torque. The 6.2 is not bad when it's got some RPMs, down low it's a dog. Mike

My 6.2 was a dog till revved up and blowing black cloud as I went. Surely no racer there!
I would think any four cyl is gonna be weaker, specially w/out turbo.
Biggest question is HOW does a trans/clutch attach to it and do you have or can find such parts??? Mounts I suppose could be made. I don't see what the draw is to these old diesels, just rattly, smokey, oily rigs with little power.
Try www.diesel-central.com for a good forum on diesels and questions for each brand. Or go to Yahoogroups.com and check-out Detroit Deisels for neat stuff on them and maybe other types there. Fellas on there always wanting to put Detroits in the darndest things.

Is this the same perkins that was put into some of the early CJ-5's? If so, it doesn't have a whole lot of power and is pretty harsh. It will be slower than molassas.
My dad has a 6 cylinder turbo perkins in his boat. It's ok.

the Perkins is in a truck, tonner or better now. Got the whole smear. I just don't want to end up with a dog. The 6.2 is not much till about 60 mph, then it is a pretty awesome power plant for it's size. Does a heck of a job up there. I've never driven any thing with a Perkins in it so I don't know what to expect. It has to have a lot more stroke than the 6.2. But that don't mean it will have any more a**. Mike

GL, I was raised around those clattering, oiley, smoking, stinking diesel engines. I just like em. The milage is better than gas engines. They are simple to take care of. With a little TLC they last a long time. Perkins is no glamour puss motor I know. And I also know they will work flat out under load every day all day long for thousands of hours. All they need is regular maintance. Try to match that with a gas engine. Some of the best engines I've known, I never seen the inside of. To each his own, I like the smokers. I have a good 292 that could be used for the 41. But I want diesel power in it. Mike

Slomoe,

Ok, You like diesels, and the fuel economy is a point, but I see some other better options, is it all that hard to find a good Mercedes Benz 352 or 366 series?? or a Cummins B series, 4 or 6 banger?? Cost is a factor, but I see the Perkins so down that I'd refuse to use even as for free. I'm well aware of perkins, they are quite popular here in Brazil. But I do see them as a bunch of junk. These particular brand, all of them vibrate a lot, are quite noisy and use to break cranks (particulary in L6 engines, models 6-357 and 6-358), and they were available here as OEM equipment in all Chevy PU trucks for a long long time. At first, 4-236, them its revised versions, Q20B and S4T, both turbos, but all of them down on power, and way too slow. There were also some other versions, the 4.203 and the 4.248, but they do worth even mentioning. Not fair to compare them to the 6.2. Not even to the Olds 5.7 diesel also. But they are real easy to keep going, nothing is extremelly hard to do on them, simple and easy. But the overall (lack of) performance and the mechnical noise sucks, if I were into making a diesel swap, I'd consider only swapping a L6, around 6 liter displacment. Cummins, Mercedes or even a Perkins, the 6.354/357 and 358 are a li'l bit less noisy and do vibrate much less than the L4 versions.
The always popular 0.02 on the subject.
Best Regards.

Alexandre, I was hoping you would put in your .02 worth. A friend has this truck with the Perkins in it. I do want a diesel for my 41. If I was to buy this truck it would take care of what frame, drive line, wheels, and all that. But I don't want to get stuck with a dog for a motor. I hadn't thought about viberation, inline 6s can be bad enough. I like the 6.2 for the milage, but I prefer an inline. I haven't really looked for a Cummins, or any thing else. I am not going to buy the Perkins. Thanks. Mike

slomoe,

I see some points to consider: Here the diff in the diesel/gasoline price is real high, so making a diesel swap is somewhat clever. Dunno if there it would be such a worthwhile movement. But there is the fun part. You told us You grew up around diesels, and You like them. I have a very good image of some U.S. made diesel engines. Personally I love Detroits, with all of their so well known problems, and I'd use one of then, no matter the size, if I could get one at a decent shape/price. Unfortunatelly they are really scarce and way too much expensive to keep running here. From some years, Cummins made a move here and started to pruduce some very cool engines, and they are getting very popular down here. They have replaced their early engines with the medium sized B(L4 and L6) and C(L6)lines, and are being offered in VW and **** trucks. And they are somewhat affordable also when used. Weare starting to find then at decent prices at junkyards. The C series have wet liners, and are powerful and compact. I found a good 62 Chevy truck in a construction business, have not decided yet to get it or not, by now money is short, but if it happens, I'm considering using a diesel in it. And from what I can afford/choose here, I'd get a Cummins anytime. I have no experience with the Chevy V8 diesels, but heard something about the parts being expensive, and not all that powerful. Here, when GM decided that the Perkins was just a dead dog, and was in need of something diff, they moved to the German MWM model 6.07 for the medium sized pick up trucks. Easy to keep going, OHC desing, 3 valve per bore, 170 horses. Lighter than the 6.2/6.5 or 6.6 Duramax, and showing a comparable performance to the 6.5L. And NO vibrations, and a way cool sound. Impossible not to fell in love with. The only down side is the price, a li'l too high by now.
By the way, do You have pics of your 41??

I have a few pics of the 41 when I first bought it. It really wasn't all 41. The 41 cab and front clip was sitting on a 78, (I think) frame with a short stepside bed. It had a rebuilt, (so I was told) 305 sitting up front. I sold the engine when I bought the truck. The cab and clip was all I wanted. Saturday I am taking the frame and bed to a swap meet, hope to be rid of them then. When I get home I'll post a pic or two.

Diesel is slightly higher here than gasoline. That's crazy I know, but they get by with it. The better milage does make fuel costs for a diesel less than a comparable gas powered vehicle. But the higher cost of diesel engine parts probably eat up those savings. But I'm building this truck for myself. Not trying to say diesel is a better way to go, or justify them. It's just what I like. Mike

slomoe,

That's the reason I wrote that if You like, ok, go for it. We have the right to have what we like. If You like diesels, go ahead, make some research, do your homework properly and You'll be happy. That's the main reason of our hobby.
Down here the situation is just the opposite. Diesel is at around 60% of gas price. So, much cheapper. Gas here goes ar around US$ 2.00 per galon, not so bad in absolute values, but our income is just pornografic stuff. And I do have lotsa V8 around, all gasoline powered just because I love to comutte in a V8 or in the Ram V10. Due to the economic situation, these stuff worths li'l money. Diesel engines are finally getting cheapper, because of smog requirements, some types are going out of use, and some are showing up really cheap at junkyards. But people here just love them and for the money reasons, a diesel pick up truck is still pretty much expensive. No matter brand, body style, or even brand.