Thread: Accidentally bought a GM V8 Diesel

OK it was more an impulse than an accident.

I'd been planning the 82 into 93 isuzu transformation for a year - done all the research and was pretty convinced it was the best way to go about getting a diesel in a range rover.

The chap who was about to do the work suggested I have a look at this 88 GM powered thing. I said OK more to prove to myself that the Isuzu was the way to go.

So I had a drive - you can actually have a conversation at highway speed, the conversion is very neat, it's great to drive and has heaps of go.

And here I am with three range rovers.

Will it cope with heat?
Is the fuel consumption acceptable?
Is the engine durable enough to trust?

Answer to all these presumably is - 'if it's set up right and treated right then it should go the distance' - so I'm putting my faith in the workmanship of the conversion.

We'll see.

W

Was speaking to Andrew Richmond a few years ago about one he did for a customer, it was an 88 with a 5 speed (could have been a nissan box) for some guy in Murrumbeena, might be the same one

Originally Posted by will@montlaur.com.au

Will it cope with heat?
Is the fuel consumption acceptable?
Is the engine durable enough to trust?

my monies on

no
maybe
no

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

my monies on

no
maybe
no

Based on?

on the surface it sounds like (and Im only making semi educated guesses here) its one of the earlier ones so it may still have the overheating heads and water pump (until I read the post quoting bush65 by isuzurover i didnt know they'd changed the water pump setup, Ive only seen the older engines) on it by now the radiator is probabley a little long in the tooth and in my books that pushes up the odds of an overheat.

acceptable fuel consumption varies from person to person.... I could live with 12l/100km but I like 10l/100 much better, IF it is an early version with the mech pump in it It should be able to run good quality BIOdiesel without hassle.

GMs IMHO generally have a nasty reaction to overheating, almost as bad as the TD5...

If he can keep it cool and sipping good oil It should do quite well.

Well, it is 6.5 litres in a two tonne car and the obvious reason for installing it is to improve performance. I assume that this means it will get booted along hard. Therefore fuel usage would be high. If you are not fed then you won't work either.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

my monies on

no
maybe
no

These guys seem to agree with that.
6.2/.5 chevy. what are they really like ? - Cummins 4BT & Diesel Conversions Forums

Originally Posted by Vern

Was speaking to Andrew Richmond a few years ago about one he did for a customer, it was an 88 with a 5 speed (could have been a nissan box) for some guy in Murrumbeena, might be the same one

Its a small town..From what I know that's probably the one Vern. Although it's had a few things about that conversion resorted since. Might give LRA a call on Monday and see what the provenance of the parts used was.

The box doesn't feel like the nissans I've driven but I'd be happy enough if it was. (I was actually fumbling for the gear lever a bit being used to the arms length throw on the lt95)

Cheers,
W