Duramax swap into 3rd gen... discuss

Hey guys,

I had brought this up before but never really got anywhere with it. Jen has talked me into keeping the '86 and so I was planning an engine swap. I was mainly looking to get into a BOP big block but I got to thinking I would love a bio-diesel powered Trans Am. I am debating between the 6.2L and the 6.5L Duramax. Here is the discussion on TGO...

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/en...92-camaro.html

http://www.autoblog.com/2005/10/21/r...it-diesel-6-2/

http://www.articlesbase.com/automoti...el-812532.html

Any other ideas for how I can tackle this project?

[white96TA]

haha, ive never heard of anyone doing that

sounds like fun, good luck!

I don't know much about duramax diesels but I say go 6.5, cause it's bigger!

[c0ncEpT]

If it the same 6.6 they used in 2000+ Chevy trucks hell yeah I would use one. If its the 6.5 used in the same trucks from 1992-1999 I wouldnt really waste my time. They are dogs stock, have weak internals, and don't respond to mods well.

[bri2203]

You gonna need some heavy duty springs up front! and probaly a bigger tranmission tunnel.
Definatly a cool idea! I think someone put a Dmax in a chevelle a while back. I;m all for being different.

In my dream collection I would like to have a saturn sky redline/gxp drivetrain in a austin mini cooper. (The old ones)

[ITSSLOW]

Very cool! There is a guy on Motown Muscle that put a 6.5 in his 93-97 Camaro.

[lozanoa11]

Ill be watching this if you go through with it. Won't do it myself but props to you if you do it.

[Formula Z]

would be sweet and hella power/torque with bully dog or something similar

[WMCCjames]

I guess if you have alot time and money to piss away just to be different, go ahead, otherwise, it doesn't make alot of sense for a swap like that.

[Joedashredder93]

very cool Idea, I say go for something smaller cause diesels are totally different than normal engines, with the duramax u might have to jack your car up unless you do alot of mods because of the huge trans and stuff

[Boost Addict]

Well a 6.2/6.5 isn't a Duramax, the 6.5 is a Detroit diesel, unsure of the 6.2. All Duramax's are 6.6. I don't think the 6.2's are turbo, so that'd be a real bone. 6.5's have a weak ass crank, anything more than 15 psi and you're on borrowed time. They have decent torque. 6.5's have a shitty wastegate system too. My truck will spool fast to 10 psi but at about 2100 rpm the wastegate starts leaking. I know quite a bit about 6.5's so if you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

[sman]

I almost did this with my car instead of the 5.3, I already had the motor and 6 speed allison along with all the electronics and accessories, I never brought it up though, fear of ridicule, and now for fear of regret. I bring it up at car shows now and then and all I hear is "man that would have been sweet". Figures, before when I was planning on it everyone told me it was stupid....

Should haul ass though, but youll be needing a new rear pretty soon if thats the route you go......

[Derek]

I guess if you have alot time and money to piss away just to be different, go ahead, otherwise, it doesn't make alot of sense for a swap like that.

this was my thoughts. Dreams are fine and dandy, having the money to make the magic happen is a different story. And even in the end, need to be sure its really worth it.. This just seems like a really complicated swap in all regards. If you can make it happen, wow its gonna be a awesome, but I'd hate to see you invest a fortune and hit a wall somewhere..

[Plantfoam]

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/featur...max/index.html

I always thought this was awesome, and would love to have something like that, but it would cost a fortune to make it right.

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

I guess if you have alot time and money to piss away just to be different, go ahead, otherwise, it doesn't make alot of sense for a swap like that.

x2...if you had a spare Duramax drivetrain lying around it would be one thing, but the cost of the conversion will be ridiculously expensive with zero possibilities of getting a return on your investment.

While the following example will not have the "fun factor" of actually watching the project come together, it could very well be a time-lapse example of how you'll be in the end after attempting this endeavor...

1. Lift toilet lid.

2. Insert $10,000.

3. Press lever.

4. If tears are not rolling down your cheeks, repeat step #2.

5. Close toilet lid.

6. Put toilet up on eBay for $4000 and pray that somebody offers $3000 for it.

[meissen]

If you couldn't afford to keep the car and stay in MI, how are you going to afford to do this swap? Are you still planning on moving out of state?