Duramax swap into 3rd gen... discuss

[Fbomb]

I remember seeing a camaro with a 3.9L turbo diesel a while back on TGO, he had problems with vibrations at idle and he had the softest mounts he could in it. At least tuning would be easy.

[phoenix_rising]

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.

Thank you for the great info sir!

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?

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?

Okay since you asked...

BTW what does me being in MI have to do with me working on a car? I bought a Van with a hitch for a reason...

Jen convinced me not to sell the car. She believes that I was hasty in putting it up for sale. You see, Jen has not worked for 2 years (She did some odd jobs here and there but nothing more than a month or two). My belief is that she was simply not motivated to try (Which is rather evident to me at least).

After hearing me going on about having to give up my toys and move out of state, I think it finally occurred to her that me being the only income earner is killing me, our relationship, and makes us very vulnerable financially.

This was about 2 weeks ago. Jen has changed a lot since then. (Muchly because of my prodding, I believe). She has had 2 job interviews in this week, both went extremely well and she is very motivated to change her life and make some positive contributions to our household.

She also has been spending a large portion of her time following up on job leads, which I have never seen her do in the 6 years we've been together.

I believe that with her finally "getting off the pot" we should be okay. We live in a cheap little house and besides the cars, we live quite cheaply. So should everything work out money should not be too bad. I feel confident that I can find something to hold me over through the rest of the year in Toledo, OH especially since I have almost 10 years of sales expirience and this is the busiest sale season of the year.

Plus with the expirience I gained working for Verizon I now have a foot in the door to the telecommunications industry which is still greatly in demand. I am applying to a company in Toledo called Page Plus Communications. They are a fairly new cellular firm that is trying to compete with Boost for the prepaid market. I see an opportunity here for before me and I am going to pursue it.

Also, besides not wanting me to leave the area my dad tells me that most companies put together their budgets around January and that would be the best time for a job search for something more long term and stable. I feel that it is about time I put that shiney new bachelors degree to work for me.

Since you asked, realistically I probably will not do the swap. If you remember I asked the question a couple of years ago and I asked the same question and got a mixed response. (BTW I am actually surprised at how many people actually offered me useful advice rather than knocking my idea this time around).

Regardless of whether I actually follow through with the swap, I do like asking the questions so that if I do find myself in a position where I can score a previously mentioned setup I know what to expect.

Remember that nothing happens overnight. Like my Firebird, I bought it in 2005. it took me years to get where I am and the car is not finished yet. I have probably $10,000 into the car already and its not done yet. I have not regretted doing it once.

Isn't that at the core of our hobby? Our cars have and never will be considered a "good investment". Spending time, money, and energy to do something different than everyone else and their econo boxes? Remember if we don't keep our hobby alive no one else will. Muscle cars will become "junkers" without someone putting in the love into them and continuing the traditions of past hot rodders.

For me my cars are a sort of acheivement for me. They let me know that no matter what happens in my life, at least I earned this piece of rusty metal. I made it mine and I made it unique and I know that if I keep busting my butt more good things will come my way.

It took me 2 years to convince myself to buy the '86. When I did find myself in a posistion to do so I made it happen. It will probably take me another 2 years to figure out what to do with it. In that time I can be planning, raising funds, and slowly whatever happen.

[phoenix_rising]

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.

Dude thanks for the link! That Impala can smoke a Lambo!!!

http://www.hotrodhomepage.com/hrhp/2...-diesel-power/

[DETROITMUSCLE]

I really like this idea but as everyone mentioned its a buttload of work. This would be sweet though
http://motownmuscle.com/forums/showt...=diesel+camaro

[jetice]

go find yourself a junked dodge ram with a 24v, throw on a few after market parts and you will have enough torque to wad up an unbraced car. those things make killer power.

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/featur...inch_axle.html

i love this thing. for the summary, it is making 1270 lb-ft of torque at 105 psi. oh yea, its on a stock 200,000mile bottom-end.

[lunati397]

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/en...dgen-swap.html

I know its old but for those that are interested

[TylerT/AZ28]

hey hey he joined our boards

[bri2203]

I think it is great!

I know there are few Duramax Chevelles but i have yet to see them put down any impressive 1/4 times.

[lunati397]

Yeah I just joined to share my expertise I am a member of alot of boards I joined and will do my best to be active although im not local to you guys

I have alot of fbody expertise to share too

[TylerT/AZ28]

theres alot of non locals on here

[85z28kid]

Hey that's sweet! Don't forget that I got first dibs on those grand sports!

Ive posted a few times on TGO thread. Need more work done!