i got a 86 k5 350. im not in a rush but when i have the cash id like to go diesel cause of the gas mileage to be honest. i hear they go through transmissions like crazy but is it cause people are hard on the peddle or what? i know nothing about diesel engines either so thats another downfall. i was thinking about dropping in a fi 6 cylinder as well, i'm not bogging or any extreme climbing just some trails probably level 4 at most if ever. like i said i dont know crap about diesels so id just like some feedback from people that know diesels or have a 6 cyl in their k5. thanks

 

one thing i would look at is ...whats the price of diesel where your at ...do some math and make sure that even though you will get better mileage that your not spending the same or more becuse of the price of fuel compared to the price of gas. as for the trannys going out ..not sure..probley becuse most diesels are bought to pull and can be hard on trannys ...and they do have more low end toque that can be hard on trannys as well..(my guess..lol)
if you still want to go through with the diesel swap ...as much as some people will possible hate me for saying this ....go Cummings (dodge) duramax (chevy/gmc) is good but Cummings ....hard to beat ..hope this helped at all

 

They are torque monsters, its what they are designed for. Big heavy engines deisgned to pull and not top end.

What engine you got your heart set on? The factory one for your model or something better with more fab work? The factory ones the k5s got imho left much to be desired and there are way better out there. A cummins 4bt is popular but you might have to beef up the springs. Even being a 4 cyl they are heavy (around 750 lbs compared to a bbc 650ish lbs)

4bt hp 105 but upwards to 200 easy and torque is 265 but again minor tuning 300-400 range easily had.

Your heart set on a 6cyl look at the cummings 6bt. Weight also goes up a bit more.

 

i'm thinking i might just drop a gasser 6cyl in there. the tranny i have is 700r4 i hear that all chevy engines mount to any chevy tranny. carbed 6cyl are a dime a dozen and i can grab a fi 6cyl for less then 1000 at a junk yard. i think the 2000 silverado 6cyl have about the same horsepower as my 350 has, maybe not as much torque. does anyone know the mpg difference between a carbed 6cyl and a fi 6cyl? thanks all...

 

We still talking diesels cause they aint carbed?

Your 700r4 won't bolt to a diesel nor last long if it did.

The 6 in a 2000 is a 4.3 and no it won't get the hp or gas mileage as a 350. Way less power and in a fullsize mileage is worse.

 

Leave well enough alone.

 

You're going to spend more doing the swap than you'll save in gas over many years. Lots of pitfalls, especially if you don't know much about diesel...

If you've got your heart set on an engine swap to save gas, go with a gas engine from a later GM truck. Even jumping to a TBI 5.7L unit will save you gas and be an easy swap. Jumping to a 5.3L will give you a huge boost in power and fuel economy, but will be more complicated. (But far easier than a diesel.)

Whatever you do, make sure it'll be street legal with your state's emission rules. (If you have to pass inspection.) Some states, like Washington, forbid putting newer, cleaner burning, more fuel efficient engines in older vehicles. Seriously. Supposedly it's to protect the environment--as if that made any sense--the reality is that the car dealer's lobby doesn't want old vehicles recycled. Sad, but true.

 

 

i was thinking to swap my 350 gas 5.7L engine to a 7.2L diesel engine ,i want more power to my car , i make a survey and this is what i got ( please correct me if im wrong )

Diesel engine advantages :-
- more power
- more durable
- less maintenance , less troubles
- run forever
Diesel engine disadvantages :-
- noisy
- weights more than gasoline engine
- generally .. do low acceleration ( turbo diesel accelerate as gasoline engine )

i think i will keep my engine for while and may be swap it next year