80 Series. 3FE to 350, and now to 6.5TD Need help.

[White Shark]

So here's the deal. The 3FEin the 92 FJ80 was pulled and a 350tbi was installed. It's great with about 300hp and the engine pulls fine, but I want to start brewing biodiesel and run it in the 80 with a 6.5TD. The reason for the 6.5TD is because I already have the mounts in place from the 350 swap, and it's connected with the Mark's Adapter into the stock A440F.
My sister-in-law (Cookiemonsterette) is a chemical engineer and we're wanting to brew our own biodiesel. I've got a source for the cooking oil and after researching this subject, I've calculated that we can brew the stuff for under 50 cents a gallon. With gas prices today, the 6.5TD seems like a good choice.

The main questions! :

1.) Will the 6.5TD share the same engine mount positions as the 94 350tbi from a c1500 Chevy which is currently in my 80? In other words, will it drop into my exisiting engine mounts/brackets? I'm asking because I've heard rumors that it will, but haven't been able to find a solid source to confirm this.

2.)If the 350tbi and 6.5TD do share the same engine mount position, it would be logical to think that they also share a similar distance to the tranny/bellhousing? I've also been told that the 350 and 6.5TD share the same adapter plate. I know the 6.5TD will need a different flywheel than the 350, but I'm trying to determine whether the 6.5TD will drop into a spot that is already perfectly setup for the current 350 without remounting the engine mounts. I think that I'll have enough steering clearance, etc. as it currently stands for the diesel.


Any other advice is greatly apprectiated. I'm talking to Brunswick Diesels in Australia, but they drop the 6.5's into ex-1FZ-FE trucks. I'm also going to hit a few GM forums to try to get info on this situation. Of course, you guys are the best and many of you have a great aggregate background on GM and Toyota, so I thought that I'd ask here also. I've checked the CIS Diesel page, but I haven't found any info regarding the 350-6.5TD conversion. Thanks as always.

 

[Gumby]

I have every reason to beleive that a 6.2L fits into the same hole as a small block. Same motor mounts, position and bellhousing. I could measure mine, but I'm almost certain everything is the same. The 6.2L is wider due to bigger heads. It also is pretty tall. It barely fits hood to axle. Length is the same as a small block.

A 6.5L is the same block as a 6.2, so it should all be the same. 6.5s had a more finicky electronic FI pump. I would be wary of running bio through it.

I have a brand new 6.2L flywheel. If it is the same as a 6.5, you can have it.

My wife really likes the 6.2L in the 60.

 

[White Shark]

Sweet. I spoke with a guy who swapped his 6.2 out for a 6.5TD and he said the difference was huge. He was towing though. The 60 seems like a perfect candidate, but I'm not sure how the 80 @ 2000lbs heavier would do. I'm not towing anything in the future heavier than a loaded M416, so the 6.2 would probably be fine. I tend to stay off the mountain around Tahoe too, so climbing at altitude isn't a big concern. I want the diesel so I can brew bio, pack my own fuel, and range up and down the Washington, Oregon, California, and Baja coast looking for surf and diving for dinner. I figure that I'll pick up a 100 gallon tank and electric pump to mount in the trailer, fill it with biodiesel, bringing my total fuel load up to 125 gallons. I can pump fuel from the trailer to the truck manually with the electric pump and fuel nozzle. At 15 mpg @ .40 per gallon, I figure that I could run 1875 miles on $50 worth of fuel. These days, $50 only gets me 200 miles. It's easy to see the method behind the madness.
What if any problems have you had with the 6.2 in the 60?
Average MPG?
Are you running totally stock? I've heard rumors that modding and using chips causes major problems.
Reliability?

Thanks for the input.

 

[Gumby]

I had big problems with the 4 speed. i was eating clutch disks every 100 miles or so. With the Th400 it's running great. Plenty of power. Not so great mileage. About 14 strictly city so far. It weighs about the same as a 2F, but it feels much lighter. maybe because it's mounter further back, or maybe just because the GM p/s pump run higher pressures.

There are a couple of good threads on 6.2L into 60 series in the 60 forum. FLCruiser and I have web pages up, but mine needs updating.

 

[White Shark]

I saw your webpage write up and thought it was pretty cool. I will check the 60's forum more. I look there every now and then as I used to own an 84 FJ60 and I want another one in the future. I figure that the A440F will easily handle whatever the 6.2 or 6.5 puts out. I bet that the increased torque was eating your clutch discs. The A440F will take 600hp stock with no problem and more with the Extreme setup Slee sells. I want to get that improvement as it would allow positive lockup in the torque converter.

 

[Aseif007]

David,

Is the swap legal here? I was researching for my FJ-60/62 and the official word from the state was that it was not legal, but then I heard if you get a referee to OK it then you are set to go. If you need an A440F core I'm sure I have one laying around you could have. I like the diesel/biodiesel idea; I was just bummed when I found out that the swap was not 100% legal. If you are successful then maybe it will motivate me .

 

[t-o]

I regularly use 2 6.5TD chevy trucks, thank goodness they are not mine. Since brand new in 1995 and now with less than 100k on either, they hvae both had engine electrical and fuel-related problems totaling over $3k spent for multiple recurring repairs on each truck. about $1k each was covered via recalls/warranty service. Sometimes you get a lemon...but two with the same problems?

Given the choice in your situation with the Chevy parts already in place, I'd do a 6.2L. Maybe you can find an aftermarket turbo for a little extra oomph.
Tim

edit ps: i got almost 18mpg when new...but now 14 or 15mpg is more common (3/4 ton pickups).

 

[White Shark]

I already have to meet the ref in December to clear the 350 swap which shouldn't be a problem, so I'll find out by sure by December at the latest as to whether the 6.5/6.2 would be a problem. Any idiot can see that the biodiesel is cleaner burning than a gas engine, but I never cease to be amazed at what State employees have to say. We'll see. It also seems that the 6.2, although a bit on the underpowered size, seems like the way to go. I keep hearing about the numerous problems people are having with the 6.5 diesel. I'd like to go GM because I can drop it right in and replace the 350 that's already in place. That would be a piece of cake. The Cummins seem to be far superior in many ways and have better availability than the Toyota diesels, but I'd have to start the swap from scratch again. I'd start with another 80 or a 60 in that scenario. We'll see....

 

[Aseif007]

"but I never cease to be amazed at what State employees have to say"

I was told that diesel is considered a "downgrade" in technology. WTF? When I could get way better fuel efficiency, and run it off of something I grow. But ironically, I could import a BJ-60 from Canada legally. Again...WTF? It may be different for the 80s, were they ever offered diesel here in any capacity?

 

[NMuzj100]

This page is the best source for Chevy Diesel Info in the Web.
http://www.62-65-dieselpage.com/ The $20 Subscription is worth the money but just the free stuff will take several days to read.

Contrary to some opinion these can be excellent engines if you avoid some known issues (electronic fuel pumps) but these problems all have fixes.

My 6.2L Diesel Suburban with ATS turbo is still for sale. Cheap for a MUD member.

 

[Gumby]

I just got my emissions notice in the mail yesterday. We'll see how it goes in IL.

 

[Aseif007]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bush

Hopefully this will make our conversions legal. Its about time Bushey!!

 

[HI^C]

just curious but why no 4 or 6 bt cummins? 6 might be a bit to much.

 

[Gumby]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bush

Hopefully this will make our conversions legal. Its about time Bushey!!

Sounds like pandering to the farm vote, but hopefully not.

I just got back from getting my wifes car smog tested. The goober said I could get a diesel exemption to smog testing the 60.

It would be tough to lift a 80 enough to fit a Cummins, i would think.