Outer Limits 4x4 Board

After reading a number of forums, when it comes to adding more power, diesel conversions are an option. But these conversions are usually done with 6.2L and 6.5L Chev V8s which are around 20 and 10 years old respectively.

Im wondering if (or is it feasible for) the mechanics(who do the conversions) offer conversions to newer diesels such as the Duramax, which is the successor to the 6.5L chev (and has phenomenal specs), or to other diesels.

Only thing I could realy think of is the cost involved. Motors like the cummins 5l turbo etc would be great if you didn't have to take out a second mortgage just to pay for the initial purchace.

If they fitted up to something like a patrol or cruiser though it woud be unreal.

A Duramax diesel engine, 6 speed manual transmission, no loom, no computer etc will cost you a tad over $20k.

Add on to this the cost of other miscelanious parts, you do the math its expensive.

Having driven many duramax diesel powered pickups they are truely amazing to drive but that engine is big. GM had to raise the chassis 2" to fit the gearbox under the body and raise the hood 2" to fit in the donk.

Probably would suggest a mechanically injected 6.5TD, smaller engine, plenty-o-power compared to Australian stuff and less than 1/2 the price.

Check the truck wreckers for Isuzu engines. Better than the chevy 6.2 or 6.5 Isuzu designed the Duramax for GM. For diesels, straight inline is superior to vee cylinder configuration - stiffer block, more main bearings and better for turbo.

Of course we can find many diesels that are better than the Chevs.

Its the question of whether it is practical in putting them into the bonnet of a typical australian large 4wd, i.e. Patrol, Landcruiser,etc.

Anyone know of other big diesels that are doable? The ford naturally aspirated 7.3L/6.9L?

nothing sounds as good as a V8 so an inline six is out

I said it before and I will say again. 5.9 cummins.

Check out the Banks site for details on what this motor is capable of.

Inline six and super strong. Would love one of these. Prolly suit a cruiser too cause the inlet is on the drivers side (australia)

No question that the 6B series Cummins is great, but they are pretty heavy - I believe that the complete engine weighs about 450kg. there's alot of steel in them.

I don't actually think that figure would be much more than what the nissan motor is.

even if it was a couple hundred kilos more it would be well and truly handled with all the extra power and torque these motors produce.
May have to get heavier front springs but!

This is an intersting point. Techinically, you still have to comply with the front axle maximum weight, and your payload will be reduced by the added weight of the motor.

My guess is that front axle permissable weght for a GQ or Landcruiser would be exceeded with a 6BXXX Cummins, let alone the bar/winch batteries etc already on the car.

Cooling (and intercooling) this motor will be a challenge too. Size of the radiator on a dodge ram is quite intimidating - it would hve to nearly double the size of an 80 series radiator.

Then, if you do fit one and "enhance" its output, the torque produced will be far in excess of what can be dealt with with the rest of the driveline, hence the reason that when fitted to Dodge Rams, they have a D60/D70 combination, and are renowned for killing their automatics.

Oncve the rest of the driveline was "optimised" to suit, you would be trundling down the road in a 3.5 tonne Patrol/cruiser, with stuff all ground clearance becuse of the diameter of the diffs, and find out that you might have been better of putting the same money into a Dodge Ram, and not having all the heartache.

I would love a 6BXXX engined car, but I really think t hat the best way of owning that motor might be in a Dodge Ram.

How about the 4BTA version? A 3.9 litre 4 cylinder? easier to fit and still very very torquey,

Or a late model Dyna motor? (14BT) I think these were available up to 4.7 litre, direct injection, multivalve and exhaust braked. Toyota used a 4.1 version of one of these on the MegaCruiser and claimed 140kw and about 500nm.

How about Merc, Audi and BMW passenger/luxury V8 diesels? They have massive specs. Prolly quite expensive, with electronic control and all, but so is the Duramax I believe. I would guess about half the weight of a cummins 5.9 but still more than enough torque to blow out most everything.

T

from : http://www.collegeinternetsolutions.com ... ology.html

There are rumors of the new Duramax diesels being installed into Cruisers in Australia (I’m told Marks might be making an adapter) but I think this engine has way too much power for any Cruiser using stock axles, and probably so even with upgraded axles.

btw I have no intention to play with diesel conversion etc in the foreseeable future. This just makes for some interesting reading. Also I will know what to do if I score a nice job.

btw how do you know the cost of the duramax engine anyway?

fatassgq wrote:I said it before and I will say again. 5.9 cummins.

Check out the Banks site for details on what this motor is capable of.

Inline six and super strong. Would love one of these. Prolly suit a cruiser too cause the inlet is on the drivers side (australia)

Its been shown here: http://www.collegeinternetsolutions.com ... mmins.html

that fitting a large 6 cyl cummins is extremely difficult and impractical in a LC.

How about the 4BTA version? A 3.9 litre 4 cylinder? easier to fit and still very very torquey,

The 4TBA Cummins is unfortunately extremely slow

Surely with the same tuning it will be 66% as fast as a 5.9? If we are talking 500rwhp from a tuned 5.9, then 300rwhp from a 4BTA should be possible, no?

Just flicking through "Just Parts" and Eagle Auto has the Chev 6.6 Duramax diesel with 5 speed Allson auto complete with harness and computer 300hp for $16,500.00