Is Swapping gas for diesel engine feasible?

[steamjam1]

I'm still looking hard at box trucks...in fact, I'm going up to the mainland this weekend and visit a few of the big truck/van re-seller lots. 

I would prefer a diesel for mileage reasons, but if you rule out Ford 6.0's, there's fairly slim pickins' so far. One scenario I've seen a number of are high mileage Chevy/Ford gas engines, with very nice "everything else"...talking 220k +. I'm not so sure I'd want to buy that high without factoring in a possible engine replacement at some point.

Which got me thinking, what is involved if you wanted to swap a gas engine for a diesel? I'm not looking for step-by-step details, but more general...like if a normal engine swap cost $4,000, what would swapping to diesel add to that? Or..."you idiot, you can't do that"

Thanks  

Anything is possible with enough cash thrown at it. A popular swap nowadays is the Cummins 4BT and manual transmissions. I ran into a guy a few years back while on the road who paid like 15K for a complete conversion to a '73 Dodge Class-C 21 foot. He said of it: "I get 17mpg, but I can lose a drag race to plate tectonics."

 

[DannyB1954]

Unless torturing yourself can be considered a hobby, I wouldn't bother.
Diesels are great if you need the torque for towing etc. I don't see how in the long run they can save anybody money. If the diesel ever breaks, it can cost a fortune to fix.
Will your transmission bolt up, and can it handle a diesel?
Do you need to regear the drivetrain?
Do you need to go through a referee for a smog check?
Who is going to do the work, and if you, what is your time worth?
Will your motor vehicle department re register it as a diesel without a bunch of hoops to jump through?
Will you have to install an exhaust smog device like the new diesel trucks have?
Do you need a different fuel tank, (one with a return line and different fuel pump)?
If the vehicle has an engine computer will you have to figure a way to disable it?
If the new diesel needs a computer, can you install one, and at what cost?
Is the saving of fuel really going to pay for the cost of the mod?
Are you going to keep the vehicle for the next 10 to 15 years?
If you resell it, a new buyer may not want a "modified" vehicle.
Do you have a place to live while you work on it?
So many problems.

It is a project that will seem to take a week or two, and you will still be working on it for months.

 

[highdesertranger]

"Stop it with the negative waves Moriarty". lol, sure you can cherry pick all the negatives and come to that conclusion.

"If the diesel ever breaks, it can cost a fortune to fix."
not if you get the right one.
"Will your transmission bolt up, and can it handle a diesel?"
yes and yes.
"Do you need to regear the drivetrain?"
no.
"Do you need to go through a referee for a smog check?"
"Will your motor vehicle department re register it as a diesel without a bunch of hoops to jump through?"
no and no.
"Do you need a different fuel tank, (one with a return line)?"
every fuel tank since the mid 70's has a return line, so no.
"If the vehicle has an engine computer will you have to figure a way to disable it?"
"If the new diesel needs a computer, can you install one, and at what cost?"
don't need no stinking computer, to unreliable.
"Is the saving of fuel really going to pay for the cost of the mod?"
yes
"Are you going to keep the vehicle for the next 10 to 15 years?"
yes.
"If you resell it, a new buyer may not want a "modified" vehicle."
never going to sell it, why would I.
"It is a project that will seem to take a week or two, and you will still be working on it for months."
I plan on it taking months why be unrealistic.
highdesertranger

 

[DannyB1954]

HDR, How is it you know what vehicle the OP is talking about? This thread was not about YOU. These are questions HE will have to face.
You are happy with what you are doing, I think that is fine. I still do not recommend to the average joe that they get involved in a swap. Use the money it would take to modify something and put it towards something that any mechanic in a little town can recognise and work on.

 

[highdesertranger]

exactly that's why I said "if you get the right one". highdesertranger