Greg Hammel
Member
Curious how many of you out there have a Chevy or Ford diesel truck from back in the day. Always mixed reviews about them .
- Thread starter Greg Hammel
- Start date
Uncle had an 80 diesel Suburban, he bought it with 100k on it, first engine lasted 300k, the second engine lasted 3k. I think they were gas engines with diesel heads if I remember right. A lot of folks bought them and after the diesel motor blew replaced them with a gas. My brother had a olds cutles with a diesel and he liked it but leaked LOTS of oil!
RandyB(MI)
Well-known Member
The GM 6.2 wasn't a bad engine if maintained properly. The 5.7 Olds was a disaster. They never updated the head bolts and had same number of them as gas engine that it evolved from. They would pop the heads off the bolts and resulting head gasket blows. 99% of the time as soon as you took off the rocker cover you seen one or two bolt heads lying there in the oil. A better quallity bolt or even studs and that engine experiment might have had better outcome. Both engines had the disenegrating governor wieght cage retainer in the rotary injection pump at approx 50,000 mi. 30-35 mpg is what sold them....and then ya paid it back to the tech. I sold a lot of 350 /260 Olds gas engines out of wrecked cars back then for the usual transplant.
I've still got an 85 F250 with a 6.9 that's plated and insured. It was OK in it's day,but as soon as I find an older regular cab F250 4x4 gas to use around the farm,cheap,the diesel is going to be retired. It never did have much power.
It was best to change glow plugs every year,I found that out. If I just changed the ones that were burned out every fall,I think it effected the amperage or something because it didn't start as well as if I changed them all.
For the last three or four years,when it sits overnight,it looses prime. It starts then dies and I have to crank the daylights out of it to get it going again.
In all honesty,I wouldn't buy another diesel pickup. I had an 81 Pontiac Bonneville diesel with the 5.7 Good Wrench in it,and if you want my opinion,those older diesel pickups belong wherever the old GM diesel cars ended up,wherever that is.
It was best to change glow plugs every year,I found that out. If I just changed the ones that were burned out every fall,I think it effected the amperage or something because it didn't start as well as if I changed them all.
For the last three or four years,when it sits overnight,it looses prime. It starts then dies and I have to crank the daylights out of it to get it going again.
In all honesty,I wouldn't buy another diesel pickup. I had an 81 Pontiac Bonneville diesel with the 5.7 Good Wrench in it,and if you want my opinion,those older diesel pickups belong wherever the old GM diesel cars ended up,wherever that is.
Aaron Ford
Well-known Member
We have a late 80's 6.2L 3500 2wd at work and it is a dog. Always starts, runs smooth, but getting up a hill is a problem. It doesn't use much fuel. I would like to pick it up for a rear engined S10 economizer project.
Aaron
Aaron
jim castleman
Member
Had a '82 Buick with 5.7 diesel, if it would not have been for the calls to Lansing to get warranty from local dealer, it would have caused me to go broke!
Ken Macfarlane
Well-known Member
Was around 80's idi Fords a bunch, 6.9 and 7.3
Good engines for teens as they had no power. The F350 we used had the 6.9, it was a dually with dump bed. When loaded and towing hay wagons it could barely get up to speed. When empty it could barely do the speed limit. They also had a newer F350 with a 7.3 L non turbo in it, 4wd and quite tall, their son used to drive it. I had a suzuki samurai I had at the time with a 1.3 L motor, carb. The samurai felt like a sports car next to that F350.
I have a F350 now with the 5.4 L that everyone loves to complain about for having no power but I'll tell you it feels like twice the hp of those old idi's.
The other complaint I'll leave about them is they started terrible in the winter. If the truck couldn't be parked in the heated shop during a cold snap we had to leave it running. I'd bet there are some spells it ran for a couple of weeks straight.
Good engines for teens as they had no power. The F350 we used had the 6.9, it was a dually with dump bed. When loaded and towing hay wagons it could barely get up to speed. When empty it could barely do the speed limit. They also had a newer F350 with a 7.3 L non turbo in it, 4wd and quite tall, their son used to drive it. I had a suzuki samurai I had at the time with a 1.3 L motor, carb. The samurai felt like a sports car next to that F350.
I have a F350 now with the 5.4 L that everyone loves to complain about for having no power but I'll tell you it feels like twice the hp of those old idi's.
The other complaint I'll leave about them is they started terrible in the winter. If the truck couldn't be parked in the heated shop during a cold snap we had to leave it running. I'd bet there are some spells it ran for a couple of weeks straight.
I have a 1985 GMC with a 6.2 four speed with a utility body on it. It is a good truck, just not real fast. I only use it as a mobile tool box for my farm. I have it stocked with tools, an air compressor, torch, welder, and it has a crane on it. It is handy to have around.
Had 4.3 and 5.7 Olds diesels in the early 80's. They all had glow plug controller problems, but got great mileage. The 4.3 was in a Ciera and the 5.7's were in Olds 98's. Great cruising cars, but slow to accelerate. Never had internal engine problems even though I ran them to high mileage levels.
Had 1985 and 1992 6.2 diesel Silverados (non-turbo). They both had PMD (pump module driver)problems. Ran the '92 to 305,000 miles when the transmission gave out. Had 6.5 1996 turbo diesel, also had pmd problems. Currently have a 1999 6.5 turbo diesel Silverado---PMD problems.
Also have a 2002 Duramax Silverado with close to 300,000 miles---no problems so far. I've been told the Duramaxs are known for head gasket problems and needing injectors replaced. If you chip the engine it accelerates the problem curve.
Had 1985 and 1992 6.2 diesel Silverados (non-turbo). They both had PMD (pump module driver)problems. Ran the '92 to 305,000 miles when the transmission gave out. Had 6.5 1996 turbo diesel, also had pmd problems. Currently have a 1999 6.5 turbo diesel Silverado---PMD problems.
Also have a 2002 Duramax Silverado with close to 300,000 miles---no problems so far. I've been told the Duramaxs are known for head gasket problems and needing injectors replaced. If you chip the engine it accelerates the problem curve.
Phil in Pa
Member
Had a GMC High Sierra 20 years ago with the 6.2. It was a great truck, but totally gutless engine. After a series of problems with it I replaced it with a 307.
Pair-a-dice farm
Well-known Member
I had an 85 Ford F250 with the 6.9 diesel. For the time it was pretty good. It was simple and pretty fuel efficient. I got 18-19mpg. It would pull a house if you didn't want to go very fast, 65mph was wound pretty tight.
Gambles
Well-known Member
A long-distance buddy of mine from the Dallas, Texas area has one of the early 6.9 Fords that came out. One of the first things he did was to put on an aftermarket turbo, I believe it was a Banks.
That really made that Ford come alive and that's what Ford should have done from the time they initially hit the marketplace. He still drives it, still has the original motor in it and it has pretty decent power.
That really made that Ford come alive and that's what Ford should have done from the time they initially hit the marketplace. He still drives it, still has the original motor in it and it has pretty decent power.
BANDITFARMER
Well-known Member
Back in 1980 my Vo-Ag teacher that bought a 1980 Chevy Chevete (?) 4 door that had a 4 cyl diesel 5 speed in it. It had plenty of power and got around 50 mpg. He ran the crap out of it and in 2 years he put over 50.000 miles on it and traded it off on another new car. It was the only diesel Chevet I have ever seen or herd of. It was kind of like dads car &5 Buick Century 2 door 231 V6 3 speed standard shift on the colume, It was the only one I ever herd of. Bandit
Andy Martin
Well-known Member
Beat this one:
I traded a high mileage Honda to a guy for an early '80's 5.7 Olds station wagon with low miles. Drove it for two years, changed the injector pump twice and sold it to my mother-in-law. Just something fun about doing that. Of course if it ever broke down I would have fixed it, but she had good luck with it.
I traded a high mileage Honda to a guy for an early '80's 5.7 Olds station wagon with low miles. Drove it for two years, changed the injector pump twice and sold it to my mother-in-law. Just something fun about doing that. Of course if it ever broke down I would have fixed it, but she had good luck with it.
Had an '83 GMC jimmy with the 6.2 in 4wd. High geared it was and would absolutely fly down the road. Pretty much the same mileage
at 80 mph as 60. 24 mpg. It would scratch tires on dry pavement. That was without a doubt the best vehicle I have ever owned. I had a weak moment and sold it when the wife was pregnant with the first kid. She was short and wanted something lower to the ground . I should have just gotten her a stool to step on. Looked many times for another like it, but to no luck. The only downside it had was starter bolts. I would keep a spare set in the glovebox along with the tools needed to replace them. Had the wife trained to always look at the parking spot she pulled out of to check for broken bolts. If she saw any, the drill was to just not cut the truck off. Just add fuel and let it run till she could get it back home to me.
at 80 mph as 60. 24 mpg. It would scratch tires on dry pavement. That was without a doubt the best vehicle I have ever owned. I had a weak moment and sold it when the wife was pregnant with the first kid. She was short and wanted something lower to the ground . I should have just gotten her a stool to step on. Looked many times for another like it, but to no luck. The only downside it had was starter bolts. I would keep a spare set in the glovebox along with the tools needed to replace them. Had the wife trained to always look at the parking spot she pulled out of to check for broken bolts. If she saw any, the drill was to just not cut the truck off. Just add fuel and let it run till she could get it back home to me.
Do not now have one (thankfully) . Made the mistake of buying an '84 Ford 1 ton with the 6.9 shortly after they came out. 3 injector pumps, a fuel pump, water pump, 3 sets of glow plugs, head gaskets and full set of lifters in approximately 40k miles it started rattling. Had someone offer to buy it as is, where is with it sitting at a mechanic shop. Glad to get rid of it and go back to big block gas. Refused to consider another diesel until 2003 when I bought a 7.3 Powerstroke. Still have that one. Amazing truck. 6.9 May have done okay as a grocery fetcher, but, I needed a work truck, not a toy.
dad bought a 83 chevy my only complaint was the 700r4 trans what a disaster, the 6.2 got rebuilt at 250k and the third trans is going in now, best run around truck ever run 100 on the interstate and got 28mpg in town. Now for the 83 ford 250 the original 6.9 spun the crank at 56,000 got nothing from ford got a reman from jasper what an ordeal itwas still running as of last week, uncle bought it from my dad, when my uncle passed I bought it from my cousin to feed cattle with priced it high; I thought; fellow pd cash and its still going
Gambles
Well-known Member
I've got an '83 Chevette diesel in my garage. Mine is a two-door, 5-speed. The 1.8L engine was built by Isuzu since Isuzu and General Motors were in bed together and it was cheaper for GM to buy the Isuzu engine than to design their own. That was about the norm though. The Ford Escort could be purchased with a Mazda diesel engine and you could get an International Scout with a Nissan diesel engine. The only reason for the diesel craze in the econo-boxes was because diesel was cheap. The EPA changed that.
I drove '82-'85 model year Chevy C-30's with the 6.2, and F-350's with the 6.9, seemed to prefer the Ford. They both did the job of towing these 32' box trailers.
'79 C30's with 454's and 4 speed were the previous models we had there doing the same work. I owned one of those, good power, but it did like fuel. I drove all three with the same trailers, 32'goose neck box, stacked floor to ceiling with loaded cases of empty glass bottles, headed to the recycling plant.
'79 C30's with 454's and 4 speed were the previous models we had there doing the same work. I owned one of those, good power, but it did like fuel. I drove all three with the same trailers, 32'goose neck box, stacked floor to ceiling with loaded cases of empty glass bottles, headed to the recycling plant.
Nathan (SD)
Member
I have a 82 Chevy LUV diesel. A 85 K10 w/6.2D. Had a Cutlass Cierra with a 4.3D. I used to drive 82 Ford Escort wagon diesel that belonged to another guy. Still have a 94
1/2 ton with a 6.5D.
1/2 ton with a 6.5D.
T in NE
Well-known Member
- Location
- Cambridge, Nebraska
The Chevy Luv was an Isuzu P'up.
The duramax is Isuzu, too.
I've never seen one but have been told they used Isuzu's 2.6 liter gasser in the early Cavalier.
The duramax is Isuzu, too.
I've never seen one but have been told they used Isuzu's 2.6 liter gasser in the early Cavalier.
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
The last couple years of Olds 5.7 diesel production was much improved. But alas the reputation was tainted forever by then. The engine and fuel system was built back to the specs the engineers had originally wanted. The early Olds 5.7 diesel was the result of bean counters cutting corners.
My first new car after a few years of work after college was a Slate Silver 1981 Buick Riviera with the 5.7L diesel. What a car! It was loaded and ran like a top. I ran that car to 100K miles and sold it mainly due to fear/worry with all of the stories of others that had those "bad" diesels. Mine ran just fine. I kept clean fuel filters in it and only had one time when the injection pump popped an o-ring.
That car could fuel up in Austin, Tx and make it just shy of St Louis, MO on a single tank of fuel.
Wish I still had the car, a classic!
Had a 6.2 that blew up on me while towing my camper. Had to use the camper brakes to stop the rig. Junk...
I now drive Ford Powerstrokes (a 2000 7.3 and a 2004 6.0 bulletproofed)
John
That car could fuel up in Austin, Tx and make it just shy of St Louis, MO on a single tank of fuel.
Wish I still had the car, a classic!
Had a 6.2 that blew up on me while towing my camper. Had to use the camper brakes to stop the rig. Junk...
I now drive Ford Powerstrokes (a 2000 7.3 and a 2004 6.0 bulletproofed)
John
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