Want to convert beater Corvette to Diesel

[luvveggieoil]

Hey folks, newbie here with a strange request.

I have hated, absolutely loathed our dependence on oil/gas/foreign oil for a loooong time now.

I also love Corvettes. I've got a 79 beater. What better way to thumb my nose at the Middle East than to take a gas guzzling nightmare like a Corvette and turn it into a veggie oil loving diesel?

So this project is in 2 parts

1) Convert car to diesel

2) Convert Diesel into runner on straight veggie oil.

I have the 2nd part down in that many companies do this now.

Its the first I have no idea how to accomplish.

What needs to be replaced? What diesel engine should I use?

Please help. Its been a crazy dream of mine for a long time.

Tony

PS: I'd be happy to wrap the car in an advertising skin in exchange for any services provided for this project.

[trbankii]

You mean something like this?

http://www.thedieselpage.com/readers/vet.htm

Just letting you know it can be done...

[Robyn]

First off, Welcome to TDP

We have one of those around here
The fellow started with an L82 Vette with a broken mouse motor and stuffed in a 6.5

Just so you have something to think about. Very little of our current oil supplies come from the sand box.
The "vast" majority of our imported oil comes from Canada and Mexico.

Now I think the Diesel Vette is a way kewl swap.

The components can mix and match pretty easy.

Use a big block radiator so you can cool it.
The 6.2 or 6.5 can be dropped in. You can run a turbo if you desire or you can run N/A

The serp belt drive system from the 6.5 can be used. The 92-95 setup will bolt right on and probably put the AC pump right where you need it as well as the alternator and other accessories.

The motor mounts will allow the diesel to sit right in and if the Vette had a TH400 tranny you can bolt it right up. The use of a Big block converter would be best (Or one from a diesel rig)
The vacuum controls for the modulator can be used from the early trucks and this part is readily available from GM.

If you go with a manual tranny be sure to use the proper flywheel for the diesel as they are an externally ballanced engine and the flywheel is different than either a Mouse or a Rat unit.

The DB2 injection pump can easily be wired up using your ignition input lead to power the IP on and most all the rest of the wiring for gauges and such can be hooked right up to the diesel using the senders that were used on the Vette.

The cold advance will need an ignition switched lead that runs throughthe temp switch on the Rear of the RH head and this runs to the cold advance terminal and the fast idle solenoid on the IP.

The power steering and such can all be plumbed in using either exisitng hoses or custom ones depending on the need.


If you want a real mileage getter, a 6.2 N/A with the small precups will do nicely.

Have fun and if we can help along the way, just ask.

Best

Robyn

[luvveggieoil]

I'm not so sure I have the ability to do this myself. I will probably have to use a reman'd engine.

Surely if I took the vette to a diesel engine mechanic they could install it??

Robyn, you are correct that our oil comes mainly from Canada and Mexico, which inflames me even more since we should have more insulation from World Market pricing with these two supposed allies. Just goes to show that todays gas prices are artificially inflated.

I live in Arizona, any of you from here and if so can you recommend a place that will do this? I have the Greasecar portion figured out, but the installer of the diesel is tough. I wish I had the knowhow to do this myself, but I know finance and real estate more than I will ever know cars I'm afraid.

Thanks for your help and welcome. I promise once Rebelene the Vette gets a heart transplant I will show pics.

Thanks

Tony

[trbankii]

My experience has been that oddball engine swaps are more often than not "labors of love" because the cost to have someone do it for you ends up being cost prohibitive... Not to say that people don't have it done, but you're talking deep pockets most of the time. The reason being because it isn't a simple and done deal - much time is spent cutting and fitting and fabricating things and working on it until it is right.

[Robyn]

The oil prices are a direct result of investors and the world demand for the product rather than an artificial inflation.

The diesel Vette swap is no biggy. If you can rebuild a briggs and stratton mower engine and do a good job this swap is within your grasp.

Forget that the 6.2/6.5 is diesel. First off its a V8 engine and has all the same basic parts as any V8

The swapping part is pretty much a bolt in thing using existing GM stuff.

There will be very little if any need to fabricate or modify stuff.

The exhaust system is about the only thing that will have to be built and these are best left to a shop with a tube bender and such anyway.

I have fabricated a few exhaust systems over the years from scratch but it always sucked.

Never had any issues but when a tube bender is available along with a nice hoist it goes far easier.

Now if you try to farm this out the cost is going to get steep and fast.

Gather your goodies and we can pretty much help you through the project.

Lots of folks here that have an aggregate experience with these diesels that amounts to a lot of years.

Best

Robyn