Smaller diesel engine, that would replace a gas inline four?

[Gearstix]

I'm pretty sure the S10 v6 5 speed (New Venture Gear 3500) is my best bet.
Just gotta find one is the problem

[trbankii]

Not sure that the NV3500 will hold up to a diesel. The diesels had the NV4500. Should be fairly easy to turn up one, though. They were in quite a number of applications.

[Gearstix]

Well I was sent a link to a guy on another forum who put one in his sierra or soemthing, it had a 6.2

I don't know if a automatic would be better, but ..
all the work to put one in plus I'd need to covert the gasser transmission.

[Gearstix]

Guys, this swap will go ahead, but very slowly. The engine will be delivered when it can and I'm not in a rush. I'm going to gather up the parts. I will start to look for a transmission.

[6.5 Detroit Diesel]

The NV3500 should do the trick. Yes it is smaller than the NV4500 but here is how I see it.
The truck is much lighter than your typical 6.2 application.
There is no transfer case and front drive shaft to push
It is a N/A engine
And he won't be towing much with it.
In my buddys truck(1995 2500 6 bolt), he has the NV3500. It is a Ext Cab/Short box 4X4. It has the TBI 350 which is rated from the book for 1995 at 225HP and 320 torque, and he has done a few things to make the engine "Healthier". He has towed between 5-6,000 lbs with the truck over the Coquihalla highway, which anyone who has driven knows can have some very nasty grades. The tranny has held up fine. Keep in mind that his son has driven it, I drove it repeatedly, and it was formerly my brothers truck, so it has been mildly thrashed on.
The NV3500 will do fine behind a 6.2 in a light truck. We have 3 or 4 sitting in Pick Your Part.

[hatzie55]

The NV3500 has a torque rating of @300ft/lb. I decided against it for my 6.5 NA engine. If your engine will not exceed 300ft/lb you should not have any problems with it.

[6.5 Detroit Diesel]

Most power rated from a 6.2 is 280/factory torque. I think.