6.5 in a '79 el camino

[oilburnertoo]

Hi any one ever do a swap into a '79 el camino? What problems did you encounter? I remember reading about someone doing a swap into a similar vintage Olds Cutlass, but can't seem to find the thread. I seem to recall he had to modify the steering some sort of way, just wondering what other modifications I would encounter such as modifying the oil pan ,etc. I plan to use the seprentine system as found on the '94-'95 trucks and install a/c also,it would be a N/A engine so I wont have any turbo clearence issues. Thanks for any help or direction to the thread, Tom

[convert2diesel]

Hi Tom:

The A body GMs were typically equipped with the SBC V8s or the Buick or chevy V6s. What engine is now in the car? Might make a difference in what is needed for your conversion. If it came originally with the SBC, it will make your life a little easier as the engine mounts are the same as the 6.5/6.2.

All of the real estate problems I encountered with the Roadmaster conversion will be magnified in the A body. I can see four areas of concern:

1. You will have to notch out the oil pan to clear the crossmember. The truck installations use a stand-off on the engine mounts to give this clearance but you won't have the height requirements to include the stand-off unless you dig a hole in the hood and butcher the firewall. Easier to notch out the oil pan. You will also have to cut out a section on top of the crossmember to give clearance for the starter. This will become obvious the first time you do a trial fit.

2. The dog leg found on the stock NA exhaust manifolds won't clear the frame rails. I used the manifolds from the H1 turbo engine (or the turbo van). They dump straight out close to the block and use V clamps for the down pipes. Suggest using a custom dual exhaust (there are still some aftermarket dual systems still available on the net as the original all used a single). Had one hell of a time bending up a single 3 inch exhaust for the Buick and you have even less room underneath, especially the over axle pipes. Duals are the way to go.

3. More then likely you have the infamous THM 200 tranny with the car now. While it was used with the 5.7 diesel, it really isn't up to snuff for use with the 6.2/6.5. Probably the best combo would be the older (non-electronic) 700R4 overdrive tranny. This was used in the later A/G bodies so things like cross members, linkage, cooler lines etc. would be readily available. You could use a THM 400 but that would mean you would have to use a vacumm pump on the conversion. Regardless, you will still have to modify the driveshaft to suit.

4. Up front you will probably have to relocate the power steering pump or at least get a smaller pulley to clear the steering box and suspension components.

There is a bunch of other considerations to the conversion but these are the biggys. One thing in your favour is that the Olds Diesel (5.7) was offered for a time in these bodies so it is possible there are a bunch of diesel related bits available (rads, Hydro-boost brakes, etc) that are off the shelf. Don't even think about doing this with the front clip still installed. You'll want clear access to the frame rails as you will be going in and out with the engine more then a few times. For the couple of hours invloved in taking off the body parts, its time well spent.

Good luck on your project.

Bill

[More Power]

You can find a selection of other conversions in our "Reader's Rigs" page that aren't included here.

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

Jim

[oilburnertoo]

Hi, Thanks for the info so far. couple of questions, 1] did you use the smaller gear reduction starter and still have to notch out the cross member? Yes it has a 350 in it now. 2] I want to go N/A so do you think a set of hummer N/A manifolds will fit?[ the header style]. It currently has a turbo 350 trans, I plan to use a 700 r4. 3] how mucch smaller does the power steering pulley need to be my current one is 6 & 5/8 " , I found a 5 & 3/4 " do you think this is small enough to gain the clearence I need? 4] Do you think a big block radiator will cool this engine? 5] Do you know of a 12 volt electric vacuum pump as I need vacuum to operate the heater ans A/C controls. Lastly do you have any detailed pics of your mods? thanks in addvance, Tom

[convert2diesel]

Hi, Thanks for the info so far. couple of questions, 1] did you use the smaller gear reduction starter and still have to notch out the cross member? Yes it has a 350 in it now. 2] I want to go N/A so do you think a set of hummer N/A manifolds will fit?[ the header style]. It currently has a turbo 350 trans, I plan to use a 700 r4. 3] how mucch smaller does the power steering pulley need to be my current one is 6 & 5/8 " , I found a 5 & 3/4 " do you think this is small enough to gain the clearence I need? 4] Do you think a big block radiator will cool this engine? 5] Do you know of a 12 volt electric vacuum pump as I need vacuum to operate the heater ans A/C controls. Lastly do you have any detailed pics of your mods? thanks in addvance, Tom

1. Believe it or not, both starters are the same overall length (they would have to be to use the stock front stabilizing bracket)

2. On the drivers side, any of the center dump manifolds will work (NA hummer, van and I think some of the 4X4 NA installations). The real problem is the passenger side. None of the maniflods that have the dogleg at the flange (downpipe end) will clear the frame. I originally modified one to fit but was always chasing leaks. The H1 turbo manifold (or the turbo van) dumps out straight back, hugging the block and using a "V" clamp. Much better solution.

3. Steering box locations changed alot over the years. Wait untill you get the engine in before you decide what is needed. I used an idler pulley and had a machine shop bore out the shaft for the interference fit.

4. I used the stock radiator tanks from the Buick as they had both the engine oil cooler and the tranny cooler installed, and had my local rad shop install a four row core. They had to split the tanks to get it to work, but if anything I now have too much cooling. Clearance issues forced me to go with two electric fans (no room for the mechanical fan). Found a 9C1 police issue Caprice in the junk yard and got the two larger fans off it. Fabricated a temp sender and used two relays to activate them. Only time the fans turn on is on a long hill pulling the trailer or sitting in traffic. NA they are more then sufficient.

5. If you are going NA, then you have more then enough room to install the mechanical vacuum pump on the front of the engine. You may even have the room at the back to use the oil pump drive version. This pump has more then enough volume to drive your HVAC stuff and if you can find a big enough resevoir, even your vacuum brakes. I eventually went with the Hydro-boost system but am not happy with how it performs. The car came with vacuum brakes and the system seems to be setup better with vacuum. If all you are doing is the HVAC, any of the European diesel offerings have small electric pumps that will work. Just bury it, the constant whirring will drive you nuts.

Hope this answers some of your questions and will try to locate some of the pictures I took and posted here. Seems my original posting has been archived or dissappeared somehow.

Bill

[convert2diesel]

Couldn't find the pictures of the chassis/starter mod, nor the finished power steering pulley but here is a couple of picts of the oil pan mod and the finished installation:










Hope this helps.

Bill