Diesel works!! What next?

[Carson L W]

I finally got my diesel running. Runs pretty good as she is but what could be done to enhance the performance of these things? Gearing? Intake or exhaust parts? I understand they were never meant to be much more than what I have now... but anybody know something I don't?

 

[ssn696]

The Olds diesel is a tragic cul-de-sac. There's not much that can be done to increase power. Joe Mondello used to turn the diesel blocks into stout gas engines, but it was a major undertaking. If you are hard over on a diesel in your G, jump over to the posts we have been ping-ponging about a 6.2L TD in the 'Most Unusual Engine' thread. Sadly, your trans is set up of the BOP engine bolt pattern, so you'd need to change the trans too or use an adapter plate.

Drive it until it dies, and keep a lookout for an Olds 455...

 

[Wraith]

The Olds diesel is a tragic cul-de-sac.

Favorite of the day!

 

[lilbowtie]

Enjoy it as is !! I believe it is a 105hp engine - if you got a 50% improvement out of it you still wouldn't have anything.

 

[CaliWagon83]

If you want to spend a metric crap-ton of money, you could do a Duramax swap and have some real power, but unfortunately, the options are pretty limited with the 5.7 diesel.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Make the air cleaner a dual snorkel to start. Get headers, Olds 260 through 403 gas application bolt right on and true dual exhaust with an H or X pipe. The Sanderson shorty or Hedman shorty or G body long tube are your best reasonable priced headers.

 

[pagrunt]

Has anyone tried to use a military diesel from 5/4 (Chevy p/u), Blazer, or Humvee? I Believe they are based/simular to the original 350. Some newer Humvees have turbos on them.

 

[CaliWagon83]

The 5.7 and 6.2 are totally different engines. The 5.7 is a converted gasser, the 6.2/6.5 are ground-up diesels designed by Detroit Diesel.

 

[Carson L W]

I'll definitely try better intake and headers. Does the main problem of not being able to build these things stem from the head gaskets blowing out under more pressure? Anyway of fixing that besides adding better studs?

 

[BELLELJ1981]

I finally got my diesel running. Runs pretty good as she is but what could be done to enhance the performance of these things? Gearing? Intake or exhaust parts? I understand they were never meant to be much more than what I have now... but anybody know something I don't?

Make sure you head on down to the local Tractor Supply and get some stanadyne fuel additive as the diesel fuel now a days lacks the Lubricity that injector pump on our cars need. The pump will surely fail without proper lubrication. I love my Diesel.