Just came to mind again,i remember this past summer i was at a junkyard and seeing a black gbodied grand prix with a diesel engine.Was this a factory option?was it rare? or is this just a car that had an engine swap.Please tell me
Pontiac Grand Prix Diesel??
- Thread starter Minion1186
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The diesel Olds V8 and even a diesel V6 was optional on all g-bodies through the '84 or '85 model year or so.
wow that's kind of cool, sounds very rare. I'm thinking a Grand Prix by nature is supposed to be a performance or sport class vehicle, not a diesel engine grocery getter. Even though the v-6 is also a slow power option, it's just not as obvious as a diesel engine.
Diesel engines give me a whole new option/thought process for future mods. Are the diesel engines fuel efficient? Can they be turboed? Was it a strong engine that can be modded?
Diesel engines give me a whole new option/thought process for future mods. Are the diesel engines fuel efficient? Can they be turboed? Was it a strong engine that can be modded?
The GP used the Oldsmobile diesel. Searching the net will give you a bunch of information...most of it bad...that engine was not one of GM's most successful products.
I have a road test of the 81 Grand Prix diesel in my photo album....
http://www.gbodyforum.com/photos/displayimage-lastup-11711-0.html
I have a road test of the 81 Grand Prix diesel in my photo album....
http://www.gbodyforum.com/photos/displayimage-lastup-11711-0.html
The diesels used in GM vehicles of the late 70's-early 80's were an absolute disaster in marketing. Based on a reinforced Olds 350 block, they suffered from a very poor reliability record. Combustion blowby dirtied the oil rapidly, and caused premature wear of camshafts, bearings and rocker arm pivots among other things. I had a '81 Grand Prix and a '79 GMC shortbed 2WD pickup. The best days they both enjoyed was after they both got converted to Olds 350 Gas motors. Let sleeping 5.7 dogs lie. Any mods to a 5.7 diesel will just insure a more rapid death. The only good that came out of that project was a strong production cylinder block for the Olds Pro-Stock drag racers.
GM has built some great diesels in the past 10 years to modify, with virtually unlimited performance potential. If you have any interest in them, do some internet research, especially "Banks Engineering".
Bill
GM has built some great diesels in the past 10 years to modify, with virtually unlimited performance potential. If you have any interest in them, do some internet research, especially "Banks Engineering".
Bill
HA! hows 400hp and 700tq?
http://www.autoblog.com/2005/12/13/audi-v12-tdi-a-quantum-leap-in-diesel-technology/
granted the olds wasn't quite the same! but diesels can MOVE. hell my little 90hp 150tq vw tdi (1.9L turbo direct injection) feels more like a 3L v6.
The 350 diesels were known to last about 50k and then blow up (almost always at 50k, some earlier).
GM used to replace them regularly (with GAS 350's, aka as 350 target master motors) when I worked at the dealership in the mid 80's.
They even replaced some that were out of warranty as they were so bad.
I would never touch a 350 diesel or the v-6 diesel either. They were junk. If you find a car you are going to buy with it, be prepared to tear it out imediately.
Thankfully, they didn't make many, so there weren't many out there. It would be rarer still to find an original car with it's diesel engine in it as they failed so quickly.
Too bad, i'd love to, (my wife would love me to) turn one into a grease gasser (used vegtable oil for fuel), but they are not worth doing that to because of their reliability.
GM used to replace them regularly (with GAS 350's, aka as 350 target master motors) when I worked at the dealership in the mid 80's.
They even replaced some that were out of warranty as they were so bad.
I would never touch a 350 diesel or the v-6 diesel either. They were junk. If you find a car you are going to buy with it, be prepared to tear it out imediately.
Thankfully, they didn't make many, so there weren't many out there. It would be rarer still to find an original car with it's diesel engine in it as they failed so quickly.
Too bad, i'd love to, (my wife would love me to) turn one into a grease gasser (used vegtable oil for fuel), but they are not worth doing that to because of their reliability.
WOW, So much hate... I guess, Im lucky. I have a 81 Oldsmobile Cutlass with a 350 diesel. I brought it 2 years ago for $300. I changed a Hydroboost hose and been drive strong every since. I change my oil, filters, and air cleaner like I should. And it runs great. I get around low 20's mpg. I drive it everyday putting around 50 miles a day on it. Nothing but props from me. But nor do I plan on keeping. I have a 455 waiting to replace it. Just waiting on a few more parts
thanks for the replies,i do think its rare,it was a black gp diesel and it was sitting alone in the front of the yard,no parts taken from it either as it was a buy it whole car,pretty good condition too,i ran over to see it and thought it was damn cool,a diesel pontiac.
Maybe you fellas havent heard of "Dr. Olds" joe mondello,he made this http://mondellotwister.com/ArtStroker440.htm
This is something similar to what one of my buddys has done to a 350 dx block,he converted it over to gasoline and had it making some pretty decent numbers.I would like to get my hands on a 350 dx or hell,even the weaker d block and make a 440 stroker engine one day
Maybe you fellas havent heard of "Dr. Olds" joe mondello,he made this http://mondellotwister.com/ArtStroker440.htm
This is something similar to what one of my buddys has done to a 350 dx block,he converted it over to gasoline and had it making some pretty decent numbers.I would like to get my hands on a 350 dx or hell,even the weaker d block and make a 440 stroker engine one day
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