by bartonmd » Fri Oct 14, 2016 1:57 pm
OK, I've got to ask... Why, if you were going to build a trail-only rig, wouldn't you just LS swap it or something? More specifically, why, if you're doing all that work, wouldn't you put a good diesel engine in, rather than one that's largely regarded as a dog turd? I make the assumption that it's a Trail-only, non-street-legal rig because it won't pass emissions tests in NM or CA, and you can't switch a gas vehicle to diesel or vice versa, at all, in CA (and maybe in NM?), and still register it. The places that do allow it, mostly just let you put a newer engine into something old, but won't let you put an older engine into something new. You could do it in a state like IN, where there isn't any emissions testing, but not out there.
From a functional standpoint, diesels suck at everything that's not mud bogging or slick-rock crawling, especially with a manual trans, because of the lack or RPM range. That was the most frustrating thing about my Cummins, off pavement. There is no "crawl until the right point, then blast the throttle and get a bunch of wheel speed" like you can do with a gas engine. You either don't get the wheel speed, or you slip the clutch at low speed in a high gear. Also, diesels don't live long when you're crawling up things. Because of the high compression and steep pressure spike from combustion (where gas engines have more of a "push" pressure impulse), when you run it low/out of oil pressure for short periods at big angles, it really tears up diesel bottom ends, where gas engines can survive some of that (as long as you aren't just going crazy on throttle/rpm).
I mean... As a project, it's kind of "neat" but I don't really see the point, out where you are?? I don't meant to be a dick, but better you find out now than after it's done and you've trashed a perfectly good vehicle.
Mike
