are you totally unaware of me?... um, cars?

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Oh. Well, yes, cars are much less air resistance than a big square travel trailer.

I make no assumptions....you know....

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Id personally consider a early 90s ford pre-powerstroke 7.3 IDI turbo including the ford tranny vs making adapters. Just as easy to repair as the 6.2/6.5, and way more powerful and reliable IMO. Plus you have a stock drivetrain, and dozens of ford transmission options

If your goal is fuel economy though, not sure you will get much above 20 with any of these options, even the 12 valve.

People have complained of vibration issues with the 4BT over time, something to consider. Definitely check out 4btswaps, think this has been done a number of different ways in that platform, remember reading a few threads on that a while back

__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Yeah, I have one of these engines in a 88 F350 flatbed. It's a great engine. Although I top out at 14mpg. Of course, my gear would have alot to do with it, and I never drive it unless I'm working the heck out of it. But it's strong for what it is. And not too awfully tough to fit with a turbo if you still want a bit more umph.

__________________
1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

Well did some research and im recently not doing that 6.5 swap involves a computer etc. I don't want a computer I have one in my Powerstroke already :-) I want a mechanical pump. Im going to stick with the Isuzu 4bd 3.9l. Im also thinking later down the road I will do a compound turbo setup.

To one of the previous posts I am not in the military anymore I work for the union pacific railroad on huge diesel engines:-)

Know my mother in law wants to give me there 97. The wife wants diesel no matter what so I have to decide. The older is leather and barn doors. The 97 is a flip tailgate with cloth both 4 wheel drive. What tranny is in the 97? Which suburban has the best drive trane

If their both half ton models with small blocks, they both run 4l60's (an electronic 700R4). If one is a 3/4 ton, it's possibly a 4l80E.

__________________
1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

You'll need to fabricate TPS linkage for the 4L60 on the Isuzu engine to keep the shift points right.

__________________
1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

I'm not the guy to give you any advice on your project but I have an '84 Chevy G20 van with the 6.2 Detroit diesel and 4 speed manual transmission [yeah, rare as he!!] that gets 26-30 MPG consistantly and is very reliable. It's kinda like a 240 Mercedes with the 4 speed manual trans ~ night and day get up and go compared to the automatics.

Good luck!

It really doesn't pay to do these conversions today, because what you can buy is so much better than what you can build. If you want to build something unique, such as something with Detroit Diesel power, that's one thing, as is doing it for the learning experience. I built several vehicles in the '70's and '80's before you could buy them, but they would be overshadowed by the worst factory built efforts, save the early Chevy PU with the Olds LF9 diesel.

Check on the Isuzu for the starter location. It is located on the bell housing, not the engine. That's fine in a CO application, but may be a problem in your Suburban.

You can buy a good Suburbran Diesel for $5000. I doubt this one will reach $5000 - GMC : Suburban GMC : Suburban | eBay - and you can reclaim some purchase cost by selling the unused Frybrid kit if WVO isn't for you. There'll be enough to do sorting out a new used vehicle but I imagine it's more likely to be ready in time for the new child than a project you've yet to start. And sending out your wife and three kids in a truck you cobbled together? Think about that long and hard. I'd drive it myself for a couple of months before handing over the keys.

Is your wife tall? I'm not tall so getting child seats and children buckled in a 3/4-ton truck is a PITA and a half.

As for the computer, is there a 6.2 or early 6.5 IP that will simplify a 6.5 swap?

Sixto
87 300D

Yeah, a DB2 mechanical pump can be fitted. The turbo would also then need to be converted to a manual wastegate controller. Of all 4 6.2/6.5's I run, only 1 uses the later DS4 pump. I'm not impressed with it. Definitely inferior for WVO/WMO applications. It uses an optic window that samples how transparent the fuel is and will stop the engine if it decides the fuel is sub-par. I've had issues with it. But the older DB2 pumps are pretty solid.

__________________
1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

Yeah my wife is as tall as me. Currently she drive my f350 4x4 dually about 400 hp. She wants what she wants and that's a diesel suburban lol. I found a few Mercedes engine but that want way to much like 6k and that's way to much.
The Isuzu motor is my favorite at the moment. Yes the start does get in the way.if you look at that link the guy flips the started up side down. It actually comes out nice. Ill run a cummins turbo off of a 24v . My goal hear is over 25 mpg and win all the research I've done. Only thing that does it consistently is a Isuzu or cummins 4 cylinder.
Thanks for all the comments and ideas it really helps.

Ps sorry for spelling on my droid

have you ever thought about just getting a diesel Ford Excursion? they're like a Suburban... only better. you could get a nice one with a 7.3 PSD and be done with it. you've already got a Ford in the family so you know what you're getting into. if you don't want a computer under the hood you could still put a 12V Cummins in it. it would be a way more straight forward swap than some oddball motor that hardly got used compared to these. tons of sites out there like Destroked to get you started and lay everything out there in front of you.

I think your mpg figures are pretty lofty for the vehicle you'll be driving. some old 80's 'burbans got around the 25 mpg mark but other than hot rod diesels in magazines with phenomenal numbers there's very few full size trucks that get much above 20. a smaller engine will certainly be less thirsty than a big guy, but only to an extent. the smaller engine with small power numbers will have to work way harder to move such a big vehicle... and that's not counting the other problems that brings (bad drivability, possibly reliability).

don't put your eggs in a basket or take off your thinking cap just yet...

__________________
1981 300SD - 283,000 KM's at purchase, 360k+ now. Engine replaced at 311k. 16" CLK wheels, w126 gen II cosmetic upgrades, late w126 leather interior. RIP. Parted and gone due to fire

1987 300SDL - 243K miles and counting. In winter hibernation!

2001 Ford F250 Super Duty "Platinum Edition" Lariat 4x4 7.3L turbo diesel, 295k+ miles, various mods for reliability and performance.

Here you go - GMC : Suburban GMC : Suburban | eBay

Sixto
87 300D

Very nice I like!!

I would love an excursion but very exepensive. I got the sub for free!!