05-27-2022, 09:06 AM
Racer X wrote:
[quote=AllGold]
[quote=Racer X]
[quote=cbelt3]
Diesel engines last a lot longer than gasoline engines and torque is awesome….
absolutely true, except the Olds 350 diesel. The stoutest gasoline engine Oldsmobile ever made.
Was that like the early GM turbocharged engines?
No, the turbo motors were Buick V-6 231 motors. Once they went computer controlled and fuel injected, they were awesome. So much so the 20th Anniversary Pontiac Trans Am was Buick powered. I've met one of the principle design engineers for the turbo team, Dennis Manner, a number of times. It was a great loss to the automotive community when he passed.
The original GM 350 diesel was a barely redesigned Olds 350 gas motor built as a diesel. Horribly under engineered as a diesel. HOWEVER, if you converted it back into a gas engine and used Olds 403 heads, and a crank from an Olds 425, it was unbelievably indestructable.
Interesting! Long ago I wondered if the conversion was doable given what a disaster the Diesel version turned out to be. But most of the cars were junked before my interest peaked.
I was getting my first tractor overhauled at Cummins back in the mid-70’s and there was an Olds getting a Cummins installed. It was to be used by a Cummins regional rep. On a much later visit I asked how it all worked out and the mechanic said it was a disaster as nothing was a proper match for the 6 cylinder engine.