Looking into buying 84 Scottsdale 6.2 diesel

[dman1049]

Buddy at works had it parked for 2 years. He was going to sell if for scrap. He says no major dents. He is the original owner. I have yet to see the truck but will before I make my $ offer. Says it has almost new all terrain tires that are bigger than stock. The only issue hes had is the auto
trans has been rebuilt twice due to it warping the bands. Its completely stock. Says 2/3 miles put on the truck were high way and in over drive. Ill get it as intention to use as a play truck. My issue is its 2wd so how hard is it to convet to 4wd or would it just be better to drop the truck? If the truck is as good as he says its is and runs good not to many miles how much should I spend? He wants $500-$1000 for it. Hes looking into blue book and mileage and is going to get back to me for final price.

[6.5 Detroit TD]

Not sure, but I think these are really hard to convert to a 4wd. Probably not really worth it for you.

Price sounds about right tho. You will get really good mileage numbers out of this truck if it's running right

[Koots]

A 2WD truck with a nice drop, running straight coupled with a healthy 6.2L would get you incredible MPG numbers for a full size truck.
Maintenance on these engines can get expensive, but the asking price seems right if the truck runs as good as he says.

I wouldn't try and turn it into a 4WD, i'm sure the truck would make a much better DD or cruiser than anything else.

[FordeatinZ71]

if you are looking for something to turn into 4wd, you're much better off finding a 4wd to begin with. by the time you put $500/1000 into this with the purchase price, fix whatever it's GONNA need from sitting so long and then go through the crap to turn it into a 4wd (it's not that hard, but you'll wanna beef a lot of things up to make it a real reliable wheeler) it's really not gonna be worth it. also, with the stock 6.2, you're not gonna have a really strong wheeler anyhow, with decent tires (35's or so) you'll have to run at least a 4.56 gear to get ANY kind of "power" out of it. the 6.2 diesels weren't meant for power, they were meant for fuel mileage. most people who have 6.2 diesels in a 4wd end up trading them out for gas motors when they blow/give significant trouble because they are more expensive to repair and have less power than even most stock 350s. and if you're gonna do that, why pay $500/1000 to start off with a truck you're gonna change everything on? if you look hard enough, you can find a 4wd gasser K10/20 for $1500-2000 which isn't all that much more for a truck you'll be so much further ahead on. now, as a cruiser (kept a 2wd), that truck would be the cat's vagina. it would get great fuel mileage and wouldn't need to have buttloads of power. i'd get it, lower it, make it nice looking and cruise that bad boy!

just my $.02...good luck!

[Koots]

With my ultra stock 6.2L/700R4 and 3.42 gears, i used my truck to pull a good few larger and heavier vehicles out of some bad places. I've been overtaken by Geo Metros before but that doesn't bother me. Even with all the trouble it's given me lately, i still wouldn't trade this engine for any equivalent SBC. Only LSX can make me swap away the diesel (or another diesel :rocking:) I just don't think the extra "power" is worth the extra mileage. I doubt any SBC could get 16MPG pulling 35" KM2's and running the ****ty gears i have.

The issue with these trucks and offroading is...wheelspin. They just don't make the HP like a gasser and just can't spin/clean the tires like most would want.
Most are also going around with old injectors, old injection pumps, dead lift pump, which is like driving around with a bad distributor, plugs, plug wires, ECU, CTS, O2 sensors and fuel filter and fuel pump on a gasser.

Not to say you are wrong Sr.FordeatinZ71, just some info to go with what you are saying.

[FordeatinZ71]

oh no, let me clarify. I wasn't intentionally dogging the 6.2. it will work in an off road vehicle (hell, look at the military vehicles that used it) its just not an ideal engine for the job. and pretty much any 6.2 owner will agree to that.

[Koots]

It's not exactly the best playtoy motor, that is correct. Great DD, light duty work motor but not powering a fun truck.

[FordeatinZ71]

that's all i was saying! BTW, Koots...the K5 is looking GOOOOD!

[grayblazer]

I've owned a 6.2 powered K5 since '94 and it's been a dedicated trail rig for going on 10 years now (1-ton, lockers, 40" tires). I'm sure the pump and injectors could stand to be freshened up but with the addition of a gasket matched single plane J-code intake and slight turned up pump it does really good on the trails...90% of the time. Crawling is great, and the fuel injection type running on hills and off cambers with no electronics is also great. But as mentioned above there are times where something capable of more wheelspeed would be great, mainly on slick hillclimbs. I regularly wheel with all different types of rigs from stock-ish Samurais to full size longbed trucks with 42's and built big-blocks. I would say the 6.2 falls somewhere in the middle in regards to power/wheelspeed.

[Koots]

that's all i was saying! BTW, Koots...the K5 is looking GOOOOD!

teh internetz makes it hard to not sound defensive sometimes :lol:

Thanks, but she is was dead all summer with a bad injection pump. Finally got my new one refreshed and put back in and running...3 hours later i blow the transmission (lost OD and burned the hell out of my new ATF)

[FordeatinZ71]

daaaaaamn that sucks bud! but you'll get her back going. I love those K5s...wish I still had mine...

but I can relate. when I first got on this site, I had an 89 z71 with 33's and no lift. I blew the spider gears out of the rear end doing <cough>doughnuts in gravel<cough> and replaced it with a Powertrax Lock-Right...next day the transmission blew...

[Koots]

I've been thinking of going TH350 or finding another 700R4 (i've got a lead on a free one) and finding a good priced rebuild kit or something and go from there.

It's all a process, i guess :aniteef:

[FordeatinZ71]

well, there are tons of rebuild kits out there that will make that 700R4 bulletproof...i'd go that route so you retain OD

[k10alimcfw]

Does anyone have information or links on the 6.2 diesel? It isn't event listed on the wiki

[FordeatinZ71]

ok, i could tell you buttloads of info on the 6.2 weasel, but that would take a lot of typing and i'm busy applying Nair to my cat. so, here's a few links. the first one is the Wiki page that i honestly am posting to be a smart ass (sorry, it was the first thing that popped up when i googled "6.2 diesel" so i had to)

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Diesel_V8_engine

this next site is pretty much one of the "best" sites for the 6.2 diesel...

www.thedieselpage.com

those should get you about all you need to know. welcome aboard!

[Koots]

well, there are tons of rebuild kits out there that will make that 700R4 bulletproof...i'd go that route so you retain OD

I ended spending money on the th350. With my high gearing, I never got into OD very often anyway. It's one less gear to blow and one less thing to worry about.

[FordeatinZ71]

i hear ya bud. if it suits your needs then that's all you gotta worry about. and i'm sure it was a good bit cheaper although 700R4's and 4L60E's are a lot cheaper to build nowadays

[Koots]

Excluding all the diesel specific items I purchased (new Converter, mechanical modulator, governor adjustment kit and some tools) I only paid in just under $700 on it in parts. So I'm apparently good for up to 600HP and around the same TQ.

[Koots]

Just noticed you got a 98 4.3L. Have you gotten rid of the vortec silencer box yet?

I had some bad power loss issues when I did mine and it actually ran better afterwards...which means it did enough to help a poorly maintained engine breathe better.

[k10alimcfw]

i hear ya bud. if it suits your needs then that's all you gotta worry about. and i'm sure it was a good bit cheaper although 700R4's and 4L60E's are a lot cheaper to build nowadays

Thank you! I have to justify my question with the fact that the engine is not described in the Chevy C/K wiki page here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_C/K

I am specifically looking for information on the 6.2 diesel scottsdale stepside 84 which is how i stumbled upon this thread. I figured it was a special scenario.

Also I would not assume that only one 6.2 diesel engine exists! A generic search for 6.2 diesel would not cross my mind :)

I fear I will be a regular in this forum--sorry for hijacking the your thread, dman1049

[FordeatinZ71]

don't fear it man! welcome aboard, grab a beer and a bucket and come sit around the fire. the 6.2 diesel was available in the 1/2 ton 2wd trucks (was popular in them actually for their superior-at the time-fuel economy) and yes you could get it in a shortbed as well as a longbed...stepside and fleetside. although i will say you don't see it in many shortbeds and i honestly don't think i've ever seen it in a stepside...but i know it was a possible option.

[k10alimcfw]

don't fear it man! welcome aboard, grab a beer and a bucket and come sit around the fire. the 6.2 diesel was available in the 1/2 ton 2wd trucks (was popular in them actually for their superior-at the time-fuel economy) and yes you could get it in a shortbed as well as a longbed...stepside and fleetside. although i will say you don't see it in many shortbeds and i honestly don't think i've ever seen it in a stepside...but i know it was a possible option.

Awesome, thank you.

The scenario that I have is a K10-All Wheel Drive, stepside, 6.2. It is fairly unique apparently. I would post pics but I must wait until I reach 5 posts lol. I have gotten underneath it and confirmed the AWD transfer, etc and it is the diesel engine. Its been sitting for about 6 years so I am droppin the tanks first thing here and moving forward with getting it running. Any tips are appreciated.

Beer all around on me!

(I will start a new thread!)

[FordeatinZ71]

well, you mean 4wd right? in your year you should have the NP 208 t-case (should be a little round metal tag on the back with red trim to confirm this) which is a chain-driven, aluminum-bodied, part-time case...otherwise it sounds like a really nice truck. post pics when you can...

[Koots]

6.2 diesels are solid engines with a bad reputation. Most were problems that are easily solved with some carefully spent money and carefully selected parts.

[FordeatinZ71]

they are reliable. and got good fuel mileage. but were gutless.

[Koots]

they are reliable. and got good fuel mileage. but were gutless.

Depends on the truck you are driving. Just because a 6.2 idles and drives without issue doesn't mean it's working as it should. My IP idled like a kitten compared to most diesels, but it was in such a bad state it was like a gasser driving with bad cap/rotor/plugs/plug wires and the timing off.

Te difference between m old IP and my "new" IP is like night and day. I definitely can't call it gutless...just because it doesn't have HP doesn't make it weak. A gas engine may have more HP and more acceleration, doesn't mean it's got the balls of a diesel. See how any run of the mill 305 from 82+ would handle against it. I'm sure the 305 will get you ere faster but it doesn't mean it's got more "guts"

Lots of these old 6.2s are running around with weak IPs and because they don't act up to show signs of slow death, every one just thinks its how the engines were. Not trying to sound like an ass or that you are wrong...just got to clarify that not all of there bad image is true.

[Koots]

they are reliable. and got good fuel mileage. but were gutless.

Depends on the truck you are driving. Just because a 6.2 idles and drives without issue doesn't mean it's working as it should. My IP idled like a kitten compared to most diesels, but it was in such a bad state it was like a gasser driving with bad cap/rotor/plugs/plug wires and the timing off.

Te difference between m old IP and my "new" IP is like night and day. I definitely can't call it gutless...just because it doesn't have HP doesn't make it weak. A gas engine may have more HP and more acceleration, doesn't mean it's got the balls of a diesel. See how any run of the mill 305 from 82+ would handle against it. I'm sure the 305 will get you ere faster but it doesn't mean it's got more "guts"

Lots of these old 6.2s are running around with weak IPs and because they don't act up to show signs of slow death, every one just thinks its how the engines were. Not trying to sound like an ass or that you are wrong...just got to clarify that not all of there bad image is true.

[FordeatinZ71]

well, i don't know. i only messed with em 7 years or so...

[k10alimcfw]

4WD/AWD There is a difference?

I know it was mentioned that the rear transfer case was not stock. I can not say what it is right now but I know its an upgrade.

I am a FWD car noob. My knowledge extends to assembling a 4G63 engine from ground up. This truck seems like a lot of work and knowledge is needed. Pretty excited and exciting reading your posts.

What is "IP"?

Does the 6.2 suffer from the deadly pin issue on the front of the engine?

[FordeatinZ71]

yes, there's a difference. AWD means the vehicle stays in "4wd". meaning, there's a viscous coupling (or differential) in the transfer case that balances power front to rear normally close to a 50/50 split but fluctuating power as needed.

part-time 4wd usually involves a 2 speed transfer case which has 4 wheel hi range and 4 wheel lo range. high range is for higher speed 4wd operation...the truck will have the same gear reduction as it does in 2wd, just will have power transmitted to the front. lo range reduces gearing even more, giving you more torque multiplied at the wheels. the truck will usually top out at 35-40 (and you won't feel real good about how high the engine is revving to go 40 or so). the part-time part refers to the ability to put the transfer case into 2Hi. this will just transfer power to the rear. with the older trucks with locking hubs, you also have 2Lo. all you have to do is put it in 4Lo and not lock the hubs. helps when you need the gear reduction but need to manuever. ever tried to do a sharp curve in 4wd? especially on a hard-packed surface? you're in for a treat. try not to poop yourself.

[k10alimcfw]

You're full of great information, and your time is appreciated. These are tiny pieces of information that I took for granted and misinterpreted for a long while.

Definitely a difference from a "4x4" in an escape and what was just described. I have yet to poop my pants attempting this! haha


yes, there's a difference. AWD means the vehicle stays in "4wd". meaning, there's a viscous coupling (or differential) in the transfer case that balances power front to rear normally close to a 50/50 split but fluctuating power as needed.

part-time 4wd usually involves a 2 speed transfer case which has 4 wheel hi range and 4 wheel lo range. high range is for higher speed 4wd operation...the truck will have the same gear reduction as it does in 2wd, just will have power transmitted to the front. lo range reduces gearing even more, giving you more torque multiplied at the wheels. the truck will usually top out at 35-40 (and you won't feel real good about how high the engine is revving to go 40 or so). the part-time part refers to the ability to put the transfer case into 2Hi. this will just transfer power to the rear. with the older trucks with locking hubs, you also have 2Lo. all you have to do is put it in 4Lo and not lock the hubs. helps when you need the gear reduction but need to manuever. ever tried to do a sharp curve in 4wd? especially on a hard-packed surface? you're in for a treat. try not to poop yourself.

[Koots]

well, i don't know. i only messed with em 7 years or so...

Eye of the beholder!

We can chalk it up to that :cheer:

[FordeatinZ71]

lol sorry if i came off as a prick last night Koots...i was frustrated and drinking.

[Koots]

That's what the :cheer: is for :D

I got all sooky and defensive. I'm battling a vicious cold that has made me very irritable. So it was I who started it.

[FordeatinZ71]

lol it's cool bud...i've always respected ya and didn't wanna have any hard feelings...

[1993-Sierra-Z71]

my '85 M1008 is for sale. look for my " sad day " post

[Koots]

I wish I lived near anywhere I could get a M1008 or any of the other CUCVs.