Still Looking for a Project Vehicle for next summer.

GMC_BowHunter · 10-14-2009, 12:09 PM

I have been looking at just something tough and something I can beat around.

I am seeing some old diesels from time to time that look fun.

I was wondering what older diesel engines are realiable and easy to work on?

One thing I worry about is I have never messed with a diesel only gasoline engines and I would hate to buy an older one and not be able to do any work on it. What's the learning curve like working with diesels when you only know gas engines?

Z71-Off Road · 10-26-2009, 07:32 PM

The older 6.2 Chevy diesels were pretty solid. Sure they werent powerhouses, but they're dead reliable.

crossy's son · 10-30-2009, 10:37 PM

You didn't say anything about it having to be a GM.

So my vote is 89-93 "1st generation" dodge cummins.....$100 and some tweaking of screws and such and you got 250Hp......they RUN their ass off with a few tweaks and get 20+ mpg. Fun as hell to drive, and stupid reliable. and the trucks aren't that bad either.

heres a few pics of ours, we have 4 currently

that one ran a 16.2 in the 1/4 mile with a a few free tweaks on the injection pump...

this one has a 5 speed manual! you don't lose any power becuase of a stupid torque converter. the 5spd trucks w/cummins get stupid MPG on the highway, as long as they have the 3.54 rear.

Heres a local get-together of us and our 1st gen buddies....

ALL the 4x4 1st gen cummins trucks have D60 fronts and D70 rears w/Dana powr-lok if it has a limited slip. 3.54 and 4.10 gears were offered and 3.07 was standard if you got the 3spd auto (89-91 only)

we recently just bought this one for $1500...has 350k miles on it and runs like a top-

5 speed getrag !!! funner to drive than an auto

basic interior ^^ non LE (Le is like a dodge silverado)

Hers a 90 2wd, all redone, buddies' truck

buddies truck....... 6" lift, 36's . 5 speed. around 350hp. 80hp injectors/turbo/pump tweaks

Heres what the extended cabs look like, this truck was a 93 4x4 cummins,

Hers the Top of the line LE interiors in them
grey bench-

tan buckets w/factory tach! rare-

heres a pic of the brain of the beast--(injection pump). its a Bosch VE on 89-93 1st gen trucks. very tweakable and fun to play with

just look on craigslist, type in "dodge diesel" or "cummins" and type in "CUMMINGS" as a "retard search"

put in max price of whatever you wanna spend...the 4x4 trucks are tanks. 2wd trucks are light weight compared to newer diesel trucks and will go fast for 1/2 the power and price.

GM Guy 1 · 10-30-2009, 11:46 PM

don't tell him that!

first gens are already expensive, at least around here and in idaho, where people know what they are. I am amazed one, by that get together, never seen that many together, and two, how you can get decent ones for cheap.

I would still go for a 6.2L half ton, excellent cruising rig with the 1/2 ton springs. nice soft ride.

crossy's son · 10-31-2009, 10:04 AM

Yea there was 2 trucks missing in that picture that are usually with the club...and thats just in the pennsylvania chaper on www.dieseltruckresource.com << best site for 1st gen cummins.

they're cheap around me, the bodies rust out and the engine/trans keeps going. he wants a project vehicle so i say find one all beat up, restore the body and in the meantime, make it a sleeper and blow the doors off newer trucks

crossy's son · 10-31-2009, 10:14 AM

heres a good one in oklahoma city, 5 speed cummins and you get a parts truck with a nice body
http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/cto/1417834903.html

Here's another- 5 speed, cummins, 1991
http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/cto/1417759398.html

dang theres some cheap ones down in OK!!!! and they're probably all rust free too