6.2L Diesel in a J20

[The PIG Smith]

Originally posted by ohioj20:
Has anyone put a GM TH 700 in their FSJ? If so, what did you do about a gear selector? Did you use a different column, a floor shifter or somehow use the factory column?

As I read this thread of posts,
TH 700 Over Drive

I noticed that ohioj20's tagline read that his 1982 J20 was powered by a 6.2L Diesel
and his 1990 Grand Waggie is in the process of being converted to a 6.2L Diesel.

Not wanting to hijack that post, I've created this new post to publicly ask about your J20.

First, I've noticed you are a new member and one that lives in Ohio.
I wanted to Welcome you to our forum and the madness of the hobby of Full Sized Jeeps.
Where in Ohio do you live?

Now, about your J20 with the 6.2L Diesel.
How do you like it?
Does it have enough power for you?
Does it do well towing?

What things about your conversion did you learn that you could pass on to the rest of us.
Meaning: What things would you do different, do better, not do at all.

Did you make your own engine mounts or did you use some type of Small Block Chevy Mounting Kit?

Was the wiring hard to figure out?
I'm sure you had globs of wires left over from the 360.
(unless you have one of the ultra rare, never seen in public, diesel with has spark plugs! HAHAHA)

I also take from your other post that you used a TH400 tranny and thus is the reason you were asking about a TH700R4.
Did you make the '82 transmission crossmember work or did you get one from an earlier rig that original came with a TH400?

What transfercase did you use?
Did you have to get custom driveshaft built?
Any shifter problems?

In a friendly, hoping you'll understand kind of way and not trying to be nosy, but was your conversion costly?
Rather, now that you have completed the conversation and are out the other side, was it economical to convert from a gas 360 to a 6.2L diesel?

I have more question, but I better stop now.
Thank You for your time.

[scotty]

i dont have any of these answers for you,but am curious to see them as well,as i have a 6.5 diesel with a banks turbo to go into my 68 c30. not a FSJ swap,but still a swap into an older,gas engine equipped rig. i didnt keep much of the wiring harnes from the donor,as im told that the 62 and early 6.5s are mostly mechanical,with little computer controls. ive done plenty of engine and axle swaps,but am alittle confused about how to wire up the diesel and ger 'er runnin [img]smile.gif[/img]

ohioj20,what part of ohio are ya in? im in dayton,ohio,and looking forward to your answers. maybe i can buy you lunch sometime and pick your brain about diesel swaps

[ February 20, 2005, 07:57 AM: Message edited by: scotty ]

[The PIG Smith]

Scotty, if you and ohioj20 set up some kind of a dinner, I would enjoy it very much if I could tag along.

I've got a zillion questions about putting a 6.2 or 6.5T in a older rig.
I've been surfing/lurking over at the The Diesel Page's forum to learn all I can about 6.2 and 6.5T diesels.

[scotty]

Originally posted by The PIG Smith:
Scotty, if you and ohioj20 set up some kind of a dinner, I would enjoy it very much if I could tag along.

sounds good to me.

im building a 68 c30 to use for a new tow rig.im building a gooseneck trailer big enuff to haul 2 of our rigs to the trails,and i know i can never afford to haul all that around with a gas engine

ive always loved diesels,just dont know that much about em yet

[Nate]

Hello! add yet another name to the "Ohioans interested in a 6.2 Diesel into a FSJ" list. I didn't know there was so many of us! I would love to swap a 6.2 into the wifes 88 GW but I have A LOT of questions. If you can find someone who is willing to share info I would love to get in on it.

[HARDCORE pacer]

I thought the older 6.2 used the nailhead or bop bell housing pattern is this true (would simplify a lot of things). Another interested party.

[The PIG Smith]

Nate, I am not from Ohio, but Fort Wayne, Indiana is less than 20 miles from the IN-OH border.
I sure hope that I can join the "Ohioans interested in a 6.2 Diesel into a FSJ"
<just kidding>

Putting a 6.2/6.5T in a FSJ is something I have thought about for quite sometime now.

I sure hope all three of us, Scotty, you and myself can hook up with ohioj20.

My Offering: I will pay for dinner (food only, I will not pay for alcohol) for ALL of us,
if we can setup a meeting sometime that ohioj20 can share with us his secrets! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ohioj20]

Alright guys!! I'm in NE Ohio, close to Akron. The J20 got her 6.2 two years ago. It came from a 1984 GMC Van. It had the TH 700 tranny, but I didn't have the money to buy an adaptor for it to my t-case.

Alright, we removed all the electrical wiring that was for the engine, glow plug wiring, wait to start light, water in fuel light, etc. I also used the motor mounts, but had to make new frame mounts to put on the J20. We used the ignition wiring for the J20. Oh, took out the glow plug relay also. Wiring wasn't that bad, and no polution crap to worry about. The motor fits in snug around the heater box and the brake booster. We did use the Jeep brakes, as GMC uses hydrulics for brakes, but wouldn't hurt to have a belt driven vaccuum pump as well as the gear driven one.

Now, the 6.2 has the same bellhousing as a Chevy 350, as for the bellhousing a bought from a bone yard was for a 350. Now, we had to get an 1/4" steel plate to make our own adaptor for the bellhousing and the T-18. Luckily my cousin is a true machinist. So, that saved the money from Advance Adaptors, which want $300 for the same thing.

The great thing is, I can access the glow plugs from inside the fender, and it is ALOT easier than changing spark plugs from a AMC 360!!

As for how I like it. I LOVE it when it is above 45 degrees out! If you don't plug it in when it gets colder, it is a pain to start. Also, you don't have the room for the two batteries GMC uses. Need to get the biggest cranker you can squeeze in there.

I also had to use the van's filler nozzle, or you couldn't fill the truck up with the stock jeep nozzle. I also had to cut out the area into the tank, to allow a bigger pipe to go in(diesel foams when filling). Another perk, I put in the van's 30 gallon tank where my spare tire goes, so I now have 48 gallons at 22 MPG, you do the math!

Towing: It doesn't take off like some madden woman, but tows great. It did get hot on a real long grade, but didn't over heat. I also used the stock AMC 3 core on it, just had to get the ports changed. I would recommend a 4 core, that is what I have for the GW. I also bought an electric exillery fan to use to prevent that on the J20. The gearing in the J20 and the T-18 is perfect for a 6.2 I will get pictures of the set up soon, the J20 is covered up for the Winter so Ohio Salt doesn't eat her up!

Now, the GW is a work in progress, I have the motor, but I am currently in the process of body work and paint. My plan is to use the TH 700 from the van, but I got a TH 400 that came with the Suburban for the GW. My only concern is the weight of the motor on the front axle of the GW.

Now, if I left anything out, let me know or feel free to ask more! E-mail me if you want at piakp@yahoo.com

[ohioj20]

I forgot to add, my dad is putting a 6.2 in his 87 GW, so by the end of his, we should be "experts"!! Or nutty FSJ freaks!

[ohioj20]

****, I forget things!! My original plan was to use a Cummins 4BTA 3.9 L, but they are too tall for a FSJ and still heavier than a 6.2

Also, I would LOVE to put a BANKS in it, but since they didn't put a 6.2 in FSJ, BANKS can't guruantee the fit or how to make it fit.

You asked if I could do it over, I would, I would also to love to have had a Non turbo 6.5, but I got these two 6.2's off of my cousin dirt cheap. $400 for the 84 and $500 for the 85

Don't know if this matters, but have a 3" lift I'm putting on the 90 GW.

So, if you live in the NE Ohio area and want to see the set up, let me know.

[ohioj20]

One more! Was it economical? I can say yes, only because I got the diesel cheap and I didn't have to spend money on an adaptor. I only had to buy a new glow plug controller and glow plugs, K&N air filter. Also, the AMC got 10 MPG, the 6.2 gets 22 MPG on the highway and hell, it got 14 MPG towing, a lot better than the AMC did empty!!!

Now, the GW, I'll have to buy an adaptor, $400, I got new controller and glow plugs, plus I may get a floor shifter for it. It will cost me more for the GW, but still worth it. If I get 22 mpg or better, it is worth it. Your talking longer miles between oil changes, better fuel milage, better towing, and fuel prices tend to be consistant.

[The PIG Smith]

Thanx for the reply, ohioj20!
You have accomplished only what I've dreamed about.

I would very much like to see your rig.
I hope you can make the 2005 Midwest FSJ Gathering.
It will be in August at Silver Lakes, Michigan.

2005 Midwest FSJ Gathering

Also, maybe in this summer, we could get to together, like in Columbus, Ohio and have dinner.
This is so few of us (Scotty, AMC Crazy and myself) could examine your rig and get ideas for our own 6.2/6.5 Diesel conversion.

[ohioj20]

I think we could do a meet half-way in the summer. I have my summers off, a perk of being a teache! keep in touch.

[scotty]

Originally posted by The PIG Smith:


Also, maybe in this summer, we could get to together, like in Columbus, Ohio and have dinner.
This is so few of us (Scotty, AMC Crazy and myself) could examine your rig and get ideas for our own 6.2/6.5 Diesel conversion.

yup,that works for me. im prolly half way between you and colubus if you come straigt across 70,so we could carpool from here if you want [img]smile.gif[/img]

sounds like a good time to me

[HARDCORE pacer]

Sorry guys I am not from ohio It would be a little bit of a drive for me!! But I am still interested in the info. I just looked locally and found a guy with a 84 6.2 4x4 2500 auto(did they ever come std ) for $1200.