What Does Everyone Think About A Diesel Hotrod? Comments, Pictures, Info Running Biodiesel Would Make The Hobby More Afordable
diesel? heard of a couple successful applications... but... a bunch of people here are switching to Ethanol.... 105 octane from the pump for cheap...and you smell like popcorn everywhere you go!
I thought about a diesel in a early 60's pickup. Talked to my brother about this and now he's thinking about putting the rebuilt 6.2/OD in his 65 Chevrolet.
Audi just spent a couple years kicking everybody's ass in the ALMS sportcar series here in America, and overseas in road racing (including Le Mans) with a diesel racer. Nobody's laughing about diesel hot rods over there.
i think cummins has a 4cylinder turbo diesel that was used in box trucks that would probably work. if fact i have seen them in jeeps. don't know if this helps
I always thought the 4 Cyl scummins was an 'industial' engine (ie. never sold by Cummins for a road going vehicle). I have seen articles where it has been adapted to road going vehicles (Jeeps mostly). I've always heard they were expensive (to buy or buy parts for). If you want a small turbo diesel for relatively cheap, look for an older wrecked Isuzu NPR box van. It should have a 3.9L diesel with a T-25 turbo on it. It's not the prettiest, or the quietest (sounds kinda like a cross between a turbo diesel 4 and a model T 4), but it definetly drags our over 10K Lb rated (gota stop at the scales) NPR down the road fine. Just make sure if you run in a warmer climate (I'm from Alaska) you add charge air cooling for this little beast. It runs great from October to April, but as the ambient temp rises, it loses it's punch. We got 18MPG best in it, but that's dragging something through the air that's as big as my garage door (for frontal area) and towing a trailer too.
Here in S.E. Mich diesel is pretty pricey...$3.69/gal. How can that be more economical? Do you plan to get like 50mpg? Maybe an old VW Rabbit motor but that'd hardly be a hot rod. Am I missing something?
Oh yeah, my neighbor has a 58 powerwagon with a Izusu turbo-D. Its a 1 ton 4x4 with a 9 foot stepside, a huge beast. Runs like a champ, and he drives it all over. Last year on the way back from "Stray Kat 500", I passed him, way up in OK. Now he is building a 4x4 59 Powerwagon with duals front and rear! It getting a Hemi though, no oil burner.
Biodiesel .70 Cents A Gallon Out Of Your Own Shop Isn't That The Way This All Started Run Whatever's Cheapest
The Cummins 4bt was used in a lot of box vans, and was buit with a bolt pattern to match up to Chevy transmission, because this engine was often used to replace the worthless 6.5 turbo diesel when they wore out... good engines...
I think the first diesel Indy car was in 1931. It was the first car ever to complete the race without a pit stop. I really like the 1952 Cummin's Special. It even won the pole that year.
Some UPS and DHL type vans use a Cummins 4BT, which can be turned up to 400 ft-lbs of torque, or enough to turn a Model A frame into a steel pretzel. Guys have been putting these in Blazers and even with big tires and the HP cranked up, pulling 30 MPG with them. They're made with adapters to run Chevy-pattern auto trans (usually 4L80E in the trucks) or a manual that's sourced from Ford. A diesel is most efficient on flat land at close to sea level, but drops like a rock on steep grades. The other option is the 4BDIT Isuzu; one example in a K5 Blazer with a 5-speed OD trans, pulling 32 MPG highway and 24 in town. These engines are rated to have a service life of 310,000 miles and are smaller than the Cummins. I believe you need to use their trans with it. The only issues with them are weight, they're heavier than the typical small block, and all are expensive and would just about require buying a truck to get the motor. Now Diesel is around the same price as 93 octane on the average - here, now, around 3.59-3.69 a gallon. But if your gas motor gets 15 MPG and you put in one of these and get 30, the math isn't hard to figure out.
i know it's pricey but try this http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/10/willies-willy-700-ponies-of-pure-unadulterated-biodiesel/
Don't know if hot rod applies but here is a cummings turbo 4 in a 49 Studebaker Pickup, on chevy 2wd pick up frame.
Okay, since I work in an audi shop I have to share this video of the R10. Personally I think it's really neat vid, and how cool would a lightweight 3.5 liter twin turbo diesel be in a rod?!? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfS32l92MFs
My daily 5.9L Cummins is great and they last forever. Getting 20 - 21 mpg in a one ton truck is not bad at all. Put it in something that weighs less than half and the mpg's have to go way up. CN
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