Wow this is cool I have been a member here for most of a year and just now noticed another forum I am interested in.
We recently retrieved my wife's Pup with a loud knock in the four banger gas engine. With our newfound interest in biodiesel we are considering converting the truck to diesel. Don't laugh, I actually did a conversion in the other direction several years ago. Now that I have established that I am nuts, can you tell me what cars and engines to look for that will most easily fit in under the hood?
Brian Rodgers

I'd go for an Isuzu diesel. Great engines, available as imports and will likely be a bolt-in job. See the isuzu diesel forum at www.4x4wire.com, lots of knowledgeable people there. I'm also converting an isuzu to diesel, details at www.dieseltrooper.blogspot.com

Fantastic, thank you.
My wife will be so happy if I can put her Lil'Pup back on the road. To convert it to diesel will really be awesome.
Brian Rodgers

The early '80's gas p'up is easy to convert to diesel. There is a guy I know in Florida that is buying 1980 model gas burners and converting them to Diesel. His address is: freedomat2000@yahoo.com

i just wanted to tell you i am in the processe of changing my 88 isuzu to a diesel. it alot of work and im hopeing to get close to 40 to 50 miles to the gallon . i would be glad to help with what it takes just shoot me a email

Yes, please tell me how to convert my 3.2 liter gas engine to become a diesel. Not talking about installing a diesel engine but changing my gas engine to diesel, can it be done?

Ah, no.

quote:

Originally posted by royalosiodhachain:
Yes, please tell me how to convert my 3.2 liter gas engine to become a diesel. Not talking about installing a diesel engine but changing my gas engine to diesel, can it be done?

Uhhh

I think you need to do a lot of research before asking that question.

I did see a diagram showing a Model A Ford that had a diesel intake line wrapped around the exhaust pipe/manifold for pre-heating, then into the carburetor. Apparently it would allow switching from gasoline to Diesel once the engine got hot. And, someone commented that something similar was done with some older tractors. You'd just have to make sure they got very hot before switching from gasoline to Diesel.

Most gasoline engines are made to run at about an 8:1 compression ration (max).
Most diesel engines are made to run at about twice that... say 16:1 to 22:1.

See Wikipedia about high-octane racing gasoline/alcohol engines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compression_ratio

Older Chevy Diesels were supposed to have shared a common block between the Gas and Diesel engines, but were supposed to have troubles with the head bolts coming loose. Apparently that was fixed years ago. But, it is a sign of the differences between gasoline and diesel engines.

Turbos are discouraged on many of the older, small gasoline engines for similar reasons.

The Diesels usually have more piston rings. Different top of the pistons and head design.

Other than the special case of preheated fuel above, a carburetor is useless in a Diesel. It must have direct cylinder injection.

Many of the older gasoline cars had intake manifold injection, which wouldn't be sufficient.

I suppose if you have an overhead cam gasoline engine, you could redo the timing belt to allow adding a timing belt driven injection pump.

Anyway, if you have a very sturdy built direct cylinder injected gasoline engine with a turbo.... perhaps you could convert it to a Diesel, especially if there is a very similar diesel engine on the market like some of the VW 4-cylinder gas & diesel engines.

But, I'm guessing the conversion will be expensive, and not particularly robust when you finish.