I have a 99 1500 4X4 with a 5.2L gasoline engine with about 117,000 miles. I was reading someone else's turbo diesel magazine, and they were saying diesels give you more bang for your gallon. So, I am now thinking of purchasing a diesel parts truck, and swapping powertrains. I am very mechanically proficient, so I am just wondering if it would be worth my while. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

You are better off selling your curent rig and finding a comparable 5.9 2500. The parts it would take to do this would be far more expensive than finding a truck already equipped with the "proper" power train...

 

The main question is are diesels much better than gassers? Diesels lack horsepower, but excel in torque, which is what our heavy trucks need. I also was told that you can lift it and it not impact your power as much as a gasser. They last forever, but almost need a specialist to rebuild them, right? I'm trying to find the pros and cons of both engines....

 

you would probably be better off rebuilding your 318, put on some goodies, including a supercharger or turbo setup and you would be out a lot less $$ than any other way. You won't get the same mileage or torque a diesel does, but who doesn't love a suped up gasser truck?...

 

Diesels can be modified to put out big numbers in horsepower and torque. And if maintained right can last a long, long time. Only problem with a diesel and 4 wheeling is the weight of the engine.

 

forget converting a 1500 into a 2500 diesel. waste of time and money. better to just sell the 1500 and buy a diesel.

pro's of diesel. more torque, better hauling and towing, better mpg, lasts longer.

con's. noisy, smelly. more maintenance required. requires bigger, heavier, and more expensive parts, including tires, brakes, shocks, gears, bearings, etc. sinks deeper into mudholes.

 

If you are going to work the truck hard hauling and towing weight then the diesel is the way to go. If it is a daily driver / grocery getter then the decision is not so clear cut. I did a little math with a customer a while ago and it was still cheaper to drive a diesel, fuel wise even though diesel is more expensive. I agree that you would probably be better off buying a 2500 with the diesel already in it. Along with engine and transmission, you would need a transfer case, springs, front and rear axles (complete with brakes), probably drive shafts, radiator, intercooler, trans cooler, these are all high dollar items. Good luck in your quest.

 

I wouldn't say the diesel lacks hp. I've got a 2001 that has 245hp/400lb tq and gets 19mpg hwy. Drove the father-in-law's Hemi and it didn't have any better get-up and only got 15mpg. Fuel may be a little more expensive but comes out about the same in the long run when you compar cost vs. milage.

 

Diesel's lack horsepower?? My 95 12V made 478HP and 993 FT/LB. I bought the truck for $4,000 and put about $6,000 into it, did most of the mechanical work myself, and I can whoop damn near anything I meet on the street. It's only a 2wd, so I don't know how capable it would be off road...hehe


Here are my specs: 95 12V 2500 auto ext cab long wheel base, 3rd gen wheels, 6 inch mitre cut stacks straight piped, schwitzer S300 turbo, removed silencer ring,#100 plate full forward, 3k gsk kit, triple pod guages, afc modded out, 16* timing, 370 marine injectors, twin banks systems, rebuilt tranny all HD and billet, AFE stage II intake, Big Country Grill guard with 8 ton military tow hooks,Line-x bed liner flip out DVD/CD player

 

Check it out, if you want to learn alot about diesel's and their inner workings and anything else, go to www.dieselram.com . Lots of great knowledgable guys and gals there, anything you wanna know about any year cummins you can find there.