5.7 diesel

[2500HD-454]

I have a 5.7 diesel in the shed and was wondering if anyone thought it would be worth rebuilding or where I can find parts? I as thinking of building a custom intake, headers,  opening up the heads a little, and maybe adding a turbo. Any info appreciated.

[VileZambonie]

Honestly, you'll get no love for the 5.7L Diesel from most unless someone is looking to restore their truck back to stock. It would be a lot better to build a 6.5L Diesel IMO

[werewolfx13]

5.7 diesel is an absolute JUNK motor. Like Vile said, unless somone is trying to restore their truck to original, its not worth doing anything but making a boat anchor out of. A 6.5 would be the best choice, 6.2 would be OK, though a 350 gas engine would still make more power, and the mileage wouldn't really be much benefit unless you're running atleast 50% biodiesel. A 6.5 would be worth it on pump diesel alone I think.

The reason the 350 diesel is junk, is because it was never designed for any load. It was for passenger transportation only. Not only was it gutless and got pretty lousy mileage, but it was VERY unreliable, being prone to major break downs (cylinder walls would wear quickly resulting in thrown rods, high exhaust heat would crack the heads very easily), and numerous other less severe but common problems. The engine is an oldsmobile 350 converted to diesel, they were used in some trucks, all diesel cadillacs, and diesel oldsmobiles. My grandfather's truck was a 350 diesel, threw a rod before it hit the 80k mile mark..when I was in boy scouts, one of the older kids had a diesel cadillac. They swapped the heads out 4 times between 67k miles and ~90k miles, when it was retired because it shoved a rod through the side of the oil pan.

[Fordeatinz71]

it works pretty well as an emergency brake or a winter-time traction device...

[werewolfx13]

That too..

[Dragon]

As a Diesel engine, yeah their pretty much better used as a boat anchor.  The funny thing is, if you convert it back to a Gas engine, you could build a pretty stout Race Motor from it....
Some good reading if you are interested:
http://www.mondellotwister.com/ArtStroker440.htm

[werewolfx13]

That was interesting..its hard to believe that you can pull off a 454ci stroker small block for drag race applications. 

[Fordeatinz71]

yep, the 'ol 350 is a VER-SA-TILE engine.  heck, with today's technology, i bet it could even be a kick@$$ diesel if it was attempted again...

[ssgoodman]

i had one in an 83 oldsmobubble cutlass, used to get about 30 mpg driving back and forth to college.  it was great until the heads cracked around 85k.  the car was 16 years old at the time.

Sutton

[Fordeatinz71]

yep, they did great on fuel...but heads/block cracking was a HUGE problem with them...i still think those old cars are pretty cool...friend of mine's parents had a '84 (i think) Cutlass Ciera with the 4.3 diesel...that was a cool rig...when it ran...lol

[VileZambonie]

My buddy has an 84 Hurst Olds that we were debating what engine to build for it. He wanted it to be Olds power so we decided the 307 was a boat anchor, the 455 is nothing unique so it was either the olds 350 diesel to gas conversion or build an olds 350. I ended up boring the olds 350 .068" over and using 425 pistons building him a 362 CID Olds powerplant but I've heard a lot of people still really want those OLDS diesels so if you got one you aren't gonna use try eBaying it b4 you boat anchor it.