Olds 350 Diesel

[rnelsonbob007]

i know this might sound funny and probally not the true ...BUT.... long time ago i a guy told me that the old 6.2 engines were basicly a 350 block just with stronger internals....now idk if thats true or anything close but my thinkin is if that is has anyone use the block/bottom end and just put a different head/intake to make it a gas 350? my thinkin is that if it was true then you would have a nice lower end for some punishment. so....anyone know or have a idea if some of this is true?

[Edahall]

i know this might sound funny and probally not the true ...BUT.... long time ago i a guy told me that the old 6.2 engines were basicly a 350 block just with stronger internals....now idk if thats true or anything close but my thinkin is if that is has anyone use the block/bottom end and just put a different head/intake to make it a gas 350? my thinkin is that if it was true then you would have a nice lower end for some punishment. so....anyone know or have a idea if some of this is true?

Sorry, the 6.2 diesel engine has a completely different block than the Chevy 350.  The two engines are very different.  For a lower end that can take punishment, I would be looking at the Chevy LS series of engines.

[choptop]

There was a 5.7 diesel in the late 70's maybe early 80 that was based off of an Oldsmobile block. Supposedly you could swapheads and intake, add a distributor and have a very stout eengine. I never worked on one tho so that's second hand info.

[Captkaos]

The Olds 350 Diesel which was designed as a diesel not a converted gas motor, is the strongest factory block you can get.  It is capable of handling 600+ horsepower.  They were designated as 350D and 350DX blocks.

[choptop]

Are the stories of converting them to gas true and what all components need replacing? I've never worked on one but it seems the heads would have to have large chambers in order to drop compression down to work with pump gas or change pistons.

[Captkaos]

Yes it is true.  Most people from what I hear use 425 cranks...
It is overkill for anything less than 600hp from what I have been told.  For ultimate stock block power it is your best bet...

This turned up in a quick search.  Haulin may be a better source of info though.
http://www.robertpowersmotorsports.com/DieselWeb.html

[roboticjunky]

Mondello use to make a stroker kit for the Olds. 350 diesel to turn it into a 440 gas stroker motor. It used a modified Olds. 425 crank and modified Chevy 454 rods.

Here's a Popular Hot Rodding article.
http://www.mondellotwister.com/articles/StrokerSB440Olds.pdf