Diesel Powered what????

[RACE427]

Back in the mid 80's I used to service a Ford Tempo powered by a Mazda Diesel equipped with all options and a 5 speed manual gear box. This summer I had a student in my alternative fuels class who drives nothing but Diesel powered Escorts and claims they are around to be had cheap. I am sure most of you know that the engine of choice in Europe is the diesel. So, my question is this..... What have you seen as far as passenger vehicles are concerned that are Diesel powered? I hope you agree that this should make for an interesting and educational discussion.



I myself have seen:



Nissan Diesel pick up trucks

Ford Tempo

Ford Escort

Mercedes Benz ( naturally)

Peugot taxi cabs



Thanks, Tony Greco LI,NY

 

[jwgary]

There was a guy at Love's the other day in front of me with a diesel VW new beetle. Ok, that's not much of a stretch, but you asked.

 

[work2muchplay2little]

I drove a 1981 Toyota 2wd pick-up with a gutless 4 cylinder diesel for about 90K miles, then transplanted a built GM 238ci V6 in it - WOW! Have also encountered VW Rabbits with diesels - parent's owned one for about 8 years - got 55 mpg on highway and 45 in town. Isuzu had a 4 cyl. diesel in their mini pickups in the mid 80's as well. Cadillac and Oldsmobile both had diesel offerings about a decade and a half ago.

 

[Xgunfighter]

Don't forget the junk line of Olds, Chevy and Cadillac cars with the converted gas engines.

 

[SnoKing]

Chevy Luv pickup and it's jap twin. I had a Rabbit on order in late 70's, however cancel after waiting about 9 months. Snow King

 

[RACE427]

Holman and Moody Ford Racing Fame

Back about 12 yrs. ago Holman and Moody of Ford Racing fame were on the local news up here with a Perkins Diesel powered Pinto and they were getting either 75 or 85 mpg. They were definetly way ahead of the times!!!



I do know that VW is making the new Rabbit and the Jetta with a Diesel option. I do not believe we will ever see widespread Diesel power in this country for the fear of particulate emissions from the tailpipes. The only way diesel engines can make real power is by artifically aspirating them, TURBO CHARGED in plain English. Without the turbo they are dead in the water!!! Regards,

 

[Deezul1]

Had a friend with a Chevette diesel, didnt know they made them till he showed up with one.

 

[R Anestis]

I used to work with a guy that drove an early '80s(I think) Ford Ranger with a 4 cyl. diesel in it. It had untold thousands of miles on it and still ran strong. Got good mileage, too. Don't know what make the engine was, though.

-Ron

 

[Uncle Joe]

lets see... . diesels i know of:

ford ranger mid 80s with a 6 cyl

jeep comanchi with a 6 same vintage

mitsubishi p/u turbo 4

Lincoln mark 7 with a bmw 6 2. 4 turbo (factory!)

Bmw 524td btw xlnt design even with the alloy head

toyota p/u up to 86 or so turbo... the motor is built like a militery engine..... the omly fault:timing belt for the cam &pump

volvo 6 cyl w or w/o turbo version of vw 4 mid 80s

audi 5 cyl same as volvo

toyota camery,corolla 4 cyl

mazda 626 fwd same engine as escort,ect,same in mazda p/u

isusu(or chevy luv) p/u,trooper(turbo),i mark,all 4 cyl

inernational scout w/6 cyl nissan

nissan/datsun p/u with 4cyl,810 or maxima w/6 cyl

all those mensioned above

to think about it. . most of these motors came w/o a turbo... no wonder they didnt survive!

 

[David Oxland]

The 2. 4 Litre D engines in Mercedes have been quite a success remaining naturally aspirated. Millons made and long life.



Just out of interest, our company replaced a Gardner naturally aspirated 6 cylinder marine propulsion engine which had 183,000 hours on it. Reason for replacing; lack of maintenance. Replaced with the same engine. If this had been an on the road engine running at an average 40 MPH it would have travelled 7. 3 million miles.



I certainly agree though, that turbocharging gives good results.

 

[Missouri Mule]

An older man and friend had a chevette diesel. The dump truck drivers would crack up laughing while they weighted for him to fuel up( pumps across from my business had one pump station handles on both sides, one side was for ford/chevies the other for the big trucks and Dodges) and believe it or not he would use the big truck nossel ( I think he afro engineered his fuel tank filler tube).



Pretty sure was isusu engine

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Uncle Joe. . . here's a couple more to add to your list:



1) Volksagon Vanagon Diesel, early-mid '80s



2) Trivia Question: Was the 5. 9 Cummins the first diesel engine option to be offered in a Full Size Dodge pickup?



The answer is <font size = 4> No! </font size = 4>



(take a guess what it was, I'm not sure, but this was in the late '70s).



Vaughn

 

[joesoot]

Originally posted by Vaughn MacKenzie





2) Trivia Question: Was the 5. 9 Cummins the first diesel engine option to be offered in a Full Size Dodge pickup?

A Mitsubishi in a Power Wagon?

 

[MUDDY]

Originally posted by joesoot





A Mitsubishi in a Power Wagon?

1978 and 1979 in d and w 150 and 250 trucks.

243 cid and extremely gutless.

small production numbers.



mm

 

[Un-Hemi]

The first Diesel Dodge engine was a Perkins. It wasn't very popular. I also have a Chilton's repair manual for my '77 B200 van that states that a diesel was available in it. Don't know what kind, but suspect it was a small Mitsubishi.



Muddymess got it in just before me! Thanks!

 

[BCFAST]

For the VW's ... you guys have forgotten the Fox, and Quantum series cars. While on vacation in Europe, I saw a turbo diesel EVERYTHING!!! Alfa Romeo, BMW, Peugeot, Opel, etc... . even saw a Jeep Cherokee with a turbo diesel and 5 speed while in Paris! Must be made in Toledo for export only. Anybody know what motor that might be?

 

[MUDDY]

Originally posted by BCFAST

For the VW's ... you guys have forgotten the Fox, and Quantum series cars. While on vacation in Europe, I saw a turbo diesel EVERYTHING!!! Alfa Romeo, BMW, Peugeot, Opel, etc... . even saw a Jeep Cherokee with a turbo diesel and 5 speed while in Paris! Must be made in Toledo for export only. Anybody know what motor that might be?

jeep put the renault diesel in the cherokee for export and for usa. i beleive if my memory is correct, this option was only for 2 years, 85 and 86 i believe.



mm

 

[WOWZY]

I used to work for a giant auto-auction and they had two Lot runner Escort wagons. Both were silver and identical in every detail except one was a gasser and the other was a diesel. Our shop usually had the gasser. One day my boss asked me to grab the Escort Wagon, put some gas in it and go to a dealership and pick up some parts while I was at lunch. By mistake I put 3 gallons of gas in the diesel wagon and man would that thing FLYYYYY!! It would roast the tires at every intersection. I still didn't realize what I did till my boss asked me what kind of fuel I had put in.



One of my friends had a '87 Ford Ranger 4x4 that had a Toyota/International Diesel in it. Great power and fuel mileage.

 

[Paul Herioux]

Diesel Project Car

My father-in-law dropped off my project car last weekend. It's an '84 Volvo 740 GLE. It has a 6 cylinder turbo diesel with a Bosch VE injection pump. Not currently intercooled, but I think I can make a 700 series gasser intercooler work. Also looks like the injectors from the truck may fit in the head. Will probably take A LOT of bombing befor it needs that much fuel though. I get a parts car to go with it to boot. Looks like motor will need to be reringed before I do anything though. Any bombing sugestions while I'm in there?

 

[Chris N5CWM]

The UK has some neat diesels

I just got back from Birmingham, UK and noticed

they have a lot of diesel powered cars and SUVs.

I like the Mitsubishi Montero Turbo Intercooled

diesels. . they had two doors like the Dodge Raider.

I should have gotten some pictures...



Chris