GM "Fuel Pincher" Diesel?

[TWilkening]

We were going some work on an 82 GMC Med. Duty truck at work, and it said it has a Fuel Pincher diesel in it. I popped the hood and seen that it was a V8 with a huge *** air cleaner on it. I'm wondering if it is a detroit. It was a four stroke and did not have a blower on it. It might have had a turbo on it, kinda sounded like it.

I'm just wondering if any of you guys knew anything else about this engine. Never seen one before, and was just curious as to what it is and what kind of motor it is.

 

[Wayne M.]

Yes, this engine was real popular in the '80's. We had hundreds in our fleet. This engine is similar to and competed with another popular V8 diesel from the '80's- the Caterpillar 3208. This engine is 8. 2L 4 stroke, usually turbocharged and was known as the "fuel pincher". It was used in a lot of medium and heavy GMC's and in my experience, was used in other vocational apps. as well. It was an OK, quiet engine that had it's problems like oil leaks, coolant problems and was hungry for head gaskets. I don't remember the Hp rating, but would say around 200.

It was made obsolete when the emmissions tightened up and our beloved Cummins B&C series, and other modern inline 6's like the international DT466 and Cat's 3116 came along and took over. That air cleaner assembly is a bear to work with, in fact it sounds like it's an older GMC with a non-tilt nose. Anything is hard to do under that hood!

 

[Wayne M.]

Forgot to mention that this engine was made by Detroit Diesel/ GM.

 

[JUeckert]

yep,its a detroit. hp from 170 n/a to the 230 hp turbo. early ones[started in 81] had a shakey rep,as mentioned head gaskets were a issue,and working on them wasnt the easiest thing to do. latter engines were a little better,all were very fuel effecient and pretty good performers. these engines had siamese cylinders[no coolant passeges between the cylinders]therefore running them hot could be a issue. the engine was discontinued in 90 or 91,they are getting hard to find in salvage yards. the 3208 had a better reputation,and saw a longer production life,steming from the 70,s. the 466 was the [is] the best of the bunch,it started its life in trucks back in 75,and continues today.