Toronado Diesel was not based on the gas engine

[thomas g. warner]

Rick I really have to disagree with you. The diesel engine of 1981 and
after was not made from the gas engine and had nothing in common with it.
It was entirely different than the engine that GM first put in the
oldsmobile. The 1981 350DX block was a true diesel block, with roller
camshafts, large .921" lifters and was very very strong. IN fact the
stngest block GM made. Problem was finding the mechanics in oldsmobile and
chevrolet dealerships that could work on them. To many tried to use the same
methods used on the gas engines, poor torqing of the heads for example and
trying to set the injection pumps by ear. I can still remember going to my
local olds dealer and asking to see a 1979 olds with a diesel. The salesman
took me to the car, turned the key and nothing. Turned to me and said, oh
yeah, this one has not had the carburetor adjusted yet, just was delivered
to us. He knew nothing about diesel engines. I took the keys, let the glow
plugs warm up and it started instantly. That engine was a dog I agree. By
1981 however they produced the new engine but it was already to late, the
public was turned off.

I serviced all of my diesels and still have all of the tools I either made
or bought to service the injection pumps and other parts. I loved them.

The 350DX block is so strong that Mondello sells a special kit to convert it
to a 454 cubic inch gas engine. Joe says it equals the ultimate high
performance street/strip sleeper(his words). The kit costs $2900. I don't
think Mondello would recommend junk.

>
>> I saw an Olds Tornado going down the road yesterday. It was smoking a
>> little bit so I crossed it off my mental list of I have to stop this
>> driver and talk to him. Caught up at a light. Chrome nameplate said
>> Diesel. Would this engine fit in our coaches?
>
> Yes it probably would with an ungodly amount of work, but trust me, you
>don't want it. The GM diesel of the early 1980s, based, sadly, upon our own
>beloved Olds V8, was probably the WORST engine sold to the public in the last
>50 years. Aside from a bad reputation for reliability, they develop about 1/2
>- 2/3 the horsepower of our original engines, so your coach would be a
>pumpkin. Then there's having to rework the entire fuel system, linkages, etc,
>and having to install an auxiliary vacuum pump to operate the brakes (diesels
>have little or no vacuum), plus all the modifications listed below....
>
>> Also found and Olds
>> Station wagon 1974 model in a junk yard with a 455. Would this engine
>> fit?
>>
> This is more realistic. Yes it will bolt up. You'll have to change
>manifolds (intake for clearance, exhaust to line up) and oil pan/pickup, and
>you may WANT to change things like camshaft, carburetor, water pump, etc. But
>it should fit with a little work.
>
>My .02.
>
>Rick Staples
>'75 Eleganza
>Louisville.
>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach

 

[thomas g. warner]

No apology necessary at all Rick just a discussion that reveals one more
technical aspect of our association with GMC's. I would not recommend that
the diesel be put in our coaches either unless one were really going for max
miles and ease of installation. the 350DX would slide right into the engine
bay with the same room as the 403 does. It does have a lot of low end
torque which would be ideal for the coach. It is strong enough to turbo
charge and than????? If I remember right I got in high 20's per gallon on
the road with my Toronado and cadillac too. I Might think about that some
time. Sorry to say I thought that the GM diesel was dead, and threw away an
almost brand new engine a couple of years ago when I was cleaning out my
garage. Sat in a corner on an engine stand for 6-8 years and got sick of
stubbing my toe on it.

>
>> The 1981 350DX block was a true diesel block, with roller
>> camshafts, large .921" lifters and was very very strong. IN fact the
>> stngest block GM made. Problem was finding the mechanics in oldsmobile and
>> chevrolet dealerships that could work on them.
>
>Tom,
> I do apologize: I had forgotten that GM made substantial improvements in
>their initially sorry diesel, somewhere in the early 80s. You are correct
>that with proper maintennance, the later diesels will go a long ways. The
>blocks were beefed up around the main bearing journals, and had thicker
>cylinder walls, among other improvements.
> They were, though, based upon Oldsmobile V8s, and made on the same
>production lines. According to the Olds FAQs, you can even drop a big-block
>Olds crankshaft directly into a 350 cid diesel block, to produce a rugged gas
>engine. This means the same main bearings, bearing and bore spacing, etc.
> Whatever their genealogy, I still don't think I'd recommend trying to put
>one into a GMCMH. They offer substantially less power than our original
>engines, without the legendary durability of a Catterpillar, or Cummins, or
>Detroit Diesel.
> Anyone interested in further details should check out the Olds engine FAQs
>at: .
>
>Rick Staples
>'75 Eleganza
>]Louisville, CO
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach