Chevy S-10 Converted To Diesel Power
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The idea to put a diesel engine in a small pickup first occurred to Jeff Flicek as he was plowing. If he could turn over 4-ft. swaths of dirt and only burn a gallon and a quart of diesel an hour, why couldn’t he do that in a vehicle driving down a smooth road pushing air? Later, an article about a gas to diesel conversion in FARM SHOW convinced the retired plumber he could do the same thing.
He purchased a new 2.2L 3024T Caterpillar diesel engine from a surplus business for $3,200 and matched it up to a Chevrolet 700R4 automatic transmission he already had. He bought a 2000 S-10 Chevy truck with 40,000 miles and slight passenger side damage from a repairable vehicle business.
“It wasn’t a bolt-in job,” Flicek notes with a laugh. “There were a lot of little obstacles, but I tried one thing or another and it turned out to be a drivable vehicle.”
Cutting the front crossmember to accommodate the engine depth was the biggest challenge. Flicek braced it before cutting to keep it in alignment until he could fabricate a new crossmember.
The conversion included rebuilding the oil pan and building mounts for the motor, alternator and power steering pump. He also had to reset the gear ratio.
Flicek worked on the truck off and on for one winter and has driven it for a couple years now.
“Its mileage is in the upper 30’s. The best has been 41 mpg. It’s a small engine so it doesn’t have pulling power, but it goes down the freeway good at 70 to 75 mph and accelerates well enough to merge in the city here,” says the St. Louis Park, Minn., resident.
He spent about $9,500 for the conversion, and has been more than satisfied with the results. He likes the fuel savings, of course, and it’s had other unexpected benefits.
“Its most value to me has been in conversations,” he adds, with folks who comment about the obvious diesel sound it makes. Plus, he gets a kick out of those gas attendants running out to stop him when he pulls his little truck up to the diesel pump.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jeff Flicek, 9212 W. 28th St., St. Louis Park, Minn. 55426 (ph 952 545-2663).
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Chevy S-10 Converted To Diesel Power ENGINES The idea to put a diesel engine in a small pickup first occurred to Jeff Flicek as he was plowing If he could turn over 4-ft swaths of dirt and only burn a gallon and a quart of diesel an hour why couldn’t he do that in a vehicle driving down a smooth road pushing air? Later an article about a gas to diesel conversion in FARM SHOW convinced the retired plumber he could do the same thing He purchased a new 2 2L 3024T Caterpillar diesel engine from a surplus business for $3 200 and matched it up to a Chevrolet 700R4 automatic transmission he already had He bought a 2000 S-10 Chevy truck with 40 000 miles and slight passenger side damage from a repairable vehicle business “It wasn’t a bolt-in job ” Flicek notes with a laugh “There were a lot of little obstacles but I tried one thing or another and it turned out to be a drivable vehicle ” Cutting the front crossmember to accommodate the engine depth was the biggest challenge Flicek braced it before cutting to keep it in alignment until he could fabricate a new crossmember The conversion included rebuilding the oil pan and building mounts for the motor alternator and power steering pump He also had to reset the gear ratio Flicek worked on the truck off and on for one winter and has driven it for a couple years now “Its mileage is in the upper 30’s The best has been 41 mpg It’s a small engine so it doesn’t have pulling power but it goes down the freeway good at 70 to 75 mph and accelerates well enough to merge in the city here ” says the St Louis Park Minn resident He spent about $9 500 for the conversion and has been more than satisfied with the results He likes the fuel savings of course and it’s had other unexpected benefits “Its most value to me has been in conversations ” he adds with folks who comment about the obvious diesel sound it makes Plus he gets a kick out of those gas attendants running out to stop him when he pulls his little truck up to the diesel pump Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jeff Flicek 9212 W 28th St St Louis Park Minn 55426 ph 952 545-2663
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