Z-TARD Posted October 28, 2001 Share Posted October 28, 2001 A freind of mine suggested that I find a 350 diesel block to use as a starting point for an engine build-up. To the best of his memory, a good deal of the parts between the diesel and standard SBC are interchangable. Although the diesel should have beefier parts to handle the extra compression. (Thicker block casting, forged crank, 4 bolt mains, etc) I havent seen this done in any book or magazine article, so I'm assuming thats its not going to be as easy as it sounds. Does anyone have any experience with SBC Diesels? Still brainstorming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted October 28, 2001 Share Posted October 28, 2001 The GM 350 diesel if its the one I think your talking about was a oldsmobile motor. I believe it shares the block with a 455, I could be mistaken. With the price of sbc parts, I doubt it'd be worth pursueing unless your trying to be different. This was the diesel that pretty much finished diesels in passenger cars at GM, it had issues with durability, many converted the cars to gas because the diesel was so bad. Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted October 28, 2001 Share Posted October 28, 2001 Seen several articles on converting one of these to gas. Supposed ot have stronger blocks but I seem to also recall there were "gotcha's" and that the conversion wasn't as simple as you might like. Yeah, I think they were Olds blocks too but I'm not positive... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Shasteen Posted October 28, 2001 Share Posted October 28, 2001 Ahhh, The old Olds/Diesel 350 conversion to gas thing(?) huh. It just so happens while working at MIC (Subsidiary of GM) an ole codjer (Sp?) that was about to retire allowed me to raid his desk before the actual day of his retirement. In his overhead he had a book entitled, "Diesel Engine" an official GM/Product Service Training Manual. He obtained if from a training class he'ld been to many moons prior my ever meeting him. The book was used to train the dealers & their tech's on the Olds 350 Diesel & how to convert the from Diesel to a gas...if one so desired. So of course I snagged it rather quickly. The engine was actually a 455 Olds on the ouside w/the internals equal to the displacement of 350 but incorporated beefier everything than a normal 350. So if this is the diesel you are referring to then none of it that I'm aware of is swappable w/a SBC. Since this book was out of print in the late 70's early 80's anyone wanting info on converting an Olds Diesel 350 to a gas engine can obtain that info from Joe Mondello as his technical manual goes into full detail of what is needed to complete the process as well. Yes, I have that book also. Just FWI: the 350 Diesel is an Olds block & there is more to it than merely swapping cyl.heads, intake & fuel system. From what I've heard, anyone who goes to the trouble of conveting one to gas will have a real stout street/strip engine. The later Olds diesels also used roller cams & lifters; a nice benefit for a mild gas engine after its conversion...indeed! Kevin, (Yea,Still an Inliner) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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