Hey dudes, I'm about to go look at buying an 80's 7th

SLOW. but nice mpg

>>16790426
The 6.2 is gutless, but there's a plenty of better options that are pretty much bolt in.
>6.5 TD
>6.5 with upgraded turbo
>TBI 454

With a little bit of wiring:
>Vortec 454
>Vortec 496
>LQ4
>LQ9

>>16790449
>>16790438
is the 6.2l really that bad? I'm new to diesels. This will be my first one. I plan on hauling and towing with it.

>>16790463
>130-160 hp
>240-285 ft-lbs
For reference a 96 350 is 255/330. 96 454 is 290/410.

In what order of importance would you place power, torque curve, and economy?

>>16790507
Economy, power, and torque,probably

I didn't realize the 6.2l diesel was so weak. I had a gas chevy 350 before and it was a boss, I figured a bigger diesel would be even better for towing, but nissan that not so?

>>16790507
>>16790518
350s don't mess around

We have a 89 GMC 2500 w/ a 350 at work and the thing tows like a champ. We use it to pull big diesel generators and pumps and it hardly acts like there's anything behind it

>>16790518
>power over torque for a tow rig

Why?

>>16790635
350s are great up to around 6000lbs or so, at which point you start to remember it's a 50+ year old small block engine design. The late 350s are better for towing than their LS based replacements but they're still no competition for a big block or diesel. Peak power numbers don't come close to telling the whole story but I'd still probably stick with a late 350 over a 6.2 diesel for anything under 10k. Above that it really just depends on the torque curve you prefer. The 350 is capable of more but you've really got to put your foot down to get it to work that hard and you're not even going to be thinking about double digit mpgs doing it. The 6.2/6.5 will do all the same stuff 99% of the time and consume half as much fuel if you're towing heavy, but don't expect flooring it to get you up the hill any faster.

>>16790655
He's a mong with no clue of what he's doing.

>>16790682
Thanks for the details. That was informative.
>>16790655
I just don't know the terminology. I want to haul a load without it bogging down

>>16790426
the 6.2 is a gutless nutsack that is really only good at turning perfectly good diesel fuel into noise and leaking oil. That being said along with roaches and twinkies they'll survive a nuclear attack.

Be prepared for it to have a junk transmission bolted to it.

>>16791927
>That being said along with roaches and twinkies they'll survive a nuclear attack.
How fucked am I if I have a mechanical diesel but electronic transmission and transfer case?

>>16790426
If it gets cold where you live that 6.2 will be hard to start unless you have good glowplugs and batteries. I'd put a block heater in it if I didn't already have one.

>>16790518
the other anon is exaggerating, the 6.2 isnt gutless.
My old man owned several Subbies with 6.2s (cause 6.5TDs are fucking banned in France, go figure) and he told me he never had anything better to tow.
They're great trucks, they're insanely reliable and you actually get good em pee gees out of it for what it is.