Nice Price or Crack Pipe: Caprice Diesel

[Bob]

http://jalopnik.com/for-6-500-how-about ... 1739157976

This is a pretty nicely preserved example.

[kevm14]

I don't think they actually drive bad, as long as you don't require horsepower. The general response and part throttle performance is acceptable, in the grand tradition of high displacement low HP engines.

But given the year, I believe this is the original 120 HP variant (not sure if it's the newer stronger block, but probably not). The later 105 HP ones were reliable with an aftermarket water separator/filter.

More than a handful of these have been turbocharged with decent results, if you keep the boost light.

I find these fairly interesting, because the economy is pretty good. I think 30 mpg is totally possible.

I can't see paying $6,500 for this though.

[kevm14]

replacing the TTY head bolts with studs, and making sure you have a water trap in the fuel line are all you need. but I’m sure the dumb kids who weren’t even alive when these cars were built will be lining up to tell you all the things they know about these engines (meaning: nothing.)

Yes. Also he said what I said. So it must be true.

[kevm14]

So as is typical for these GM mistakes, yes, it was a "bad design" but it was closer to success than failure, for a few simple oversights.

[kevm14]

Ha

You know what’s always bothered me about these cars? It’s not the big grenade under the hood, or the sub-par build quality, or even the exposed Philips screws on the dash; it’s the little details that just say “fuck you.” Like the blank clock face to remind you that you didn’t pony up the $16 for the optional clock, or the use of the Olds-font “Diesel” emblem next to the Chevy-font “Caprice Classic” emblem. Stuff like that says, “We don’t care, and fuck you.”

Ah, the 70s and 80s. Aside from all that, the B-body was a big success post downsizing, regardless of these details. And by that I mean, a sales success and a trustworthy platform.

And unlike the G-bodies and Chrysler platforms, this one lived long enough to see LT1 use in the 94-96, to include the Impala SS. And that's why B-bodies will always be part of any conversation of interesting cars of the 90s.

[Bob]

Any chance of a duramax swap? Probably prohibitively expensive, but would be cool to keep the diesel theme going...

[kevm14]

Expensive and the Duramax, unlike what we're used to in SBC land, is pretty big and heavy. Though, I believe it is more compact and lighter than the Cummins.

A much more do-able swap (and has been done) is a 6.2L/6.5L diesel swap. That was a light duty diesel used in the 80s and 90s (you know the sound - picture any GM-powered diesel short bus from the 80s or 90s). Less power but I believe you can get a reliable 300 hp out of a 6.5L TD.

Actually, the Olds 350 diesel sounds pretty similar to the 6.2L diesel. And the 6.5L is also very similar.

[kevm14]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Diesel_V8_engine

Good news: The 6.2L is "only slightly heavier" than a 454.

For a diesel V8 of that displacement, that's actually fairly light.