305 SBC vs 6.2 Detroit: Which would you rather?

[TotalyHucked]

Either one would get yanked out eventually but I'd pick the 6.2 truck for 2 reasons. I've never had one and I'd like to tinker on one and the fuel mileage would be worlds better than a 305. My buddy bought a 6.2 burb a while back, if he unloads it cheap I'd pick it up to play with

 

[bucket]

Everyone mentions the fuel mileage of the 6.2 but not the fuel that generally costs $1 more than gasoline. It makes it a wash, which is another reason I have no preference.

 

[Stewzer55]

I'm with Bucket here, looking at fuel prices, the extra MPG of the diesel is a was on the extra dollar or so in fuel price. Assuming $2.50/gallon for regular is just shy of $0.18 fuel cost per mile at 14 mpg. A 6.2 in the same truck, lets say 19 mpg average at 3.45/gallon is just over $0.18 per mile. Right now in my area according to AAA, Regular 87 is average $2.65 and diesel $3.89. $0.19 for a 305 @ 14 mpg and $0.20 for a 6.2 @ 19mpg. The maintenance costs are going to be a bigger factor, oil and filter costs and batteries.

Diesel would have to have hydro boost brakes and dual batteries where as the 305 would have vacuum power brakes and a single battery, I think those would really be the only differences in the trucks based on engine choice.

 

[Wallace6]

There are a few things to be said here. Diesel maintenance,even though these don't mean much. Depending where you live sometimes on a cold day it's just easier to fire up a gasser instead of trying to get the diesel to fire. I own both a 350 burb and diesel truck.
This is all dependent on weather and how much time to get to work

 

[ali_c20]

Diesel cause I never owned one.

 

[AuroraGirl]

Real trucks don't have spark plugs.

Real engines dont have valve covers

 

[RanchWelder]

We should defer this discussion to where it belongs:

Life Expectancy of a duramax??​

https://www.duramaxforum.com/threads/life-expectancy-of-a-duramax.3698/

 

[Ricko1966]

I have a 6.2 a 350 and a 305 for my use the 6.2 is my preference. They will tow anything and get good milage towing or not.
I just read at @Wallace6 post. I have a plug in block heater in my 6.2 and I nevervreally have a problem getting it to start,but I do think the block heater is a very worthwhile addition.

 

[Goldie Driver]

Real engines dont have valve covers

It's early, and it's a rainy day so I am foggy and sleepy.

Are you talking like a turbine engine?

Or, electric?

 

[squaredeal91]

It's early, and it's a rainy day so I am foggy and sleepy.

Are you talking like a turbine engine?

Or, electric?

Yes its a little early still lol. When she said that my mind went to antique cars. The early automobiles didn't have a valve cover.i drove a 1916 Chevy that had that with an open overhead valve engine no valve cover. while others had Flatheads still. My friends grandpa made his own dust cover for it. But it's super cool to drive around.

 

[Rickf]

or a 2 stroke?

 

[bucket]

I'm with Bucket here, looking at fuel prices, the extra MPG of the diesel is a was on the extra dollar or so in fuel price. Assuming $2.50/gallon for regular is just shy of $0.18 fuel cost per mile at 14 mpg. A 6.2 in the same truck, lets say 19 mpg average at 3.45/gallon is just over $0.18 per mile. Right now in my area according to AAA, Regular 87 is average $2.65 and diesel $3.89. $0.19 for a 305 @ 14 mpg and $0.20 for a 6.2 @ 19mpg. The maintenance costs are going to be a bigger factor, oil and filter costs and batteries.

Diesel would have to have hydro boost brakes and dual batteries where as the 305 would have vacuum power brakes and a single battery, I think those would really be the only differences in the trucks based on engine choice.

Howdy stranger!

 

[Hunter79764]

In a drag race, I'm not sure either would win, but I think I'd rather have some extra torque down low and the idea that I could run biodiesel etc. in case of emergency, so I vote 6.2. But, I've never owned either and never had a diesel, so it's purely an opinion based on stuffs I've heard in the internet, and we all know how reliable that is.

 

[87gmcburb]

A common recurring theme I have noticed, is that the 305 SBC and 6.2 Detroit seem to be hated, even though general consensus deems them both reliable options. Assuming you are given a choice between two trucks that are identical in every regard except for the engine (One has a 6.2 Detroit and the other has a 305 SBC), which are you choosing?

ETA: You are not allowed to perform engine swaps in this scenario.

Both have their issues, the 6.2 was known to have crankshaft issues due to harmonic balancer issues. The 305 had some cam issues. If I had a SB pick up I would go for the more reliable 305. For a bigger truck like the Suburban I think I would go for the 6.2. The 6.2 had decent low end torque.

 

[AuroraGirl]

It's early, and it's a rainy day so I am foggy and sleepy.

Are you talking like a turbine engine?

Or, electric?

flathead