re: hello from South Dakota

[john mccarthy]

Hello Everyone
I am a new member and recently came across a 1979 C1O Custom which has the 350 Cubic Inch Diesel engine in it. The vehicle turns over and once I charge up the batteries I am sure that it will start up and run. The vehicle is a one owner and relatively low mileage, (less than 100K). The body is rough, but complete and the interior can revived.
I would like to ask your comments about what are the possibilities with the vehicle, as I have read a lot of bad comments about the Oldsmobile made Diesel engine. Can this engine be made more reliable? Are body panels easy to find and purchase? Would a power train swap be an option and if so what would you suggest? I came across the truck quite by accident and thought that it had some potential? Can you make a good hot rod out of the vehicle? Thank you and I hope to hear what you have to say? Thanks John

 

[Frankenchevy]

I’m answering from the question “Can you make a good hot rod out of the vehicle?”

Depending on laws regarding diesel to gas swaps in your state, you’d probably be happier with more money in your pocket putting a gas v8 in it.

 

[Doppleganger]

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Charlie]

 

[MrMarty51]

Welcome John.
I just want to add, that is not the old 350-V8 diesel from the Oldsmobile days of the past. That is an entirely new design, of the times, it will be the 6.2 liter V-8 diesel.
That engine was carried right up through the present day in the Military Hummers. Now known as the 6.5 turbo charged diesel.
GM dropped that design in 2000 and went to the new Duramax.
The 6.2 will not seem like it has a lot of power but it will get 20+ mpg if injectors are in good condition and the injection pump is proper tuned.
The 6.2 can also easily be converted to the Turbo charged unit with exhaust manifolds, turbo and cross over pipe from a 6.5 TD diesel.
Biggest problem with these engines is they tend to crack the main bearing webs in the engine block.
Be sure to watch the harmonic balancer, if it ever looks like the rubber is bulging around the ring, quit running the engine until a new balancer can be obtained.

 

[Old77]

 

[TubeTruck]

 

[Kim Burke]

Welcome, just came from Lead working at the Boars Nest Roadhouse.

 

[SDJunkMan]

Welcome from Rapid City. Where are you located? I don't know a lot about the diesels, had a new 87 Suburban and am getting a diesel Blazer back on the road this week, but if I can help, let me know.

 

[75Monza]

Welcome to the forum. I've never owned one, but my cousin had either a 79 or 80 that had the 5.7 diesel in it. Was definitely a gutless wonder, but with the high gears he did get around 20 with it. They had the 5.7 and 4.3 diesels for a few years there, but contrary to what most believe, the 5.7 was not an olds gas motor converted to diesel, it was built by Olds as a diesel motor with similarities to the gas, but not much. The main problems he had with it was a few head gaskets, hard to start when it was cold, and injection pump failure.
I thought the compression was just too high (22.5:1) for using the 10 bolt per side and TTY bolts as the cause of overheating, blown head gaskets and broken head bolts.
They also did not have a fuel-water separator on them, which also sucks on a diesel for corrosion and wear. They evidently designed them with too short of main bolts and did not dynamically balance the crank, probably why they rattled so much, lol.
The 6.2 was a bit better designed and not as rushed for production as the 5.7 originally was, but still ran too high of compression (21.5:1) having similar problems with head gasket and timing chain stretch. Putting a turbo on any of these early diesels didn't work out the greatest because it didn't take much boost before your EGT was out the roof and you got terminal meltdown or another blown head gasket.

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome to the site.

 

[animal]

 

[Craig 85]

That truck should be a 5.7L diesel. Here's a link to the sales brochure for '79. If I recall, back in the day, GM did not recommend towing with this engine.

https://www.xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1979-GMC-Pickups.pdf

 

[WFO]

Welcome from the Texas Panhandle.

 

[1973c10]

Welcome