Okay guys, I'm new here and relatively new to diesels. I bought my wife a 2003 GMC 2500hd with a modified Duramax in it a couple years ago for Christmas, stupid cheap needed a TCM and stole it for $5800. Anyways. The truck made me realize why diesel guys do what they do. Expensive as hell but I finally understand. In the next couple years I want to buy another​ full sized truck for my self, to take trail riding and drive to work and take places with the family. Probably going to be a military auction k5. Im a cat guy my self so I figured this would be my engine of choice from working on semi's at my buddy who I stole the dmax from grandpa's farm. I just spent over a hour trying to find a list of cat engines online and can't find ****..... I'm looking for anything from a 4cyl to V8 cat but want to be able to build it up a lil to get good power from it. Let's say 300-400hp. That'll keep me in the range of good fuel mileage and not be boring to drive. Thing is with my lack of knowledge of these engines especially in modified form I need a little help. What's your ideas and advice on what a good engine would be for this kind of swap? Keep in mind I want to stay mechanical injection to keep it simple for my gas guy brain thanks guys

 

I have limited experience with some larger Cat engines (3406, 398, 353, 3306, 3512, 3208). For something smaller, the 3116/3126 comes to mind, but are still a very large engine for a K5. They have their problems...I believe HEUI injected also. Perkins (owned by Cat) produces smaller stuff. I once saw something close to cummins 4BT size in a portable generator.

At the risk of being unimaginative, a 12v cummins is great bang for buck with lots of performance potential. A 1stgen Dodge is a great donor for a K5. A Duramax wouldnt be a bad swap either... if you don't mind the electronics.

 

If I'm going to do a diesel build I wanna stick with one of the above, #1 Cat, #2 iszuzu, #3 Detroit and now knowing Perkins is owned by cat that's a option as well. We had a Perkins in a Lindy fork lift and it ran super quiet and was looowwww maintenance. I would like a engine that weights about the same or within reason of a BBC. That eliminates the 3208 and 3116. I was liking the idea of a 3208t for power and fitment but the damn thing weights 2,000lbs. I would love a 4 cyl if I could get 300hp and keep 20+ mpg. But I know nothing of any cats that small. Cummins is not a option for me as I don't like them and I just don't wanna be one of them guys, no offense I like the 4.9 iszuzu, we had one at the gm dealer in a box truck and it ran really well for what it was, and once again we never did anything but PM's on it. Lots to think about but I've got plenty of time to figure it out, gotta finish my z28 first =D

 

Isn't the Isuzu very comparable to the 4BT? What are your tcase options for the Isuzu trans?

6.2/6.5L was built by Detroit.... w/turbo would be decent in a K5 along with a TH700 or NV4500.

The 4BT/6BT gives you a number of trans/tcase options mainly from Dodge, but also Ford and GM due to the OE adapters used in 4BT step-vans.

Duramax (Isuzu built?) makes sense since you have one in your fleet already.

 

Diesels are expensive enough and a Duramax is outta the question due to cost and I don't want to mess with the electronics. And 6.2/6.5 wouldn't be bad. A military k5 would already be equipped, but my understanding is 300hp from either is stretching them thin. I want a strong reliable 300-400hp. And I will not use a Cummins. I would adapt any engine to a built 700r4 and a part time transfer case. I'm not a Cummins hater but they too are strongly inflated in pricing for everything in my opinion due to there strong fallowing. To me there is no reason why any of these parts should cost what they do, there's no reason why the F1 90 overs in my dmax should have costed $3,000, seriously how much money did they have in those injectors all said and done sitting in a box ready for sale if it wasn't for wanting good mpg I would slap a turbo lq4 in and be done. But diesels are Superior in the fuel Mileage game, our dmax gets 18+ and puts down over 500 at the wheels. No gas truck is going to do that unfortunately

 

look in to Kubota as well for a 4 cylinder.

I work at CAT in the BCP division btw.

 

^ This is why I don't have 7.3L powerstrokes anymore.

IMHO, a TH700 with that much diesel hp won't be happy very long. It might to be a good intermediate step for the 6.2L (mil K5 has TH400 stock?) along with a turbo.

The 94+ p-pump trucks do carry embarrasing pricing if you ask me... so does the 4BT. However, if you enter the cummins arena from the 89-91 non-intercooled D250 angle, its very affordable. Once you have you one for while, you realize how cheap they are to run, maintain, and upgrade. I've had four D250s now, and one W250. Powerstrokes are long gone, and netted a profit in the end

 

Is it even possible to get 3-400hp out of a 4cyl diesel while still maintaining reliability and good fuel Mileage? If so I feel like that's the way to go in my needs, light, small and fuel efficient. Just don't wanna be fixing every other week

 

3-400 ft lbs yes. Hp not realiably. I believe khaos had his 4bt around 400 hp and split a block in half. 220hp Hp is quite a bit. More then most need.

Sorry khaos is on 4bt swaps, not here.
I think you are asking alot. Cost would probably be cheaper to find a duramax then build a super hot rodded 4 cylinder

 

6 cylinders minimum. Its a fullsize truck.