Rangie witha 350 Olds V8 Diesel

[muddy]

I've just aquired a Classic Rangie with a very tired 350 V8 Diesel Oldsmobile motor. Clouds of blue smoke, bugger all compression, and they only produced 125 HP when new.. Already removed to make way for a Commie V6 which was planned for the "Pink Rat" Hilux winch challenge truck which will now retire. Although there's enough pink paint left to cover the Rangie...

The question is... is the Olds motor worth anything? To anyone? I've read the block is a good donor to mate with 350 SBC heads for a bulletproof petrol motor. But that's more than I want to do...

Next question.. Since I understand the bellhousing bolt pattern is the same as the 350 Chev, is the Rangie gearbox/transfer case strong enough for that sort of power? If so, what's it worth? Although it may be nice to set aside for that day in the future when the Commie V6 isn't enough....

[lax2wlg]

is the Rangie gearbox/transfer case strong enough for that sort of power?

Trans is 4 speed manual, 5 speed manual, 3 speed Chrysler Torqueflite auto (T-shifter), or 4 speed ZF auto?

[muddy]

4 Speed manual - pretty sure it's the Rangie gearbox with vacuum centre difflock and adaptor plate on the bellhousing

Trans is 4 speed manual, 5 speed manual, 3 speed Chrysler Torqueflite auto (T-shifter), or 4 speed ZF auto?

[ice4x4]

Sounds like you've got the LT95 gearbox which is the strongest made by LR. So yes plenty strong enough..

[slidenyo]

like anything theres always someone that wants em,
mate has one in a rather interesting celica that looks as if it came from a video game he paid $500 odd for it.
If its out steam clean it do a compression test and put it on trademe at $400 start an you'll surely get some interest.
if you want more pep and its all set up for chev why not grab a petrol small block?
theres been a few tpi 350's selling for a grand on trademe lately and they're a simple bolt in 3 wire hook up job.
where as 3.8 you'll have to change bellhousing, mounts,wiring etc

[peteb2]

You may find interest from a Ratrodder who of course won't want to pay much if anything for what makes for an unusual choice of powerplant (the USA ratrods using diesels are recently a whole new 'thang' in the constant search for something different and original. Just do a You Tube search...

Remember low on power spec this 350 would have gobbs of good old fashioned stump pulling Torque (even when not running right)... I suggest poking it up on Trade Me and someone that wants a project rebuild or it for a project will eventually come from under a stone.... (i've got too many right now).... don't let it get busted up for scrap unless you know for sure the block and crank are shot.

[nakimud]

Pretty sure the 350 Diesel is the BOP pattern(buick,olds,pontiac) so slightly different to Chev. Does it have an adapter plate between the lt95 and engine?

[muddy]

Pretty sure the 350 Diesel is the BOP pattern(buick,olds,pontiac) so slightly different to Chev. Does it have an adapter plate between the lt95 and engine?

Yes - there is an adaptor plate.

And I've got all I need for the Commie - using the commie auto trans and a Datsun 720 transfer case...

[Filthy4x4]

Pretty sure the 350 Diesel is the BOP pattern(buick,olds,pontiac) so slightly different to Chev. Does it have an adapter plate between the lt95 and engine?

They used the Olds diesel in the pre 82 Chev/Gmc, some I believe were still being phased out around 82, havnt heard good things about them around reliability etc.

Would be a cool conversion with a fresh motor, ive got a 6.2 diesel v8 and its got torque to burn

[lax2wlg]

havnt heard good things about them around reliability etc.

Yeah it wasn't their finest hour.. I see the 350 diesel as GM's version of 'Project Iceberg,' except Land Rover were wise enough not to actually put it into production.

In LR terms, the Olds 350 diesel is like the old 2.5 Turbo diesel (highly problematic and failure prone), whereas the 6.2/6.5l series is like the 200/300 TDI (much better clean slate, modern, reliable)

Olds 5.7 V8 = 220 lb/ft torque
LR 300TDi 2.5l 4 cylinder = 195 lb/ft torque

+1 for LR TDi

[Crash bandicoot]

You want to look for the casting mark PMD on the head's...these later heads were made by pontiac and left alot to be desired performance and reliablilty wise.

If you find it sell it If you dont find it keep it and get it rebuilt and the compression raised....

Why you ask? the heads that had PMD cast on them were lighter and more "fragile" for lack of a better term....so was the engine block for that matter

the earlier ones were a different casting much heavier design and the head's had better flow.

[nakimud]

Pretty sure the 350 Diesel is the BOP pattern(buick,olds,pontiac) so slightly different to Chev. Does it have an adapter plate between the lt95 and engine?

Yes - there is an adaptor plate.

And I've got all I need for the Commie - using the commie auto trans and a Datsun 720 transfer case...

U might find your gearing is pretty damn high with the rangie 3.54 diffs and a 720 case, low probably wont be low enough, and high will be ridiculous(depending on what your doin)

[muddy]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =694904026

[slidenyo]

still got this engine? was a pmd casting found on it?

[muddy]

Still got it. Engine number 22502895 GM-4 if that means anything to you...