I have a experiment I want to perform. I want to make a diesel from one of these two engines. Which do you think would make a better one? The 22re is Aluminum which I think is not as good a material for a diesel.Since it doesn't retain heat as good it is less desirable? The 22re is easier for me to rebuild and convert because it needs less work for it to happen. The /6 is in need a a bunch of work for the rebuild but I don't think that matters as much as which would make a better diesel. The reason I am asking about these two engines is I already have them. As far as an application it is for a homemade generator.

That sounds like quite a project. Are you planning on casting a new head for them? I'd take a look at one of the diesel engines from the surplus center.

https://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?catname=engines&keyword=NED1

Do either have a thick enough bottom end, main bearing web, connecting rod, crank journal or head sealing ability to deal with the 14 to 1 or greater compression ratio? What sort of volume does the combustion chamber have and will you need a dome piston to get the compression ratio you need? Does anyone make a sturdy enough piston with the multiple compression ring support needed for a diesel?

I recall Olds or Buick built a few pass car diesels in the late 70's early 80's using some production big block as a base, and they had reliability problems.

Why not set the /6 up to run on E85? If E85 is available in you area it will probably be cheaper to run and build than a diesel. If you can find a salvage diesel, you could run it on vegetable oil and really save money.

The aluminum headed 22RE will probably never stand up to compression ratios required to go diesel. The slant 6 head will probably be fine. Whether or not the bottom ends of either one will be able to withstand the compression required to go diesel is the real question. I'm guessing neither one is going to do real well in the long term. Remember GM's experience converting a 350 to a diesel in the early 80s? Didn't go so well.

/6 has only four main bearings. And, it has a long stroke (OK) but with superlong skinny rods. Really bad for a diesel. If you want to make any sort of power, it is better to use a high quality engine as a base. Best is to use a designed diesel engine, although it is less of an experiment. I have had an Olds Diesel, which is a lowpressure engine, and it still blew headgaskets, even with studs for the heads. Went to M14 allen bolts, OK for a while, then I gave up and quit.
The 6.2 GM diesel can break the crank if you start it with start-gas, or if it has a leaky injector. A friend of mine broke the crank, without doing others than a normal start. He hated that car....
I would say a heavy, forged crank is a minimum for a diesel.
Please also think about what sort of combustion chamber to work with. A prechamber head from a /6 will require extensive mods, and is hard to make correctly.
What is your goal?
Thanks!

Consider this, which of the two engines could survive operating under heavy detonation continuously? I would guess neither. Which component would fail first? I am guessing the pistons. Can you get a better piston? If you can what will fail next? I would guess the rods. Can you get a better rod?.....Do you see how this is going?

The 5.7L diesel that GM used in the late 70's early 80's used a tremendously beefed up version of the 350 Olds gas engine. Even with that they had durability problems. I'm one to never say never but I don't see a happy ending with this project.

look up 4BT diesel and install one of those.

This really sounds like one of those "What If" deals that is trying to come up with something that hasn't been done before, on a budget and with stuff at hand.
There is a 99% failure rate on dreams like this, due to lack of money, time or abilities.
Of the stuff that reaches the test phase, I'd guess that the failure rate is still over 50% and by that time the thinker has found out enough to realise that the project is doomed because things that are already built are both cheaper and better.
Dreaming is great, but temper it with some knowledge of how the stuff works and if anyone has already littered the path with broken dreams.

I know I know it can't be done blah blah blah. The 22re actually does have a diesel version. It is also supposed to be a good diesel. So I think that maybe there is a good possibility that would work. The gm version had a problem mainly because of the rings. They use a standard ring on a diesel . That is why that engine had such issues to begin with. The /6 is an industrial version I forgot to mention. It is much heavier duty than a standard slant six. It has bigger rods and a forged crank. Sure if I could find a free or cheap diesel then I would be happy. But that is damn near impossible. Compression and rings are the big issues I see. The pistons will have to be custom of course. To take the beating. I looked at that website and it looks like its not for me. a bit on the expensive side for me. Maybe I will get lucky and find a cheap diesel engine. Well anyway thanks for the feedback. Nothing wrong with posing a question. Regarding the above post, I do those projects that are "what if" and such on a regular basis. I realize you are trying to be realistic because you understand that things like this are not easy. But I am no novice at building unusual or damn near impossible devices. But thanks anyway for your "reality check". Anyway on with the debate.

NO...neither is near as heavy duty as a 350 old diesel. they might be "made" that way,but still will never hold up. a well maintained 350 old diesel is a ok engine,and will run many miles,but many owners drove them a gassers,and they died./6 has no good points for a diesel conversion...maybe a 383?,w/ tons of mods...look at how much more btu's diesel is than gasoline,and transfer that into power,and stress...not good!..ever look at a 7.3 ford,or a cummings??? there is a reason why they weigh a ton! BEEF! and as far as E85,whats the point of this? fuel mileage? power? alky uses much more fuel than gas for same btu's,let alone diesel. so if mileage is the reason...forget it. and as for power,well....use nitro...lol.

Okay, what's cheap? I see you are in the Tacoma area, so I searched the local CL.
Hey, the American spirit is built on making something you need with what is at hand, but if you can get something even better cheap, well that's true too.
Here are 4 diesel engines complete and running, each for 500 bucks. I doubt you can find anyone to build diesel pistons for the /6 for that, plus compression, fuel system, pump, etc.


http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1712071769.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/pts/1710868934.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1709780755.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/1708852207.html

Please note that each of these (except the Ford) come with fuel tank, lines, engine cradle, exhaust system, cooling system, electrics, and other support systems that are designed and built to support the engine on diesel. This is already included in the price. In fact, each of these include additional parts that can be sold off to recoup some or all of the purchase price, or be saved for future projects.


diesel with generator $300
http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/grd/1708088083.html

Good info thanks