1/2 ton diesel swap will the 4l60 hold?

[Dwsmithhvac]

Hey guys new to the forum. Little background. When I was 16 I owned a 1992 GMC Sierra 1/2 ton regular shortbed z71 with a 350 and an auto transmission, 6" lift and 33" tires. I love that truck but at a whopping 6 miles to the gallon I sold her. Now fast forward 7 years later, cruising craigslist and what do I find? My old truck! So I make a phone call stop at the bank and I now own my old baby back. Which leads me to my question. Motor is shot, 160000 miles poor compression, I know most everyone is going to say dont do it but I've owned them before I like them, I want to swap in a 6.5 liter turbo diesel mechanical injection motor. So first off with the 4l60 bolt up? Second, will it handle the lower Rpm's and extra tourque of the motor? Anything else I need to think about?

 

[skylark]

Yes it will bolt up. No it won't hold up. Take this from a 6.5 owner, swap in a Cummins 4BT/NV4500 and crank up the boost. Reasonable weight, great power, great mpg, less likely to leave you stranded...

 

[DRAGGIN95]

Torque is the killer of a 4l60e, and a diesel will surely bring its death quickly!

 

[SCOTTYINWV]

92 should be a 700r4, not a 4l60e.

Rebuild that trans and swap in a ls series engine. More power and better economy than a tbi 350, and a quarter of the cost of any diesel swap. Find a low mile 5.3, get a swap harness and pcm and go from there.

 

[DRAGGIN95]

Yes you are correct, 92 would still be a 700R4, but either way
it will not last behind a diesel.

 

[RPF207]

Yup, 6.5 should be the last thing swapped into anything, especially a truck with a 4l60e. You can definitely do better with the money. At least if you end up swapping in the 6.5 from a donor truck use its tranny and everything else with it.

 

[Dwsmithhvac]

Alright, well I fully expected the replies I got, I understand a built 350 making 300 plus HP would be easy, yes an LS swap would be cool, yes a 4bt would make far more power. With that being said I've owned 6.5's before, I know their disadvantage, I know what they're capable of. I did get my answers, yes it will bolt up and no it won't handle the horsepower. Now if we kindly keep my project and goals in mind what would it take to swap in a 6.5 and a 4l80e ( my 95 3/4 had a 4l80e) im thinking I would need a total wire harness. Or would I be farther ahead doing a 6.5 and an nv4500?

 

[SCOTTYINWV]

6.5 & nv4500 for sure. Then you'll be fighting frame strength and weight on the suspension in the front.

 

[rcb1]

you could get 1500's with the 6.5, and considering their power output I wouldn't worry too much. My dad's had 230k before he hydro-locked the motor. Fortunately we found a low mile motor pretty cheap. I don't know much about the 1500 6.5s. His is a 97. The only one Ive ever seen though.

 

[Keepinitoldskool]

Ive seen a couple of them "heavy half tons" is what we always called them.