Diesel powered Dart?!

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72bluNblu

72bluNblu

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Saw this on CL, sounds like an interesting story. A dealer installed diesel?
Anyone else heard of such a thing? :dontknow:


http://sacramento.craigslist.org/pts/3996013788.html

All original D33 Chrysler/Nissan diesel 6 cyl. eng.Been stored for last three years.Was dealer installed in my 1968 dodge dart.No leaks,always easy starting,very solid,very dependable. Can be installed in anything!! Have all parts when it was in my car to run.This is a non-turbo motor.( Yellow designates). Factory aluminum valve cover needs re-chroming.Have all misc.parts to run pics also. This motor got 30 mpg.In my dart !!! $750.00 O.B.O.
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I don't see anything that indicates who made it, or that it's anything related to a Chrysler?
 
I was actually thinking of a 4BT in an A-body earlier today. how strange.

I was really hoping for a pic of it in the car.
 
Weren't dealer installed things usually installed at the dealership the same year the car was sold new? The engine is a 1972 but the car is a 1968.
 
jos51700 said:
I don't see anything that indicates who made it, or that it's anything related to a Chrysler?
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The chrysler name is visible on the valve cover in the ad.

jos51700 said:
Has it been around before? Since nobody copied the original link, I'm not sure we'll know....
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=2516.0
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It sure sounds like the same car as in that thread. I can't imagine that there's too many '68 Darts running around with a D33 in them, especially since it was listed on the Sacramento CL, just like the engine is now.

70DartMike said:
Weren't dealer installed things usually installed at the dealership the same year the car was sold new? The engine is a 1972 but the car is a 1968.
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Yeah it doesn't sound like a dealer install to me. I can't imagine a dealer doing it anyway unless it was a bolt in, and although I haven't seen pictures I imagine that there would have to be some fabrication to make it work.

Here's a little more info on the engine from that other link...

That engine wasnt made in 1968 and thats not a dealership install!

Thats a Nissan SD33 diesel engine. Years ago Chrysler had a marine division and they used those engines in Marine Applications (boats). Putting the Chrysler stamp on the valve cover. It appears to be a Chrysler Marine engine in the car. In the 70's International Harvester used the same engine in Scouts I believe it was. IH used the 727 Chrysler transmission with their own bellhousing. Its not a power house diesel engine like we are used to seeing in the current pickup truck market.

To sum it up its a boat engine with an IH tranny stuck in the Dart.
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I can see "somebody" did this, but not a dealer. 1972 about when the first gas crunch got underway, but I'm not sure I see somebody takin out a SLANT and putting in a diesel. Besides, now it's just "an old engine." Without the car, there's no "value added."

I think it was Crower? in San Diego in the first gas go 'round, was offering conversion kits to convert a V8 to a 4. Can you see a 220 CID 440? Not me.

I can see the advertising hype now........."Heavy as a locomotive, powerful as a lawn mower..........."
 
I doubt that would even fit in an A body, I call BS ever measure the length of a cummins 6BT? and the weight would put the poor old body on the ground
 
I've seen some early 70's Dodge Trucks that had the D33 engine Dealer Installed in them.

Not to mention the rare Mitsu 6DR5 (4.0L N/A) Diesel that Rustyratrod mentioned, those were a (rare) factory option in the 1977 - 1979 Dodge Trucks.

Dodge also had the Mitsu 4D55T (2.3L Turbo Diesel) in 1983 - 1985 Dodge D50/Ram 50/Power Ram 50 trucks. Also rare as hens teeth, I had one in my '84 D50 once, and later stroked it to 2.5L (4D56T rotating assembly in a 55 block) and added an Intercooler.

I miss that little diesel.
 
66plyValiant said:
I doubt that would even fit in an A body, I call BS ever measure the length of a cummins 6BT? and the weight would put the poor old body on the ground
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Its a little hard to tell, but from the sounds of the old thread over on DodgeCharger the last CL ad was for the car with the engine in it. Ad claims it got 30mpg in the car, sounds like it was a done deal.

Owners info is on the current ad for the engine, wonder if he has pictures of the engine in the car...
 
Here you go. This is installed in a 1974 Duster.
 

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there was a diesel powered valiant road toad from the factory in the early early 60's
I think it was only available in Canada, and was reported to be slower than molasses
 
1970Duster said:
Here you go. This is installed in a 1974 Duster.
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Interesting! That fits better than I thought it would. But even hooked up to a 727 with an IH bellhousing that would have to be one heavy beast, dry weight of the engine is listed at around 670 lbs!

Wouldn't exactly be fast either. Best specs I can find put the engine at about 82hp and 130 ft/lbs of torque. Those numbers are pretty much on par with the lower output slant 6's, with the disadvantage of hauling around another 200 lbs of engine and transmission. Even the turbocharged version, the D33T, only put out about 100hp and 175 ft/lbs of torque.

Not sure what the advantage would be really, heavier car, no additional power even vs a slant 6. Torque curve is flat, but the overall output isn't any more. Just heavy and burns diesel...
 
72bluNblu said:
Interesting! That fits better than I thought it would. But even hooked up to a 727 with an IH bellhousing that would have to be one heavy beast, dry weight of the engine is listed at around 670 lbs!

Wouldn't exactly be fast either. Best specs I can find put the engine at about 82hp and 130 ft/lbs of torque. Those numbers are pretty much on par with the lower output slant 6's, with the disadvantage of hauling around another 200 lbs of engine and transmission. Even the turbocharged version, the D33T, only put out about 100hp and 175 ft/lbs of torque.

Not sure what the advantage would be really, heavier car, no additional power even vs a slant 6. Torque curve is flat, but the overall output isn't any more. Just heavy and burns diesel...
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Hey said he likes it because it unique and will burn just about anything because it is diesel. He put a 8.75 rearend with 3.?? And said it just moves. He is wanting to turbo to thing for more fun.
 
I think its cool myself... It would be a slow boat to China for sure but I can see someone wanting it for the fuel mileage. Would have been real nice about 16 years ago when I was paying $0.67 a gallon for diesel fuel.... I'm no expert but seems you could tweek it with a turbo and bump up fuel injectors and increase the power some. Any diesel experts around???
 
Back then for the right money I think a dealer would do anything you wanted...
 
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