Pick-up guys, just a thought...

[cliff2302]

Not true about needing large displacement to utilize a diesel. The new Jettas and Bugs have a small turbodiesel that really motivates them. I rode in one, it put me back in the seat pretty hard. They also get upper 30s in MPGs. The biggest concern you'd have finding a motor is the new Ultra Low Sulfer Diesel (ULSD) that is comming out this summer i believe. Your going to need to find an engine with a reliable pump and maybe use a fuel additive. As for cummins, their is some big news. A new 6.7 liter version of their inline 6 is coming out in the states in dodges next year in cab and chassis trucks. This engine has been used in Europe and is proven. The variable turbo has something like powervalves in 2 strokes to change the boost. It is able to be used as an engine brake and for decreased warm up time. Read about it here http://www.turbodieselregister.com/06ntea/ . This website is great for cummins fans, but you need to subscribe to their quarterly to get a name and password for their forums. Lots of info on biodiesel. Enjoy

[90nut]

The only real problem with diesels that I see and have experienced are the higher costs of maintanince. Parts are astronomically exspensive for them. As someone said earlier if you really want a diesel ranger you can find them if you look hard enough. Made for one year only (in the *Edited*.S.) I believe they are 3 cylinders also. It was rated as the best vehical for fuel economics in four wheeler magazine. Now that being said it was like 25mpg but my personal truck, a 92 ranger, 2.3 5 speed gets 23mpg on the highway. If you were to buy a ranger and are on a fairly tight budget look for the 89-92 years on the rangers. Stay away from the 3.0 though, Kind of gutless. The first two generation of rangers are the cheapest and easyiest trucks to work on. You will not find another truck that will run and last like those rangers. Mine has 221k on it and the only things I have replaced on it mechanically are: plugs and wires, air filter, timing belt and an oil pump. Timing belt was an original and it went out at 210k!! I love this truck and will probably always have one. But a tacoma is a great truck also.

[HerculesEngine]

You could always build your own diesel. I talked to a fellow who was putting a 190D Mercedes 4 banger and tranny in a D50 Dodge- has given me some interesting ideas. I was always interested in finding an early 80's Isuzu Pup or the like-- turn up the pump and add a turbo . Of course, it gets crazier- I happen to be involved with a group of people who put wierd engines in trucks...

Detroits, Caterpillars, Cummins, Perkins, IH, Deutz, Mack.... yeah I've heard or seen em all in pickups before. With time, money, and a strong interest you can build just about anything. BTW if you want a cool truck a 3208N Cat will just fit in a 70s F250, just be prepared to do some major mods to the drivetrain... you're talking 634ci!!

My personal favorite is the 367 V6 Cummins.... unfortunately finding a V6 cummins is like finding a needle in a haystack... used to use them in Hough front end loaders and certain excavators. Eventually it will get done... I still don't have a body yet to drop one in, would be cool in a 77 Ford.

Overall though you can find an 80s ricer pickup with a little diesel in it... sometimes 4x4... Mitsubishi B series, Isuzu Pup, Chevy LUV, some Toyotas, VW's are among some of these. Most can be had fairly reasonably and are pretty easy to work on.

Good luck with your search.

[corndawg]

a buddy of mine has a '78 f-250 4x4 with a steel flat bed on it that his dad bought new, sometime in the mid-80's his dad put an Izuzu straight 6 diesel in it, that truck is a beast, sound wise you cant tell it from a cummins other than the turbo, i love that truck, got a mack bulldog hood ornement too lol

[Tri-ZNate]

Most of your posts deal with cost, Ever hear of biodiesel or even running straight cooking oil? Thats what we do. Biodiesel comes out to $.73 a gallon and straight cooking oil is FREE! Just pick up the used stuff at restaurants and strain it down to like 2 micron. Smells like french frys .
Oh and we didnt get the VW rabbit lol, he LOWERED it to $1000 and it needs about $2000 put in to get it in running order

[cliff2302]

We are actually working on a biodiesel lab right now, unforunitely so is everyone else in buffalo so we're having problems getting waste veggy oil.

[Tri-ZNate]

thats why ya need to live in the middle of nowhere . We have 5 restaurants, 1 school, and one VFW hall that we pick up for. 200 gal of bio done and have about 50 more gal sitting in thier containers ready for the process. Along with 200 gal of methanol maybe I can start running methanol instead of gas .

Oh and just so you know, veggie oil is a ongoing war! If you spot someone with veggie oil in their truck bed, the only decent thing to do with it is take it. One guy took the oil from our spot so we took it back.

[cliff2302]

We do live in the sticks, there are alot of high tech rednecks around, lol. What process are you using to refine the waste oil, the one where you add a gallon of gas and a gallon of diesel and some additives to 20 gals of WVO, or the one where you have to have a big mixing contraption and it takes a long time?

[IrvSLedman]

Well its all a very good idea, but really it would probably be more usless than anything, all the power that a diesel has and the weight. that truck would cost a fortune, and be really hard to keep. Since your talking ranger/s10 they are danty little trucks, you put a good ole diesel in there, and your talking about some serious weight, even a smaller one, so the front ends will have to have alot into them, then the body.. and for such strong materials to keep its small, your talking some expensive parts/labor.. to be compact and reliable, with power.torque would mean alot of $$.. at least thats IMO.