Diesel Engine swap into 1971 Mustang Fastback...

Just wondering about the feasability of placing a Diesel engine in a 71 Ford
Mustang. I've always liked the 71 Fastbacks, and with the added bonus of
them having one of the largest engine bays, I assume that this swap is
possible.

Of course this would be for a biodiesel project, and perhaps eventual
conversion to WVO (Waste Vehicle Oil) but I don't want to start looking at
any fancy new type of diesel engine (common direct rail, etc). I was just
wondering if anyone would know off-hand what Diesel of the Ford line-up
would be the least amount of hassle for this swap.

I think my last post to this group was in the year 2000...things have
changed.

Where is Bill S.?

Thank you for your time,
Bruce Lortz
Mililani, HI
(replace .net with .com)
Former 66 Mustang owner
Former 72 Mustang owner
Current 93 Escort owner (sucks to be me)

RR News wrote:
> Just wondering about the feasability of placing a Diesel engine in a 71 Ford
> Mustang. I've always liked the 71 Fastbacks, and with the added bonus of
> them having one of the largest engine bays, I assume that this swap is
> possible.


Dear Lord, give me strength.........

Okay, with that being said, please don't butcher up this car. My
advice: The money you invest in putting a diesel in a '71 Mustang will
never be recovered by the fuel that you may (or may not) potentially
save. To me this smells like you want to do something because it's the
latest fad and everybody else is doing it. (Or claims they are doing
it)

Now, if you really want to do a diesel conversion that should be
economical (if you run it for 100K miles) buy yourself a gas Chevette.
The little junked out POS Chevettes are cheap. Stay away from the
diesel Chevette, you can't get parts for them. Take out the gas motor
and put in an industrial 3 cylinder Isuzu motor. New motors can be had
for $2500. Mate a manual transmission to it and maybe then you can feel
good about your conversion. Of course, if you have state inspections it
won't pass, but the '71 diesel Mustang probably wouldn't either.
If you try the Mustang diesel swap, you will end up with a worthless
car or you will give up on it long before it is finished. My $.02
worth. It's probably worth less because I don't think you will listen
to me anyway.....

"Kruse" > wrote in message
oups.com...
: RR News wrote:
: > Just wondering about the feasability of placing a Diesel engine in a 71
Ford
: > Mustang. I've always liked the 71 Fastbacks, and with the added bonus
of
: > them having one of the largest engine bays, I assume that this swap is
: > possible.
:
:
: Dear Lord, give me strength.........
:
: Okay, with that being said, please don't butcher up this car. My
: advice: The money you invest in putting a diesel in a '71 Mustang will
: never be recovered by the fuel that you may (or may not) potentially
: save. To me this smells like you want to do something because it's the
: latest fad and everybody else is doing it. (Or claims they are doing
: it)
:
: Now, if you really want to do a diesel conversion that should be
: economical (if you run it for 100K miles) buy yourself a gas Chevette.
: The little junked out POS Chevettes are cheap. Stay away from the
: diesel Chevette, you can't get parts for them. Take out the gas motor
: and put in an industrial 3 cylinder Isuzu motor. New motors can be had
: for $2500. Mate a manual transmission to it and maybe then you can feel
: good about your conversion. Of course, if you have state inspections it
: won't pass, but the '71 diesel Mustang probably wouldn't either.
: If you try the Mustang diesel swap, you will end up with a worthless
: car or you will give up on it long before it is finished. My $.02
: worth. It's probably worth less because I don't think you will listen
: to me anyway.....
:
When was the last time you even SAW a Chevette, junked out or otherwise?
They're rarer than Mustangs these days.

A diesel Mustang? Have mercy... but if someone has to do it, a '71-'73 would
be the way to go.

Paul

Paul wrote:
> When was the last time you even SAW a Chevette, junked out or otherwise?
> They're rarer than Mustangs these days.
> A diesel Mustang? Have mercy... but if someone has to do it, a '71-'73 would
> be the way to go.
> Paul

You obviously live in the wrong section of the country. A few months
ago I bought an '82 Chevette Diesel, 2 door, five speed for $200 bucks.
It is rust free with brand new tires. Engine is shot. The 3LD1 Isuzu
diesel 3 cyl motor has an SAE 3 bell housing and bell housing adapters
to mate SAE blocks to GM trannys are made about 15 minutes away from
me. I might be trying the project that I posted about this coming
spring. There are several more fairly complete Chevettes in the area
salvage yards. Have I bought the parts yet to complete this swap? No.
But it is very tempting, especially since my state does NOT have annual
car inspections or exhaust sniffs. Next time gas again goes over $3 a
gallon I will probably take the plunge. Is my idea far fetched? Maybe.
But so is the diesel Mustang.

On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 12:03:57 GMT, "RR News" > wrote:

>Just wondering about the feasability of placing a Diesel engine in a 71 Ford
>Mustang. I've always liked the 71 Fastbacks, and with the added bonus of
>them having one of the largest engine bays, I assume that this swap is
>possible.
>
>Of course this would be for a biodiesel project, and perhaps eventual
>conversion to WVO (Waste Vehicle Oil) but I don't want to start looking at
>any fancy new type of diesel engine (common direct rail, etc). I was just
>wondering if anyone would know off-hand what Diesel of the Ford line-up
>would be the least amount of hassle for this swap.
>
>I think my last post to this group was in the year 2000...things have
>changed.
>
>Where is Bill S.?
>
>Thank you for your time,
>Bruce Lortz
>Mililani, HI
(replace .net with .com)
>Former 66 Mustang owner
>Former 72 Mustang owner
>Current 93 Escort owner (sucks to be me)
>
It's absolutely NOT feasible if you want to be respected by anyone who
owns a Mustang!

But, it sounds as if you are bound to try, so I have a nice wooden
stake I am putting a pointy end on... got a water pistol filled with
Holy Water... and just melted down a crucifix to cast a couple of
silver bullets for good measure. And my brother, who lives down south,
is sending me a shipment of garlic. That gives me all the tools needed
to give you a helping hand with the project.

May the Great Kahuna give you the strength to resist!
--

Spike
1965 Ford Mustang Fastback 2+2, Vintage Burgundy
w/Black Std Interior, A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok;
Vintage 40 16" rims w/225/50ZR16 KDWS BF Goodrich
gForce Radial T/As, Cobra drop; surround sound
audio-video...
See my ride at....
Feb 2004- http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/003_May_21_3004.jpg
Feb 2004- http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/005_May_21_2004.jpg
Jul 2005- http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/d..._11_05_002.jpg
Jul 2005- http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/E...ebuild_006.jpg

Dear Sir: I would suggest dropping a new ford crate motor with a modern
fuel injection system than the diesel engine. If you talk to anyone who
has a ford F250 or F350 the diesel does not get all the great of gas
mileage. I know I am comparing a truck to your mustang but we are
talking a weight issue here. I feel with the advanced technology of the
crate motors thease days you can expect better mileage and performace.
Also, the crate motor may bolt on to your existing tranny without
extensive modification.

"Kruse" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> RR News wrote:
> > Just wondering about the feasability of placing a Diesel engine in a 71
Ford
> > Mustang. I've always liked the 71 Fastbacks, and with the added bonus
of
> > them having one of the largest engine bays, I assume that this swap is
> > possible.
>
>
> Dear Lord, give me strength.........
>
> Okay, with that being said, please don't butcher up this car. My
> advice: The money you invest in putting a diesel in a '71 Mustang will
> never be recovered by the fuel that you may (or may not) potentially
> save. To me this smells like you want to do something because it's the
> latest fad and everybody else is doing it. (Or claims they are doing
> it)
>
> Now, if you really want to do a diesel conversion that should be
> economical (if you run it for 100K miles) buy yourself a gas Chevette.
> The little junked out POS Chevettes are cheap. Stay away from the
> diesel Chevette, you can't get parts for them. Take out the gas motor
> and put in an industrial 3 cylinder Isuzu motor. New motors can be had
> for $2500. Mate a manual transmission to it and maybe then you can feel
> good about your conversion. Of course, if you have state inspections it
> won't pass, but the '71 diesel Mustang probably wouldn't either.
> If you try the Mustang diesel swap, you will end up with a worthless
> car or you will give up on it long before it is finished. My $.02
> worth. It's probably worth less because I don't think you will listen
> to me anyway.....
>

There was a guy around here years ago that put a Perkins Diesel out of a
ThermoKing unit in a early Bronco. I guess anything can be done if you're
willing to try hard enough.

Al

Bill S. is in alt hi po big block ford mercury these days - too many nutjobs
in the the RAMFM.




"RR News" > wrote in message
...
> Just wondering about the feasability of placing a Diesel engine in a 71
Ford
> Mustang. I've always liked the 71 Fastbacks, and with the added bonus of
> them having one of the largest engine bays, I assume that this swap is
> possible.
>
> Of course this would be for a biodiesel project, and perhaps eventual
> conversion to WVO (Waste Vehicle Oil) but I don't want to start looking at
> any fancy new type of diesel engine (common direct rail, etc). I was just
> wondering if anyone would know off-hand what Diesel of the Ford line-up
> would be the least amount of hassle for this swap.
>
> I think my last post to this group was in the year 2000...things have
> changed.
>
> Where is Bill S.?
>
> Thank you for your time,
> Bruce Lortz
> Mililani, HI
> (replace .net with .com)
> Former 66 Mustang owner
> Former 72 Mustang owner
> Current 93 Escort owner (sucks to be me)
>
>

Unforutnately, this post would most likely lump me in with the "nutjob"
selection...
(but thanks for the info).

Bruce

"Merc" > wrote in message
news:MRItf.25911$6K2.5152@edtnps90...
> Bill S. is in alt hi po big block ford mercury these days - too many
> nutjobs
> in the the RAMFM.
>
>
>
>
> "RR News" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Just wondering about the feasability of placing a Diesel engine in a 71
> Ford
>> Mustang. I've always liked the 71 Fastbacks, and with the added bonus of
>> them having one of the largest engine bays, I assume that this swap is
>> possible.
>>
>> Of course this would be for a biodiesel project, and perhaps eventual
>> conversion to WVO (Waste Vehicle Oil) but I don't want to start looking
>> at
>> any fancy new type of diesel engine (common direct rail, etc). I was
>> just
>> wondering if anyone would know off-hand what Diesel of the Ford line-up
>> would be the least amount of hassle for this swap.
>>
>> I think my last post to this group was in the year 2000...things have
>> changed.
>>
>> Where is Bill S.?
>>
>> Thank you for your time,
>> Bruce Lortz
>> Mililani, HI
>> (replace .net with .com)
>> Former 66 Mustang owner
>> Former 72 Mustang owner
>> Current 93 Escort owner (sucks to be me)
>>
>>
>
>

Mostly my interest in biodiesel is about using waste vehicle oil as a fuel
(as opposed to gaining milage with a diesel). In fact, I don't care that
biodiesel is supposedly better for the environment (Although I believe
diesel produces more particulates than regular unleaded gasoline. (a subject
for another newgroup and/or thread)).

Here in Hawaii, during the short gas crunch, we had fuel prices spike to
almost $4.00 a gallon. Pacific Biodiesel kept their prices at $2.69 a
gallon. Granted, since that time, regular unleaded has come down a great
deal, but there is nothing to say they can't jump back up again. But again,
this really isn't about spending a lot of money to save a little. The
concept of this project is for my personal satisfaction of running the
vehicle of my dreams (71 Fastback) on a renewable energy source.

These musings of mine will most likely never see the first bolt turned, but
I do want to look into it. I also agree with you that the crate motor would
be the easiest and economical way to go for a new engine in a old vehicle.
But this current pipe dream is not about easy, economical, or even "smart".

Thank you for your input,
Bruce Lortz

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Dear Sir: I would suggest dropping a new ford crate motor with a modern
> fuel injection system than the diesel engine. If you talk to anyone who
> has a ford F250 or F350 the diesel does not get all the great of gas
> mileage. I know I am comparing a truck to your mustang but we are
> talking a weight issue here. I feel with the advanced technology of the
> crate motors thease days you can expect better mileage and performace.
> Also, the crate motor may bolt on to your existing tranny without
> extensive modification.
>