Help identify this diesel engine

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Blue Ox

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81 Was the last year for the 5.7 olds Diesel, Pretty much using the rest that they had... 6.2 didn't come out until 1982, as well with the 700r4.

But the 6.2 was being made even as early as 1980.

The 6.2 was introduced in 1982. Do you have any reason to believe it was in production earlier?
 

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The 6.2 was introduced in 1982. Do you have any reason to believe it was in production earlier?
Not that it was in Production earlier but instead it was for Testing... My Friend Michael has an engine with a Detroit Diesel Stamping on it with the date code 2-1-80... My Red Block has the Date code 2-3-81 GM Made the engines first then released them in the new year along with the trucks.

Production Officially started for the 6.2s in January of 81 & So my engine is only 2 months younger... He said the 1980 blocks was called "Experimentals" Probably no more than 100 were to be casted.
 

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Yeah sadly... Olds should of put a Water/Fuel Separator & Proper Headstuds on them instead of rushing for production!
That's why so many of them blew-up! Head studs were from the Olds 350 Gas, Over time they would shrink and suck in air and blow them up, Not to mention the horror stories i hear about the Water in fuel all the time :eek:

So true. My understanding was the Oldsmobile engineers wanted more time to get it up to speed, but GM wanted it in the market. You, know, gas crisis and all.

There were a lot of issues, particularly as you said with heads, but you can't really blame GM for people's bad fuel habits. Also, a big factor was people trying to maintain it like a gas engine. Diesels needed more frequent oil changes and fuel filter maintenance and the dealers just didn't get the message across because they were just as poorly informed.
 

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Also what he told me is that The Early Red Block engines from were made at the Detroit Diesel Engines Foundry Plant in Bay City, MI From the Testing phase 1980 to the end of 1982... All engines should have a Stamped Detroit marking on them I believe mine does I just never took a photo of it.

After 1982 all 6.2 Diesels were made at the Flint, MI Plant until the end of there production run in 93. The 6.5 Diesel was NOT made by Detroit, It was just a part of there life as Detroit diesel was still owned by GM until the mid-90s When Detroit Diesel branched off on there own.
So true. My understanding was the Oldsmobile engineers wanted more time to get it up to speed, but GM wanted it in the market. You, know, gas crisis and all.

There were a lot of issues, particularly as you said with heads, but you can't really blame GM for people's bad fuel habits. Also, a big factor was people trying to maintain it like a gas engine. Diesels needed more frequent oil changes and fuel filter maintenance and the dealers just didn't get the message across because they were just as poorly informed.


Rite... I heard that about the Olds Engineers too It's a Shame GM had to rush it!! (Like they always do) Could of turned that Engine right around!
My truck only has 52,000 Original miles on it since I got it in 2015 Was converted to Gas, I went back to Diesel as SOON as I found out they came factory with one Pretty damn low for a Michigan truck! But the body was Beat!! So while I'm restoring it right now, I'm only down to Finding a Rust free Long box and Electric Doors Already have a Donor engine, and 2 other ones for parts etc.

Back to the Early 6.2s, Here's another story i got from my Friend he told me that The Early Red Block engines from were made at the Detroit Diesel Engines Foundry Plant in Bay City, MI From the Testing phase 1980 to the end of 1982... All engines should have a Stamped Detroit marking on them I believe mine does I just never took a photo of it.

After 1982 all 6.2 Diesels were made at the Flint, MI Plant until the end of there production run in 93. The 6.5 Diesel was NOT made by Detroit, It was just a part of there life as Detroit diesel was still owned by GM until the mid-90s When Detroit Diesel branched off on there own.
 

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I was told by my Friend Michael since he owns so many that they are interchangeable Which I believe the guy was at the GM Testing Grounds for the engine or some type of "Program" They had in the 80s when they came out.

The Oldsmobile engines used Stanadyne DB2 pumps as did the 6.2L & early 6.5L diesel, and the 6.9 & 7.3L IH engines in the 80's Ford F series trucks. The Oldsmobile, AMG, and IH DB2 injection pumps are not interchangeable.

That engine has the older pencil injectors so my guess is it's a 350N and not a later 350DX.
 

82Diesel

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The Oldsmobile engines used Stanadyne DB2 pumps as did the 6.2L & early 6.5L diesel, and the 6.9 & 7.3L IH engines in the 80's Ford F series trucks. The Oldsmobile, AMG, and IH DB2 injection pumps are not interchangeable.

That engine has the older pencil injectors so my guess is it's a 350N and not a later 350DX.
Ahh Okay. I was just told From Olds 350 to the 6.2 they are interchangeable I would think so at least there the same DB2 just different models.
The early ones are called D Blocks.
 

Blue Ox

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Left to right: Olds 5.7L, 6.2/6.5L and IH 6.9/7.3L

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They will not interchange. Also, while the 6.2/6.5 and 6.9/7.3 will physically interchange with their smaller/larger cousins they will not run correctly on the wrong application. There are a lot of mechanical and calibration differences even among the engine families.

I could also find you DB2s that fit John Deere, Perkins, Case, Cummins etc. but you get the point. It's just an engineering designation for a basic pump design.
 

Blue Ox

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Also what he told me is that The Early Red Block engines from were made at the Detroit Diesel Engines Foundry Plant in Bay City, MI From the Testing phase 1980 to the end of 1982... All engines should have a Stamped Detroit marking on them I believe mine does I just never took a photo of it.

After 1982 all 6.2 Diesels were made at the Flint, MI Plant until the end of there production run in 93. The 6.5 Diesel was NOT made by Detroit, It was just a part of there life as Detroit diesel was still owned by GM until the mid-90s When Detroit Diesel branched off on there own.



Rite... I heard that about the Olds Engineers too It's a Shame GM had to rush it!! (Like they always do) Could of turned that Engine right around!
My truck only has 52,000 Original miles on it since I got it in 2015 Was converted to Gas, I went back to Diesel as SOON as I found out they came factory with one Pretty damn low for a Michigan truck! But the body was Beat!! So while I'm restoring it right now, I'm only down to Finding a Rust free Long box and Electric Doors Already have a Donor engine, and 2 other ones for parts etc.

Back to the Early 6.2s, Here's another story i got from my Friend he told me that The Early Red Block engines from were made at the Detroit Diesel Engines Foundry Plant in Bay City, MI From the Testing phase 1980 to the end of 1982... All engines should have a Stamped Detroit marking on them I believe mine does I just never took a photo of it.

After 1982 all 6.2 Diesels were made at the Flint, MI Plant until the end of there production run in 93. The 6.5 Diesel was NOT made by Detroit, It was just a part of there life as Detroit diesel was still owned by GM until the mid-90s When Detroit Diesel branched off on there own.

I know GM always tried to siphon off the cachet of the Detroit Diesel name when applied to the 6.2L. They usually stated something like it was "designed with the help of Detroit Diesel." However I think the DD engineers would have been swift enough to make the bulkheads a little thicker. OTOH, they also gave us the 8.2L Fuel Pincher, so it's never wise to @$$ume they if they got one thing right they got everything right.
 

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I know GM always tried to siphon off the cachet of the Detroit Diesel name when applied to the 6.2L. They usually stated something like it was "designed with the help of Detroit Diesel." However I think the DD engineers would have been swift enough to make the bulkheads a little thicker. OTOH, they also gave us the 8.2L Fuel Pincher, so it's never wise to @$$ume they if they got one thing right they got everything right.

Good Point, I've always wanted an 8.2L as well. I have seen all over the Internet Cat 3208, 4v53T, 6v53 etc Swaps in Squares But never a 8.2L Would be so kool.
 

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Didn’t the 5.7 diesel blow head gaskets like it was there job?
 

82Diesel

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Didn’t the 5.7 diesel blow head gaskets like it was there job?
I believe so... part of the head studs problem as well. Using Gas Headstuds on an engine at 22.5:1 compression ratio isn't the best and will only last so long.
 

Blue Ox

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Good Point, I've always wanted an 8.2L as well. I have seen all over the Internet Cat 3208, 4v53T, 6v53 etc Swaps in Squares But never a 8.2L Would be so kool.

There's a reason you don't see them. Aside from the size and weight, the 8.2L had a reputation only slightly better than the 5.7L. You could just as well use a Toroflow.
 

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Wow, what a thread of great info! Now my son just needs to decide if he wants it or not. Body is ok but has some rust where a camper shell was mounted and it then leaked so its rusty along the top bed rails and then where the tail gate/bed meet. Has a th350 it appears. The guy wants 2400.00 for it.
 

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Wow, what a thread of great info! Now my son just needs to decide if he wants it or not. Body is ok but has some rust where a camper shell was mounted and it then leaked so its rusty along the top bed rails and then where the tail gate/bed meet. Has a th350 it appears. The guy wants 2400.00 for it.

His Decision counts on this, Only bad thing is that the Parts situation for those engines are hard to find and/or some parts are impossible to find such as Main Cam Bearings and such... But there's tons of Oldsmobile cars still around with them olds diesels. Trucks...? Not so many.

$2400 is a good price if it runs/drives and is mechanically sound.
 

82Diesel

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If your son is on Facebook there's an Oldsmobile diesel group on their majority of them are very experienced older guys who've had many of them or worked in the diesel mechanic fields and know them engines well.
 

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