I am going to build a commute to college vehicle for my daughter. I picked up a 6.2, and would like to put it in a caprice. I don't have a car yet. Does anyone know if there are any height problems doing this? The intake looks kind of tall, and I really don't want to put a hood scoop on it.

if it is too tall you could get creative with the intake filter setup. maybe put a shorter profile round aftermarket filter in place of the origional, remove the egr and block the hole with a plate. i would imagine you could even install a turbo type lower and upper intake and just put a cone filter off to the side where the turbo should mate up. make that damn thing fit. i have thought how cool it would be to stuff a 6.2-6.5 (possible turbo) into a xj12 jag since they used a t400 trans and beefy limited slip rear. i've seen a lot of these with a 350 gasser conversion but never a diesel! theres even companies out there selling the motor mounts for the 350.

Just use some bungie straps on the trunk lid. Drive slow or put some helper springs under it. Be better to tow it on a trailer.

I read the DP had a canuck that put a 6.2 in a 'vette and drove it.


Wouldn't your collage age daughter enjoy the 6.2 in a jeep or IH scout, an old chevy pick up, rangerover or something cooler than a caprice sedan? I know I would.

You should find her a Police Intercepter Caprice w/an LT-1 350.


They do have a counterbalanced heavy duty suspension.Edited by: War Wagon

Didn't that interceptor have have reverse counter balanced rotating piston return springs also?

i heard they also had problems with premature muffler bearing failure!

I realize a Jeep or almost anything other than a caprice would be a cooler ride to college, but I want fullsize for safety, best mileage possible, and cheap! I will have to measure the distance from the motor mounts to the hood on a junkyard car and see what I am dealing with. Thanks for the valuable info I have received here. NOT!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif

Did you expect valuble info? You are trying to put a 6.2L in a caprice.

You want inexpensive ride , you priced Diesel lately??? Full sized Diesel maybe look for a 5.7 L Oldsmobile, cost to try and shoehorn a 6.2 or a 6.5 into any car is going to be substantial, and giving a hybrid to a college kid probably not a good idea either, nobody will know how to fix it other than you.


For economy look for a VW TDI vehicle, it's what I have my wife driving, good economy 44mpg auto trans, sticks get better 50 mpg on avg, and rated pretty well in crash tests. Jetta or Passat probably better than the TDI BUG my wife has, a little more room. VW Rabbits can be found still, find one of those and put your conversion money into overhauling the running gear, tires-brakes-etc.

I appreciate the info about the VWs, but I remain firm on wanting fullsize for safety. I will be running supplemental propane on this motor, so it will cut operational costs somewhat.

Doubtful, propane cost is up also, good luck on your project, I wouldn't do it for the reasons you cite, bang for buck isn't there and you WILL have a LOT of challenges to overcome and live with, something I would not saddle my child/student with. Hell I just looked at your sig, pull the 454 out of the Burb and pop the Diesel in there, can't get more protection than that.

This car will be used while she still lives at home and drives to college. In a few years, when she transfers to the main campus or another college, I'll put her in something different. I get lp for $1.09, so it does help a bit, but if diesel continues to go up, I may just convert a gas caprice to lp instead. I have been pleased with my Dmax on lp, and I know that an IDI NA diesel won't reap the benefits that the Dmax has, but it will at least quiet the 6.2 down while on the highway. This 6.2 is in an '88 1 ton van, picked up the whole mess for $50. The engine is missing the starter, but I figure I can buy one, and even if the engine turns out to be bad, I can sell the turbo 400 and junk the thing and not lose any money. It even has 4 matching tires w/50% tread.

How safe is a Caprice with a load of propane? Riding around with a load of propane in a car is asking for trouble. I can just see a head on collision and the regulator gets popped off. That would be some inferno.


Turbine Doc has the best solution.

LP is a very safe road fuel. The tanks are DOT approved, very thick and strong. All tanks have excess flow shutoff valves in case the fuel line would get ruptured. The fuel doesn't pool like gasoline in an accident. I have run it for 15 years and been involved in 3 accidents in that time, one of which was a rollover, and never had a problem.

For full size and safe, try an old Cadillac. They are built like
tanks and the newer 4.6L Northstar engines get good gas mileage with
plenty of power. The 4.6L will last till 300,000 miles (on gas) when
properly maintained. 94' Seville's and Eldorado's can be gotten
pretty cheap. Put propane on the caddy too http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif


Edited by: Rubicon