Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and I searched for topics related to swapping the diesel into a gas block chasis and only found information on who thought which was better. I might have missed the article I was looking for in the search, but here goes my question:

I might have the opportunity to buy a 97 Chevy Truck with the 6.5 litre Turbo diesel. It was T-boned in an accident so it is complete, but not driveable. I was thinking of swapping the engine and tranny into my 1988 Class A motorhome in the future when the 454 tanks on me. My only concern is how difficult the swap would be. I have done engine swaps before, but I know this one has a throttle position sensor instead of a cable driven accelerator, however what really worries me is do I have to retain the factory instrument cluster for any reason? Not sure if engine components supply feedback to the dash panel for regulating engine functions.

Any advice is appreciated. Maybe I could get a PAINLESS painful harness for a Turbo diesel?

i gotta sawzall:ro) :grd:

Depends on who made the inst panel gages - all GM years are same.

All Ford are same till Mazda\OBD-I\II and all Chrysler are same till Mitsubishi\OBD-I\II, but none are interchangeable between marques.

PCM harness should be installed, complete, enters body thru lower passenger-side firewall.

Primary harness is for engine function - start, run, charge, gages, vehicle lighting - enters body thru lower driver-side firewall.

Rubber engine isolator pads should bolt into 454 frame\bracket setup.

I received a suggestion to swap over to the mechanical pump on a 93-95 6.5 litre. Any opinions on that idea?

Gm produced Motor Home chassis with a 6.5 & The ones I've seen were pushers. So someone built an instrument cluster not like the C series trucks. You need an OBD 11 instrument panel/cluster & diesel with a 97. Using the 92/ 93 version would be the way to go if the MH is that vintage.Every vehicle is OBD 96 & newer. "Supposed" to not install non OBD engine in OBD11 equipped

Any sensors will fit any engine, even 6.2..........

You'll have better luck with the '93 mech pump install - just move the sensors from the 454 to the 6.5, as they're probably stewart-warner.

Some of those still available from jcwhitney.com.

Same deal with AC - move the orig sensors.

Thanks guys! The motorhome is a 1988 model. I guess that makes it vintage? I have access to the complete truck with the 97 diesel so I can pull pretty much any part that I need. Might look a little goofy with a 97 instrument cluster. :)

If you prefer to stay with the DB4 pump I would suggest you pm GMCTD.
There may be people here that know as much about the electronic pump systems as him, but in my mind none around here know more than him.
IMHO
Merle