to Turbo, or not to Turbo?

[SEAFIRE]

Got a pair of 1968 AM General M35A2's. The serial #'s on the trucks are 51 digits apart.

One of them has a LDT-465-1C, the other one has a LD-465-1C. The truck with the turbo engine was rebuilt by the DoD in the 80's, I can find no rebuild stamps on the non-turbo deuce.

Question:
Is it possible to convert the LD to a LDT?
We have spare turbo's, and a pair of spare LDT-465-1D's we can strip parts off of. We'd rather just convert to a turbo, than swap out engines. The LD is a good running engine with no leaks.

 

[red devils dude]

yes it's possible to convert the LD to a LDT and very easy but unless it's smokeing or you want to turn up the fuel
there's no real point to doing a conversion but just my .02

 

[Wyattearp]

SEAFIRE, if you have access to MV MAGAZINE, there is an article done by our very own Cranetruck on this conversion,, issue#94 page50...

 

[FSBruva]

Well, when you drop the pedal on an N/A deuce, you see all your precious unburnt diesel fuel being donated to the atmosphere as black smoke... that's no good. The conversion yields several pounds of boost that wouldn't otherwise be there, so my guess is it at least helps with fuel economy, and possibly helps with getting some more power.

Matt

 

[SEAFIRE]

Wyattearp,
I don't subscribe to MV magazine, and have never even seen a issue. I only recently started learning about Deuces due to my winning the election for fire chief. While I get my deuce fix playing with the dept Deuces, someday I would like to own my own.

We have two decent Diesel mechanics in the dept, but their knowledge of Deuces is kinda slim. We recently bought a engine gasket kit, 2 complete sets of filters, and a engine rebuild manual from Boyce equipment.

BTW, the gasket kit was made in 1968? how do I tell if it's the improved gasket set I keep hearing about?

We have a pair of spare engines, both of them LDT-465-1D's, one has a broken rod, and is our "parts" engine. The other one is in good shape and was rebuilt by the DoD in 1992.

We have 4 extra turbos, and can strip the manifolds off of our "parts" engine to convert the LD to a LDT.

 

[Desert Rat]

How close are y'all to Houston?

 

[red devils dude]

I can send you a um "addvice article" on adding a turbo but need a email address.

 

[M543A2]

We added a turbo (whistler) to my son's truck. No manifold switching necessary. The only thing different on manifolds is the adapter on the intake that has the heater in it. You need one for the turbo model to bolt onto the existing intake. It really is a case of adding the necessary parts. Since you have a turbo model, you can compare and easily see what needs to be done. The larger exhaust pipe typical of the turbo models is a good idea. We turned up the fuel also to take advantage of more air into the engine. We get smoke if we want it for power, but you control that with your foot and mind! The smoke clears to a haze after boost comes up. Fuel mileage is in the low 20's, again if you control your foot position. On the highway out from under a light Duramax and Power Strokes will recede into the rear distance when we give it all it has. It appears the natural motors have higher compression than the original turbo models, so you can take benefit of the boost by turning up fuel without sacrificing mileage if you use common sense on the throttle until you want to "smoke" somebody! Don't be afraid of the engine's durability. The same engine is used in White farm tractors, turned up and running hour after hour at high load levels with no problems. In short, we are very pleased with it.
Regards Marti

 

[rdixiemiller]

Marti
What kind of fuel economy numbers are you getting? I thought I saw "low 20's".

 

[cranetruck]

Figured it was a misprint.