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Never knew about this Oldsmobile diesel. Definitely doesn't look like an Oldsmobile engine. Too bad they don't list the compression ratio, I bet it's higher than 20:1.
Very interesting Jesse. It is idiotic thinking like this that helped lead to the demise of Oldsmobile. It is an interesting but pathetic engine. Thanks for posting.
I remember when this was first written up in the magazines. The prototype is on display at the REO Museum. The asymmetry was made possible by use of a balance shaft. The whole point was that it was a smaller diesel for cars like the Firenza and Cavalier that could be machined on the existing V8 production line.
Thanks for posting the pics Joe. That's interesting that they could use the existing production line to manufacture this diesel. I suppose that's why they originally went with the 350 diesel.
Thanks for posting the pics Joe. That's interesting that they could use the existing production line to manufacture this diesel. I suppose that's why they originally went with the 350 diesel.
Exactly. That's also why the Buick V6 is a 90 deg motor as opposed to the inherently-balanced 60 deg V6.
it’s a 60deg . Which looks like it’s based off the 2.8 Chev V6. Very similar looking head and ex ports, rear bell housing is the same. Intake is very narrow at the block.
looks like stock 2.8V6 rocker covers notched to clear the huge head bolts
Last edited by CANADIANOLDS; July 2nd, 2023 at 12:58 PM.
I searched for info on V5 engines and got hits on the VR6/VR5 VW engine. It was introduced a few years after this Olds diesel and was designed for FWD transverse mounted engine cars.
it’s a 60deg . Which looks like it’s based off the 2.8 Chev V6. Very similar looking head and ex ports, rear bell housing is the same. Intake is very narrow at the block.
looks like stock 2.8V6 rocker covers notched to clear the huge head bolts
You are correct about the 60 deg bank angle. My error. I was thinking this was derived from the V6 diesel, but clearly it is not. This shot shows it clearly. There's nothing in common with the Chevy however. The Chevy architecture has the intake run under the valve covers like the Ford FE motors.
Nothing in common? Other than everything I mentioned earlier , plus the oil filter is in the same spot, the front water passages are the same, the ex manifold layout looks identical. Even the timing cover and water pump looks the same.
i know about the FE. Its intake face is 90deg to the head deck surface, while the 2.8 60 isn’t, it’s laid back towards the outside of the engine which is why it intersects the valve cover seal.
if the 2.8 head intake face was 90deg, it wouldn’t be in into the rocker seal…just like the pic shows.
what it looks like they did when they designed the diesel head, they just made the head 90deg…it had to be way more robust, so that makes sense. The distance along the China wall looks the same as the 2.8, that wouldn’t change
GM also had heavy duty parts available for the 2.8 ,like the Bow tie block , 4 bolt caps etc. they would have had to strengthen the block..easy to do with available parts.
I wonder if the deck height, crank journals , and bore spacing are the same as the 2.8?
Last edited by CANADIANOLDS; July 2nd, 2023 at 05:10 PM.
GM did some pretty stupid stuff back then in the diesel program…none of them were clean sheet designs . I doubt this one was either,,especially since it never went in to production…it looks like they bastardized the existing 60 V6
This thing could probably be used in an agricultural application doing something like driving an irrigation pump. I can't imagine any other use for it.
would like to see under the valve covers.looks like they have more then 4 bolts per cylinder unlike the 5.7 diesel.also i can only assume the spin-on filter on the back side is a fuel filter,bet that would be fun to bleed.cool pics thanks joe.never knew about a v5,i have a 4.3 v6 sitting in my garage from an 84 celebrity wagon i used to have.and have had thoughts like redoldsman of using it for other things like a generator possibly.
July 2nd, 2023, 05:30 AM
