Daydreaming, Diesel, help my project car in my mind - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

So ever since seeing the Audis and Peugeots in ALMS have such success with diesel engines, I have been daydreaming about some diesel powered project car. I really can not afford one now, nor even have a garage big enough to undertake it myself. So guys (and gals?) please indulge me and help me out with some ideas. Let's dream it!

So, how awesome could a 4th Gen Trans Am be, for Autocross, daily driving, and some HDPE events (this is what **I** would do with it to start, no road racing just yet)?!
There are axles we can put in it that will handle 700lb feet of torque, like truck axles. Would any reasonably fit? What GM axles would do the trick? 12 bolts of course, or 14 bolt?
I'm sure we can find or make an axle that can handle 700lb ft.
TransZilla makes a T56 they claim can handle 1200 hp, so I'd imagine the torque would be no problem either.
And for the engine, some Cummins engines I've seen rated are around 650lb ft. for some 6-ish liter engines. GM Diesels (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Duramax_engine) like the LMM, LMK, LML, LGH series look promising, and clean.
I know that they will probably be a lot heavier than an LS series alum block, but how much more?
At first I thought maybe to gear it low for crazy acceleration, but then I thought maybe the current gear ratios, for at least 1,2,3 would be more than enough for some really great pickup on an AX course. Sometimes at our smaller courses I stay in 2nd but I'm down at 2000 rpm after a turn. With 2x the torque, acceleration out of a turn should be fantastic. We could change the gear ratios on 4,5,6 to have a really good top speed for the track.

OK So what are anyone else's thoughts? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

SuperMacGuy View Member Profile	Jan 20 2011, 10:58 PM Post #1
Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,019 Joined: 18-September 04 From: State College, PA Member No.: 462	So ever since seeing the Audis and Peugeots in ALMS have such success with diesel engines, I have been daydreaming about some diesel powered project car. I really can not afford one now, nor even have a garage big enough to undertake it myself. So guys (and gals?) please indulge me and help me out with some ideas. Let's dream it! So, how awesome could a 4th Gen Trans Am be, for Autocross, daily driving, and some HDPE events (this is what I would do with it to start, no road racing just yet)?! There are axles we can put in it that will handle 700lb feet of torque, like truck axles. Would any reasonably fit? What GM axles would do the trick? 12 bolts of course, or 14 bolt? I'm sure we can find or make an axle that can handle 700lb ft. TransZilla makes a T56 they claim can handle 1200 hp, so I'd imagine the torque would be no problem either. And for the engine, some Cummins engines I've seen rated are around 650lb ft. for some 6-ish liter engines. GM Diesels (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Duramax_engine) like the LMM, LMK, LML, LGH series look promising, and clean. I know that they will probably be a lot heavier than an LS series alum block, but how much more? At first I thought maybe to gear it low for crazy acceleration, but then I thought maybe the current gear ratios, for at least 1,2,3 would be more than enough for some really great pickup on an AX course. Sometimes at our smaller courses I stay in 2nd but I'm down at 2000 rpm after a turn. With 2x the torque, acceleration out of a turn should be fantastic. We could change the gear ratios on 4,5,6 to have a really good top speed for the track. OK So what are anyone else's thoughts? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

trackbird View Member Profile	Jan 21 2011, 03:56 PM Post #2
FRRAX Owner/Admin Group: Admin Posts: 15,432 Joined: 13-February 04 From: Ohio Member No.: 196	A power stroke (7.3) is 900 lbs and "huge". We swapped one in a 2001 F250 and I had it on a skid in the back of my truck for a few days. It's not likely to fit under the hood of an F-body, and the 15 quart oil pan is not likely to clear "anything" like our K members. We had a struggle getting one into a 2001 F250 (it's so tall, it hits the cowl when you lift it off the mounts and that was with the nose off of the truck). I'd look at a TDI from VW or something similar. Maybe something from the Toureg? (or BMW, the diesel that was in the Jeep Liberty for a year or two, etc).