1979 C10 350 diesel cold start

1979 Chevrolet C10 with factory 350 Oldsmobile diesel. Cold start at 15F. Not plugged in. Dual 5" stacks with flowmaster 40 mufflers.
Skip to 10:30 to see it actually start...

[@kaulincurtis9665]

Glad to see someone who understands how to not melt a starter motor. Most people hold it cranking for minutes at a time.

[@edm9760]

It starts at around 10:30

[@xcelerator67]

Becoming a rare item these days!

[@unitedfireybride]

This is the year truck I grew up with. My dad bought it brand new. But his was blue and it was a Scottsdale. Yes, it did have problems. My dad loved Diesel engines. He would not convert his to a gas. It gone through 3 engines the time he had it. The first replaced under warranty. Unfortunately, because dad was a volunteer firefighter, there was no babying the diesel under those circumstances and it had a few head gasket blown. He got rid of it in 1992 or 1993 I think. But that didn't stop him from getting another diesel. 10 years later, he went and bought another new truck, this time a 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 with a Duramax Diesel. Much more reliable at least and still has it. And doesn't run fire calls with it.

[@cowboyzr2]

Wow, what a cool truck! I have a '79 C10 that was originally a 5.7 Diesel. By the time I got it someone had already swapped a gasser into it. '

[@schneidnasty]

SmallBlockChev Thanks! Many of the diesel trucks have been converted at this point, but they make a great truck regards of what they burn. Probably a bit more reliable with the gasser though!

[@jamiewhitworth7183]

It would probably be faster to just walk wherever you’re going.

[@jjlawnservice5229]

Yeah they were far from there best motor

[@SchnelleKat]

Ultra-Rare truck right there, I have a 78 C10 with the Olds Diesel If you didn't know they only made around 2000 of these trucks with the Olds 350 Diesels & I have a Big list of contacts you collect these motors and trucks, most say they have not seen one with the engine in 20+ years... If I was you keep it from someone wanting to swap the engine out becasue one day it will be worth a shit ton... thanks for sharing the video!

[@schneidnasty]

82 Diesel, I know it's a rare piece but did not know how many were built. I do know I have never seen another one in person! The only info I have found regarding 350D equipped C10 production is based off of the parts store computers, stating they were equipped in 9% of C10s for 1979... I suspect around 90-95% of those have been either converted to gas, or scrapped! I figured I had better get a few videos up in it before they are all gone!

[@SchnelleKat]

Yup Ultra-Rare As I've said. I tried to get guys I know to sell me motors and none will & I know why Parts are Next to Impossible to find for and most guys Have to Remake or re-use everything they have... The reason how I got into these I have 2 trucks equipped with the 6.2 Diesel when I heard Oldsmobile made a Diesel I fell in love... because I also have a G-Body car & knew they put diesels in those. But yeah I'm not sure on what Percent of C10s Came with them but that's probably about right I just seen somewhere only around 2000 where made with them... But the Cars mainly is what had them and Quite lately I think the 5.7 Olds Disesl is coming back to lfie *A Bit* Seen A LOT of cars with them for sale. Hope you keep doing vids man! Subbed love the stacks.

[@SchnelleKat]

Another reason I fell in love with them is one day I was looking in Ohio Craigslist and found a 1980 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz with the olds diesel and in a Gorgeous forest green (matiliac a little) and had a Pearl white interior with Wood grain and dammit i should of bought it for $1200

[@Terminxman]

too bad those motors were complete junk and no one would ever want one other than to laugh at. It was basically a 350 sbc running on diesel, it was trash.

[@SchnelleKat]

Not True, And no It was NOT at 350 converted to diesel. you Sir need to do your research. The 5.7 Diesel was a result of 2 very catastrophic gasoline shortages in the 1970s. Gasoline was rationed. No one cared about power, they only cared about a big gas tank and better mpg. In 1978 the D block was released in Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs. The block is high nickel and very thick and has nothing in common with the gas 350 block except the head bolts are in the same spot. The same 1978 Olds in gas got 11mpg, the Diesel got 19 mpg on the same drive. By the late 70s no cars had power due to the gas shortages and virtually all of the new car Shoppers only cared about fuel economy and range. Lots of people could only buy gas on certain days of the week because it was rationed based on your address or if your social security number ended in an odd or even number. The 1978 and 1979 use the D block, due to some metal fatiguing and vibrations the D-Block was starting to crack on the lower part of the engine near the crank. For 1981 General Motors come out with the DX block which was much more strongly reinforced and held up quite well. These diesel engines saw lots of bad issues due to lots of water being in the fuel back then with the poor quality diesel that was available. People using the wrong engine oil in these cars. People spraying starter fluid or ether down the intake manifold and busting a piston when they would not start in the winter. People buying cheap and weak batteries when it takes two premium batteries to start these cars in the winter. Also people were pouring rubbing alcohol in their gas tanks to try to dissolve the water that was in the fuel, but these water dissolve it behave totally different in the presence of diesel fuel and do not work and in fact they destroy the injection pumps. The injection pumps had a plastic Governor rain which would often crack and break once the vehicle Got 5 to 7 years of age. By the mid 80s gasoline became very cheap again and people started buying gasoline powered cars again and car start to getting more powerful so the diesel engines just did not look good at this point and people stop buying them. Another major issue with these diesel engines is that nobody would let them warm up. These diesel engines need to warm up for at least 5 minutes before you really get them out an above 2000 RPM. The temperature differences between a block in the head would often make the head gaskets blow if you did not let the car warm up properly. I talked to tons of Old Farmers who put 200,000 miles on these cars with no issues, but they took excellent care of the cars and let them warm up and used only high quality heavy duty diesel engine oil in them. These General Motors diesel engines are probably one of the most misunderstood engines in modern history or if you go back 40 or 50 years. Almost everyone says they are a gas block, but they are not. In fact lots of guys in the 90s would buy these engines and make gasoline stroker engine because these blocks were so much stronger than the gasoline blocks and they could easily push out 500 to 800 horsepower

[@WeSRT4]

That thing is a MONSTER to start!

[@jamesdavies3226]

Can’t believe you sold this. What a god damn gem!

[@dwreckbaker6382]

Had an 81 Buick Regal with Olds 350 diesel, from the factory. Dad yanked that turd out when it broke and stuffed in a Olds 455 Rocket. This was in 1985 so back then it was a nasty car no one messed with. Black w/dark red. guts

[@brianproffitt7263]

Man I love these trucks ain’t nothing like a square body Chevy, but it would be even cooler to have one with the diesel

[@chrisj197438]

My dad had one with this motor. Crank broke and GM installed a new engine under warranty. Just after the warranty expired the head gaskets blew. He traded it in on a gas truck and never wanted a diesel again.

[@evanhisey5898]

Chevy gas truck ? Lmao. Idk man 7.3 diesel goes on average to 400,000 to 500,000 and seen some at 1 million miles. Chevy gas truck goes to what 140 to 150k before having serious issues. Maybe in the 80s that was a good choice. But mid 90s to current diesels is definitely the most reliable trucks. All manufacturers

[@chrisj197438]

@@evanhisey5898 He had the 5.7 olds diesel in his truck.

[@recycleman975]

great days

[@plowboy84q26]

This is accurate, takes a year to crank then blows up in a week

[@joegonzalezjr64]

U dont need to wait for so long just need replace the plugs tha will fix the problem

[@schneidnasty]

I sold this truck last summer, so that fixed it lol. The new owner actually has it torn down for a rebuild and found all sorts of issues while it was coming apart. Incorrect piston/deck height, fuel timing, etc. He'll be sticking new glow plugs in when it gets reassembled though :)

[@snoopytheace4487]

@@schneidnasty I'm SO glad to see this. I've already seen one of these with the diesel get ripped out for some generic ls swap. I'd LOVE to get my hands on one of these but people keep trashing them.

[@americanmusclemaniac9565]

Hey man do you mind if I use this video for my KZbin channel, I will credit you

[@gearhead9943]

Awesome video. Would love to see a cold start like this from the side or inside so we can see what you were doing with the throttle. I’m very curious.

[@schneidnasty]

Gearhead I'll see what I can do! Need to wait for the weather to cool back off for now.

[@gearhead9943]

schneidnasty please!

[@schneidnasty]

Gearhead I ended up selling the truck a month or so ago, but the new owner might put a video or two up! I'll put a link if he does!

[@andrewfournaris8790]

You should get the 6 Volt hot shot I have 1981 Buick lesabre with a 5.7 diesel with a injection pump really leaky and she still starts easy!This is factory for 1981.

[@patrickflohe7427]

6 volt hot shot?

[@andrewfournaris8790]

See if you can upgrade the glow plugs from a 1981 model or check your current glow plugs and possibly your timing.

[@jessenelenaable]

I have the same truck how much u think its worth

[@justinstearns9723]

My dad bought a 78 C10 Diesel brand new, after a couple years and lots of problems he traded it in for a new 81 El Camino.

[@jackwatters9502]

I had an 80 C30 with a 350. Once it got below about 5 F• she was pissed about waking up, lol. Felt like it was about to shake apart for the first few seconds

[@79c15]

Love the van mirrors

[@stantaylor3350]

Gm should have put a 6v 58 in those pickups. Awesome 2 stroke sound, with a 4 x 2 twin stick argh argh argh more power!!!

[@Hubjeep]

I wonder how many were sold with the diesel! Rarely do I see a C10 with the diesel, but there are a few GM cars with this engine on KZbin!

[@acres90]

Because the engines thrashed within 20k miles...most were replaced with a 350 olds gas engine...when i say most i mean all

[@thisguy014]

Probably could have edited the first 11 mins off this video. Bud.

[@mikemotteberg3527]

That Chevy and that battery charger have something in common, They're both die hards !

[@zackwelch56]

I have a 6.9l IH and I can’t get mine st start easy it’ll crank and crank for about 1-2 minutes then it might crank if the battery don’t go dead I’ve replaced the plugs would u know wats wrong with it

[@schneidnasty]

Zack Welch, could be many things... Low compression, failed glow plug relay/module, weak fuel pump, worn injectors, etc. I'd start with the glow plug system first as that is the easiest and cheapest!

[@zackwelch56]

schneidnasty I was thinking I could be getting air in the return lines or something it leaks in the caps to the injectors but I can’t find a place that carries stuff for that motor

[@schneidnasty]

Zack Welch, I wouldn't think air in the return lines would cause a hard start being the return fuel shouldn't intermingle with the supply fuel until it reaches the fuel tank. It COULD be an air leak in the fuel supply though! I had to replace the rubber fuel supply lines on mine as they were cracked and letting air in. Before replacement, it started running weird if it got under 3/4 tank of fuel. Air in these fuel systems will definitely cause some weird issues!

[@zackwelch56]

schneidnasty thanks man u helped a lot

[@mattlarson7881]

Get on Facebook forums, they will help you

[@majortom80]

Great clip in old pair of sneakers please Next Time ans see you complete sittin in Ordnung

[@anthonyholmes195]

My dad had a 78

[@samr4166]

SKIP TO THE END THANK ME LATER

[@davidcarder6364]

Look,it took me forever to start my piece of Chevy.

[@GH-el9ch]

Jealous..

[@davidcarder6364]

@@GH-el9ch of what?

[@GH-el9ch]

@@davidcarder6364 just because everyone always jealous of Chevy ..no matter what it is

[@1fastgranada]

She was pissed!

[@schneidnasty]

1fastgranada That she was!

[@MrHowieZ1973]

Don't be shy with the starting fluid .These trucks should have come with a starting fluid injector . lol

[@schneidnasty]

Harvey Zearing, I never hit mine with the ether as I'm sure it wouldn't play well with the 22.5:1 compression! That and it seems once you introduce a diesel to ether, they won't start without it! I ended up selling the truck to a good friend of mine who is now using it as a shop truck. He's been loving it so far!

[@Sams88990]

@@schneidnasty good man. mine came with the starting fluid warning on the air cleaner lid. the glow plug controllers on these werent worth a damn. i switched to a momentary and a toggle for the cold start advance solenoid. starts better than my 7.3 psd

[@patrickflohe7427]

Never, EVER use starting fluid on a 5.7 diesel. They tell you not to for a reason.

[@MrHowieZ1973]

@@patrickflohe7427 I was joking. It's called sarcasm lol

[@roberthentschelmann916]

Yes, let's floor the accelerator on a cold diesel engine. That seems like a good idea. 🙄

[@schneidnasty]

1/4 throttle maybe? No throttle=no start. Is it ideal? No. Necessary? Yes. The instructions on the visor recommend 1/4 - 1/2 throttle for cold starts. I'm not a fan of sending them to the Moon on a cold start, but if that's what it takes to get it started, so be it.

[@BrodieBr0]

Now, the 350 Olds (stock) were one of the more fragile diesels made but that's how you start a lot of older diesels. Not full throttle but 1/4 to a half like the video uploader stated. Mind you almost ALL industrial generators for hospitals and other important facilities are diesels and start up at full throttle even at -30 below. Best to ALWAYS plug them in to save on tons of wear and tear at 30f to 40f though. This is a beautiful antique truck, and I'm glad this piece of history was shared with us!

[@TheSearchandfind]

hahaha, it sings before it cranks!

[@jeffleblanc8850]

Ther wierdmto me it has the rumble of a 350 and it has a diesel sound to go with it really sounds like shit to me I have a 6.5 td and ther are not no better gm should have stuck to gas I’m putting th third motor in it as we speak I had a bad one with junk block and heads cracked so this is the last one if I have prob to the scrap yard or up for sale

[@natehawkins2910]

2 hours later...

[@snookysnax]

late for work again !.

[@acres90]

There is no way in hell this engine is original

[@GH-el9ch]

Why?

[@acres90]

@@GH-el9ch because they were crap engines. 20k miles and there goes a head gasket. 50k there goes the injector pump. 60k there goes the cam. That's why

[@acres90]

Still a nice ass pickup though

[@MavAuto-Pete]

10-minutes waste of my time...could of been edited

[@grishakostinyan438]

Nou Cold Start

[@shlacked2690]

worst engine ever

[@RustyChevy]

How so? I haven't found much info on them I picked one up for $200

[@shlacked2690]

RustyDuramax be ready for it to blow up in a matter of days

[@schneidnasty]

Can't be all that bad. 40 years old and still runs! Just takes 10 minutes to start it when it's cold haha

[@dr.fishing5740]

They aren't BAD, just not good... They are literally a 350 converted to run on diesel.. lol. I'll keep my Duramax... I'd advise you to do the same. But hell, for $200 I'd buy one too to mess around with!

[@dalton7535]

@@schneidnasty would you be interested in selling it? Im restoring my Pa's 78 GMC. He swapped a gas 350 rocket into it when it blew up, but still has the diesel badges.

[@boobayloo]

I had no patience to watch past half of this video...