i have long searched for the perfect diesel engine - for so long that i fear i may fit the definition of insanity (repeating the same actions while expecting different results). the driving reason for this was to have low-end torque (which can be accomplished with gearing on a gas motor) and more drivability since a diesel is more efficient than a gas motor. inspired by the rumored 4BT swap yielding 20 mpg (a second check mark in the insanity column) i've searched long and hard for something in the budget (below wife threshold).
those of you with gas motors, how much fuel do you have to buy? i want to be able to enjoy the truck (eventually) and if i continually choose to drive something else simply because of fuel cost, then i've failed.
i was getting about 10 mpg with the stock 230 prior to teardown. is an overdrive transmission and a gm tcase with a 350 going to improve this, i would expect the best that i could expect would be in the 16 mpg range.
thanks,
jay