Scott

I don't think you want any less than a 100 amp alt in a diesel application. You're charging two batteries and those cars usually have a heavy electrical accessory load.

From my hands-on experience with the 5.7L Olds diesels in Chevy pickups, the pumps and such are the main trouble problem areas. The boots on the return lines can cause problems too, due to age and such. It might be possible to get a diesel shop to build some lines without the boots.

On your "how many" engine?? Key thing is to use a oil with the correct diesel rating on it and change it as specified. Plus add a water separator to the fuel system, something GM refuesed to do from the factory.

One key difference that caused many problems is that the 5.7L Olds diesel was a "light duty" diesel and not a "heavy duty" diesel as you would find in over-the-road diesel trucks. Key distinction. That's why the earlier ones were not rated for trailer towing applications.

There were many differences in the diesels over the years. Different pistons in the different car lines for noise concerns, for example, plus the well documented cylinder head applications for each model year. Plus specific pump calibrations.

Those Olds gasoline motors back then had one of the strongest bottom ends in the business and the crankshafts were from the meanest Olds 455s that ever lived, so there was definitely some beef down there to start with. The "wimpy" ones were the 260cid diesels in the Cutlasses, but they tended to run better and longer than the 350s for some reason.

There obviously were some quality issues in the assembly of these motors at the factory level. I drove our parts trucks as hard as they'd go and never broke anything in 70,000+ miles, but little old ladies broke crankshafts on the way to the grocery store. So, don't blame your "how many" motors on the design, but on the rebuilder and their employees expertise.

In prior times, the factory authorized GM reman 5.7L diesels came from A.E.R. manufacturing. A.E.R. is the Ford Authorized engine rebuilder and also does many of the current AC-Delco reman engines.

Once you learned to drive, operate, and understand the different characteristics of those 5.7L diesels, they are really good engines if you take care of them.

Email me direct if you have any other questions or concerns.

As for the moldings and such, some are still available (i.e., bumper fillers), but you'd better get what you can as soon as you can before GM discontinues them for good.

Enjoy!
NTX5467@cs.com