Frank, thanks for the kind words. I keep posting because it looks like quite a few poeple keep reading. Responses are good, too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
As far as I know (not too far sometimes), I have the only Sonoma diesel, mainly because GM never made one. They stopped making the S10/15 diesel in 1985, and my truck is a 1991. Certainly in Canada, anyway. Has anyone else done this? Who knows? Not too many people, I'll guess. Usually everyone wants MORE power, not less. I wanted a) a diesel, b) great fuel mileage, c) simplicity with reliability, and d) a diesel. I'm not a speed demon anyway, and I actually enjoy the little engine.
Possibly the diesel GM was more popular this end of the country. At least you are in the right country to look for a S10, as I believe they weren't available in US from what I can figure.
As far as the bell housing goes, you are right. It mates the T5 to the Isuzu, which is different than the 4.3. I've noticed there are a couple of small external modifications to make to the tranny to work. One is to shorten the carrier for the throw-out bearing, where the bearing slides on the input shaft of the tranny. This can be done with a hacksaw. I can give measurements if required. The second involves spacing the transmission out about 3/8" from the bell housing, due to a slightly longer spline on the input shaft of the gas T5 vs diesel T5. I spaced with a couple of thick washers at the 4 bell housing-to-transmission bolts. Works fine. Engine mounts on the frame side from a gas 4 cylinder look to be the same, so they are easy to find. I used the stock 4.3 rad. The diesel S10 had power steering already so that was easy. And a vacuum pump for the brakes.
The only other thing to know is that the diesel is a mechanically noisier engine than a gas engine. If your donor engine has intake muffling, use it, as intake noise can be annoying (diesels run with no intake restriction, so lots of intake roar). Also, it will buzz the interior of your truck/jeep more, also due to diesel vibrations. It won't rattle your teeth out or anything, but can get buzzy. I used the S10 intake "muffler", and it got rid of the "drone" I had in my particular cab. The Sonoma has quite a bit of sound insulation, so it's not bad at all. I like it, anyway. Gas is boring. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
Don't kick the idea much longer, and do it. You will have a unique vehicle with a reliable powerplant. And you can even burn cooking oil in it. I am thinking on the used cooking oil thing, just to try it. Lots to set it up reliably for that, and the solenoid is a part to locate, however that's another project......
