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[Gabriel Anast]

Here is a truck that I would buy if I could... but I can't, so someone here should.

It looks like the tranny will need to be cleaned... and some minor electrical work, but this vehicle combined with the engine is just about the best bugout truck I can imagine:

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/1427974771.html

--gabe

[Gabriel Anast]

I am pretty sure you don't have two of these...

This truck has a 5.9l Cummins... The stock diesel was a 6.2l and although it is a serviceable engine, it is, in my opinion one of the worst diesel engines ever designed... the 5.9l Cummins on the other hand is possibly the best designed small truck diesel ever. That said, I too have a truck with a 6.2l diesel, and I like it... just wish I had the Cummins.

The 5.9 starts on compression, not heat... so it does not have glow plugs... a major headache and (in my opinion) a totally unnecessary feature on almost all other diesels. On a really cold day just start it with ether.

The beauty of diesel's up to about 1994 is that they are basically EMP proof. A nuke goes off anywhere near you and you won't be Tom Cruise in the opening scenes of War or the Worlds wondering why his car doesn't start.

Finally, this Suburban... the one I have linked has 1 ton suspension and a gear vendor transmission... which means that it can tow a really big trailer up really big hills. Another thing that the 6.2l stock from Chevy could not do.

Anyway... its an amazing rig... and $5000 is actually a good price.

--gabe

[Gabriel Anast]

Oh.. and these old diesels can be pretty easily coaxed to run on all kinds of fuels... kerosene, mixes of motor oil and gasoline, transmission fluid, filtered french fry grease... its a beautiful thing after the lights go out.

--gabe

[David Coles]

Curious... is there  a good resource somewhere for which engines (late 80's, early 90's) make for good EMP engines?  I know a fair bit about cars & trucks (enough to maintain ours, including engine rebuilds and transmission swaps, etc) but don't know the specific criteria to make something anti-EMP... obviously computer chips & electronic ignitions are out...

I've got a 91 F250 with the 7.4L FI gas engine... I love the truck and it has no main onboard CPU that I know about... I've always sort of assumed that I would be able to get it going (other big priorities have come first) but now that I sit down and give it some serious thought, I don't really know. 

I know I could get my 87 Honda going (last mass produced consumer engine with a carburetor, or so I'm told) but that's a less-than-ideal BOV since we'd have to put at least one kid in the trunk, depending on if we brought the dog.

[Gabriel Anast]

Your Ford should be good... I'm about 97% on that anyway. Another great engine too, by the way.

This search should point you in the right direction:

http://www.google.com/search?q=bugout+emp

--gabe

[David Coles]

That truck is as close as I've gotten to loving something from the material world... which no one really understands, since on the outside she's a true beater with more primer than paint... but she's like the Millennium Falcon - doesn't look like much, but she's got it where it counts... the 7.4 is truly a fantastic engine, all 11mpg of it.

Digging through some of those forums that came up made me all super-paranoid... Russians with EMP grenades and stuff...

http://www.scribd.com/doc/246759/Emp

So I've decided to sell my cars and buy a covered wagon and get all "Little House".  My wife will be thrilled.

[doug-again]

Curious... is there  a good resource somewhere for which engines (late 80's, early 90's) make for good EMP engines? 
I know I could get my 87 Honda going

Great topic gabe... Dave, doesn't that 87 carb have a bunch of solenoids on it?  If so, you'll need to shield it really good, and keep a bunch of spares around.  i wouldn't discard the idea of keeping around a little roller skate car for supply and border runs, or whatever.  It's not a bad idea. i do thinks it's an error to be looking for anything after '78 in electric, though.  If you go gas, keep a complete ignition system for spare, stored in a copper foil lined box or something.  Solder all the seams.  i thought to advise shielding the turn signal solenoids, but why?  You'll be the only one on the road!  Of course, they will get burned out by the emp, and you'll have to splice around them to get your lights on.  Oh, remember those late model trannys have solenoids that get fried too; really, the older the better.

[servantgirl]

Hey Gabe and guys,
Hubby and I recently bought an 84 chevy military blazer. It's got the 6.2L. I think it's totally cool, besides its obvious bugout coolness (blackout lights, camo paint, etc). But we don't know much about diesels, and we are a bit worried about the 6.2's reliability/likelyhood of problems. Is that an issue? Would it be any different because it's a military vehicle? BTW, that's a split 12/24v system with 2 alternators.
Thanks!! 

[Gabriel Anast]

It should be more durable because it is the military version.

The things that always go out if you are not careful are the glow plugs (terrible design component of the 6.2) and the starter (its easy to burn up a starter on these... be careful... if its not starting, don't just keep cranking).

The cooling system (typical GM problems during that time period) is something to be aware of... the military units might have oversize radiators which is good.

...and learn how to prime the fuel system. The 6.2s do not have easy priming units on them. You can get them aftermarket though.

--gabe

[Gabriel Anast]

Two more...

http://pueblo.craigslist.org/cto/1596823722.html
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/1631402683.html

...and another:
http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/cto/1635309787.html

[Gabriel Anast]

Here's one in upstate NY. This one is only 2wd, and has a smaller engine... but it is a great engine despite the size. It can be converted to run an almost any liquid or gaseous fuel, etc. Well taken care of this old rusty truck probably has another 200k miles left in it... if you can believe that(!)

http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/1847404768.html

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