The only retrofit that I know of is Tinworm, who is doing one with an MB616.

Lots of modifications to the project. (It ain't just paint !)

Uncle Bob

 

I was thinking of something like this: isuzu 6de1 dmas v6 diesel It is a 3l V6 diesel. I am guessing that being a v6 with a smaller displacement than the stock 4.3, it would be easier to squeeze under the hood of an Astro. The full specs from the page are:

The 6DE1 DMAX V6 engine is a DOHC 24V turbocharged engine with 184 PS (135 kW) and 400 N·m (300 lb·ft) of torque as found in the Euro IV specification Vauxhall Vectra.

Bore x Stroke: 87.5 mm x 82 mm Displacement: 2,958 cc (2.958 L; 180.5 cu in)

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMAX_V6_engine

If this could be mated to a 5 or 6 speed auto tranny.....

There was even a 4.3l v6 diesel made quite a while ago...

 

I just did a google search on the LF9 engine which is essentially a standard GM/Chevrolet 350 with a diesel head, manifold and throttle body bolted to the top of it. For a while I was thinking that this might make an easy conversion in spite of how horrible that engine was.

Well in my search I discovered that they also made a 4.3 V6 version of that same engine called the LF7 that they put in the late 70's Oldsmobiles. I suppose that if there are any 78-79 diesel Oldsmobiles on the market, you might find something that will bolt-in.

Also I wonder how hard it would be to build your own diesel head components the same way that GM did.

 

My uncle had one of those GM diesel trucks. Had 3 engines in it. Seems the issue is they redesigned the head not the block. It can't stand the compression and harmonics a diesel puts out. Cracks blocks and strips head bolts. That was the dealers story and he sticking to it. Or the dealer just couldn't put a crate motor in correctly.

His didn't like the long mountain hills so much. He was a lawyer. He broke down after 6 months with each engine pulling the same freeway hill empty no load, on the way to work.

 

Well in my search I discovered that they also made a 4.3 V6 version of that same engine called the LF7 that they put in the late 70's Oldsmobiles. I suppose that if there are any 78-79 diesel Oldsmobiles on the market, you might find something that will bolt-in.

Really, really, really bad engine. We had an '83 Olsmobile Cutlass Supreme wagon with that engine. I've never been so happy in all my life as when that engine blew - at 53,000 miles. And we babied the thing....mostly because you had to. Took 2 miles to get up to 55 mph.

Cracked the block and blew the head gasket, iirc.

 

The diesel engine that was converted from the small block v-8 and v-6 was used in cars, and did indeed have a lot of problems - Some folks say that properly maintained and driven it could last a long time, but most people had trouble with them....

The diesel that GM put in trucks was the 6.2L and 6.5L V-8 diesel that was made by Detroit diesel... It was built from scratch as a diesel and was a dependable engine, though not extraordinarily powerful in it's original 6.2L normally aspirated form.... The later 6.5 turbo versions could definitely move some truck and trailer, though.... They can last quite a while, though usually need head gaskets at some point - I got well over 300k out of one,and it was still going when the van went to the salvage yard (but it had head gaskets done, and the injection pump replaced twice)....They were designed to bolt in where a 350 would go, so would be an easy swap, relatively speaking... Someone did this successfully, there is (or was) a youtube video of his Astro with a 6.5 in it....

The OP asked about newer diesel technology, though, and those old GM diesels are strictly old school.... A newer diesel in an Astro would be pretty sweet, IMHO - clean, powerful, efficient... Sadly, though, probably pretty expensive...

 

I remember couple years ago someone did a Diesel four banger swap from a Jeep mail truck onto a cherokee sport without much troubles.. I know there's enough room under the doghouse in the astro/safari, also remeber the guy was trilled with the resulting double torque delivery and the little increase in fuel mileage... i think it was on four wheeler mag.
Dang..... More bench racing for tomorrow at work.

 

I remember couple years ago someone did a Diesel four banger swap from a Jeep mail truck onto a cherokee sport without much troubles.. I know there's enough room under the doghouse in the astro/safari, also remeber the guy was trilled with the resulting double torque delivery and the little increase in fuel mileage... i think it was on four wheeler mag.
Dang..... More bench racing for tomorrow at work.

Thanks! Yes, I am looking at something more recent - the old GM stuff was just a whimsical shot in the dark. Do you remember which 4 banger he used? I have checked into a number of diesels as possible candidates...one of the major issues - besides electrical and adapters - is that most 4 and 6 cylinder diesels are too tall. That is why I was interested in the Isuzu v6 3.0

 

I've read that there may be a diesel Colorado next year (I think its already overseas). I don't know the specifics though. Also Cummings put a diesel in a Nissan pickup. Those may be smaller in size that could squeze into an astro. I think new diesel technology is really swell and love the thought of one in an astro!

 

I read those articles in petersons 4wheel drive mag last year sometime.

 

I know of an old timer in California who has a 3-53N Detroit Diesel in an Astro Van. Thats a 900lb, 100hp, 3 cylinder, 2 cycle, 159 cubic inch engine, with around 330lb/ft torque. His engine was pulled from a military gamma goat (aluminum block vs your typical cast iron) for about a 200lb weight savings. Last I heard from him, he was getting 26 mpg in his van on the highway screaming at 2100rpm. The engine is backed by an Allison AT545 transmission. I unfortunately havent seen any pictures of his rig. He mentioned that the doghouse had to me modified extensively to fit the huge engine. Yes a 3 cylinder Detroit Diesel is larger than a 4.3L, and probably twice the weight,

Chris