In regards to vacuum, diesels don't produce vacuum since they don't have a throttle, and so they use a vacuum pump. They run off the engine, but I imagine you c

In regards to vacuum, diesels don't produce vacuum since they don't have a throttle, and so they use a vacuum pump. They run off the engine, but I imagine you can get an electric driven one. Also many vehicles use electric driven pumps for power steering. I think the big thing, as others have pointed out, is buying the batteries and putting them somewhere in an old car.