Diesel Power Options
 

I am looking for some information and opinions of the Banks Sidewinder Turbo System for the 6.2 Detroit Diesel.

For those who may have this system installed is the performance gains worth the cost of the system?

I am a huge diesel fan and want to get some more power in my truck. I'd prefer to stick with the 6.2 engine but for the cost of the Banks Kit i could be well on my way to joining the Cummins Swap Bandwagon.

I already intend to convert from SM465 to NV4500.

My truck is a 1985 K30 with the 6.2/SM465/NP205 setup.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

you could find a 6.5 and overdrive trans and direct swap too rather than cummins

or swap in a 6.5 turbo to your engine

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

You can use the turbo parts from used 6.5 engines on the 6.2 for much less coin. I'd like to do it to mine but don't understand all the diesel engine components well enough to have tackled it yet. Keyword being yet.;) Lots of guys have done it and documented it and the parts will be less than half the cost of a Banks kit if you shop carefully. Results are the same.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

yeah what i was saying. theres a write up on the net i have seen. maybeye on diesel place.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

The banks makes more power than the 6.5 turbo, on a 6.2 or 6.5.

You can put the 6.5 turbo on the 6.2 in a square, but it takes some mod-ing, the down pipe goes straight towards the frame and the turbo will not clear the under hood A/C box. Not an issue with the non-A/C trucks or aftermarket A/C.

The banks kits are very nice, but so expensive.
Keep your eyes open and you might find one used.
There is one on Craigslist up here. Like new for $1600.

There are a couple other aftermarket 6.2 turbo systems.
One is ATS....I can't remember the other at the moment...
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Re: Diesel Power Options
 

If you do go cummins look at the 4bt its a little harder to find but i seen one in a f250 with a work truck steel box on the back get 28mpg even as a 4x4.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

The 4BT has less HP and torque than a N/A 6.2L...
What's the advantage of it over a 6.2? Fuel mileage?
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Re: Diesel Power Options
 

Here's a turbo for a grand shipping included.

http://chico.craigslist.org/pts/2867920515.html

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

Of course cost is always an issue, but i have been saving for this truck project for a long time and i think the Banks Kit is the best way to go to get power out of the 6.2 Diesel.

Do any of you have experience driving a truck fitted with the Banks Kit and were the performance gains satisfactory?

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

for 1600 bucks you could buy a good 6.5 and 4l80e out of a junker or any 12 vavle. for about 2-3k you could pick up a duramax and swap it. that just isnt really cost affective imo.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

The Banks kit is better, it bolts in and does perform better. But it is pricey. Swapping in 6.5 turbo parts will require some fabbing but it's been done and documented many times over (for reference/help) and can be done much cheaper with used parts and time. When I said the performance would be same, that's not totally true. The Banks does perform better, but you'd probably need a dragstrip to tell the difference. You can get 10 lbs of boost out of the 6.5 turbo and that's all the 6.2 is reported to take. Many are putting in main stud girdles even at that level of boost. I'm biased because mine is a CUCV, so well done on a budget is paramount.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

I have a friend with a 1 ton crew cab, 4" lift with 35's.
He has the banks kit and loves it. I havent driven it...yet!
He has had 6.2's with a 6.5 turbo. He told me he prefers the banks set up. I am getting a 6.5 set up from him, now I just need to decide which truck is getting it :)
I thinking about fabbing up a center mount...

The cummins swap craze is getting old IMO.

Its much cooler to me to turbo a 6.2 with 6.5 stuff or the banks stuff...
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Re: Diesel Power Options
 

Agreed. If my 6.2 lets go nothing but another 6.2 will replace it. Possibly a 6.5, but nothing else. I didn't give these engines any respect when they were new but you see so many of them still running now in stock trim, great engine.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

For the money, you might consider going for a set of exhaust headers (such as Stans Headers) and a free flowing exhaust. You'll be about 80% there in terms of power over a Banks Kit at sea level. A while back, I installed a Banks turbo on an 83 K5 Blazer 6.2L diesel. The turbo definitely woke the engine up. Not long afterwards, I installed a set of Stans Headers with free flowing exhaust on my 82 6.2L Suburban. It also really woke up the engine. However, if I were doing it all over again, I would have gone with the headers on the Blazer. The engine compartment with the turbo looks very cramped compared to the engine compartment with the headers. As far as power, the turbo Blazer has a little more top end power but not as much power in the lower rpm range. Gas mileage wise, the Suburban with the headers wins hands down.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

Thanks for the heads up on Stans Headers. I'll be sure to take a good look at them.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

There may be other headers out there for this application so let us know what you find. Also, keep in mind a header that fits a GM 6.5L will also fit a 6.2L. Also, keep in mind that whether you go with a Banks turbo or headers/exhaust, it'll be a lot better but still won't keep up with the big boys. The Banks turbo only puts out about 9 psi max vs 40 psi on a Cummins. Yes, you can put on a bigger turbo for more boost but the 6.2L probably won't survive very long. The compression ratio is too high and the bottom end is too weak for that kind of boost.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

Could not agree more. It is an EXCELLENT engine,but way over played now.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

That is what alot of people say abut the SBC as well.

It all depends what your goals are.

If you are looking to suprise vettes, camaros, challangers, and mustangs with a 1ton then the 6.2 and 6.5 aren't going to cut it.

The parts for the 12v cummins are cheep, you could do a D-max but the injectors alone are stupid expensive read you could get a very nice turbo for the price of a good set of injectors.

buy the same token if you are looking for adequate power and really good mileage then the 6.2 and 6.5 are EXCELENT options.

Played out??:crazy:

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

I'd like to thank everyone for their information and advise.

I too agree that the novelty of the Cummins Swap is wearing off.

I have decided to swap in a complete 6.5L Diesel and try also to find a NV4500 at the same time.

Luckily my truck already has the Round 6-Bolt, 32 Spline, NP205 so it should make that more easily accomplished.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

get a lbz lly or lmm dmax you wont have to ever replace injectors

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

maybe I shouldnt have said "played out",as there are some VERY sweet builds using the Cummins. That being said, I dont think the average joe can afford the cost of the swap,so in an economic stand point,the 6.2/6.5 would be a GREAT choice for diesel power,you dont have to buy special adapters or trannys,custom make mounts,etc....
but yes, the small block chevy in anything BUT a chevy gets old. I hate seeing old Fords,Dodges,IHs,Amercans and such with the famed "SMALL BLOCK CHEVY"

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

If you can, stay away from the 6.5's with the piston oil squirters (1997-2001 #506 block). They were even more susceptible to bottom end cracks / failures.

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The reason so many cummins are swapped is they are easy to get and cheaper to make power with.If you want just a diesel for normal use the 6.2 and 6.5 are perfect.If your looking for a truck to drive and light use a 4bt isn't that bad and can be modded easy to make more power.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

I'm going to be looking for a Turbo 6.5L with Mechanical Injection from 92-93.

I was never going for amazing power levels, I just need a little bit more to pull the boat around town and get it up the boat ramp more comfortably.

Starting every traffic light in granny gear (L) and having to wind out the engine in second gear before shifting into third so it doesn't lug makes me uncomfortable.

Having looked at it i think a 92-93 6.5L with the early NV4500 will provide what i am looking for.

Re: Diesel Power Options
 

I've run 6.2s and 6.5s for over a quarter century. I'm a cast in stone GM man. But,I'd take a Cummins engine in a Chevy or GMC any day. They have their popularity from being tried and true. The 6BT was in service before Dodge ever put one in their crap buckets. What's played out is all the diesel performance hype. All these young chumps with smoke stacks and attitudes. I went diesel for torque,economy,low maintenance,and longevity. What do you need over 500hp for in a truck for? A diesel truck is for towing your gas powered race car. I grew up with high performance gas motors and that still what I love. I can blow away a pumped up diesel on my 110hp Harley and I'll take "that" sound of two cylinders @7,000 rpm over the moan of a diesel pickup any day. I think a 4bt is a wise transplant to bring a classic truck into practical daily use. You'll never get 28 mpg out of a V8 diesel. And,you can add more hp w/o hurting it. I've had them all...stock 6.2s,stock 6.5TDs,6.2 w/Banks Sidewinder,and 6.5TD Peninsular Marine 18:1 intercooled 325hp. I still have one each of the first two listed and love them for being what their intended purposes were and still are. I have also taken a 6.2 and added a fresh air intake,enlarged air filter housing/filter,and 3" exhaust which really woke it up. I am happy with the stock 6.2 power. I think headers are a great idea and hope to get some for my '85 Jimmy...then a 3" exhaust system. I figure that's added power that also helps the health of the engine by allowing exhaust gases to escape faster keeping the head temps down.