Project 67 GMC custom 6.5 turbo diesel

[mal68ibu]

So I never thought I'd be doing this but my 350 is going away and I'm dropping in a 1993 6.5 chevy diesel. This started out with me being pissed off about 10mpg and increasing gas costs. Oh ya and I have a friend that does builds custom veggie oil kits for diesels. This started with me buying a 6.2 to rebuild and twin turbo, but somone dropped a running 6.5 in my lap so I couldnt pass. The truck is an original paint 67 gmc custom 3/4 ton. Its about 95% rust free and pretty straight if you don't look at the tailgate. So if somone needs a complete motor (air cleaner to pan, 7 blade fan to flywheel) with exhaust system, its going to be up for sale. I have the engine currently torn down and have it degreased and new main bearings installed. Was getting ready to install the pistons when I noticed one was cracked.........so I have a set of brand new pistons on the way. Next up is pocket porting the heads. Here are a few pics.

[mal68ibu]

Oh ya check this out. Dont the old pistons look so nice with new rings bearings and redline?

[67_C-30]

Cool! I'm doing the same swap into my '67 C-30 dually pickup. Are you going to be running a mechanical injection pump, or are you venturing into the electronic pump?

[mal68ibu]

I pulled the 93 specifically because its mechanical. I'm going to run the 6.2 vacuum pump to operate my turbo 400, but for long term I'm thinking about maybe going back to a standard trans 5 speed OD.

[Spray-Bomb]

Just out of curiosity, how much boost / power are you trying to get out of your 6.5TD ???

The NV-4500 is a great trans for strength, but wont be a speed shifting trans

Not telling you what to do or being rude, but if your are trying to get much over 350 HP, you are waisting your time & money
6.2 / 6.5TD engines are ok, but arent power houses (Ive owned a few & tried to build power with them, so Im speaking from experiance)

If you are trying to get good MPG, then hi horse power isnt needed & you should be ok

But I dont see a 5-speed getting you better mileage, especially if you drive in town / traffic much
Yet a over drive Auto would be better

Matt

[mal68ibu]

I'm going this direction with a diesel swap because first off its a direct bolt up to the turbo 400 and the small block towers. Second parts are fairly cheap for the engine, versus doing a crazy duramax swap or cummins swap. And this engine was a complete runner when I got it. Not doing any mods to the turbo. Just helping the engine breathe a little better and tossing some marine injectors in it and bolting on an intercooler. Once its up and running I'll probably play around with water/meth injection and or propane injection. This is going to be a work truck. Not racing it, or doing more than pulling a single car trailer behind it. The only thing my fuel is going to cost me is time, and not much of it either. I'll still get to write off my mileage for my business, just wont have to pay for fuel. The only reason for the 5 speed swap would be because I drive mostly highway up here in norcal, and the truck has 3.55's. I really just want to be able to drive it 85mph on the highway, without spinning the motor to the moon.

[jkaylor68gmc]

I suggest you look up Heath Diesel, they are the guys with this gen engine,

tell them Chris Tobin from Diesel Builder mag recommended you

[mal68ibu]

Originally Posted by jkaylor68gmc

I suggest you look up Heath Diesel, they are the guys with this gen engine,

tell them Chris Tobin from Diesel Builder mag recommended you

I googled it but all I got was how terrible diesel exhaust is for your health. I wonder if Europe knows this? Or is Cali, the only one?

[jimmydean]

Awesome build!

I am still in the scouting phase for my 6.2l and will be using a 6.5 turbo setup on it. I am finding a lot of 82-84's, but my hopes are to find an 88+ to refresh.

I am swapping the brakes and steering to hydroboost and will stick with my Saginaw 3 speed until I get my Muncie M21 rebuilt.

[mal68ibu]

I have the entire hydro boost from the 88 burb that donated me the 6.2 I will not be using. Make sure if you go with the 6.2 and turbo stuff you studd the heads. I'm gonna stud my 6.5 just because I have the kit I was going to use on the 6.2.

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by mal68ibu

I have the entire hydro boost from the 88 burb that donated me the 6.2 I will not be using. Make sure if you go with the 6.2 and turbo stuff you studd the heads. I'm gonna stud my 6.5 just because I have the kit I was going to use on the 6.2.

I blame this article for leading down this path to begin with:

GM 6.2 build up

It's a great read and has helped me to avoid what NOT to get. Also, there is a lot of great info on dieselplace.com along with the awesome info board member Russell has been giving me.

I'm new to the diesel concept, but a friend and I are building a bio-diesel still at his house. He bought an '01 Dodge Ram 3500, I decided to stick with what I know and got the '71

I may end up just getting a runner in there for now and building a monster motor or saving for a Duramax/Allison combo as an upgrade later. Being on a tight budget sucks, but it's worth it.

[mal68ibu]

Jimmy,
Good call on that article. I read it after the fact and the 88 6.2 I have is a v-belt motor. We aren't sure what to do with it now and were thinking about finding a shoe box nova wagon and leaving the diesel stock and just pulling mpg on the cheap with it. Ya it took us a few pitchers of sierra nevada to come up with that one.

[mal68ibu]

Spray-bomb I've seen a few of these updated cooling set ups on ebay and wasnt sure about them. Its good to hear another opinion on it. My question is, how much of it do I need? Any good articles out there I can digest? For injectors I got a set of marine nozzles and am having my diesel guru buddy do the tear down-clean-rebuild for me. I'm still lost tho..............where is Health Diesel? Web? Brick-n-Morter? both?

[Spray-Bomb]

Definitely check out Heath Diesel, really good guys

The 5-speed is a good swap for the over drive & beings how you do actually tow something with this, the manual trans want be a problem (I just didnt know if this was a in town putter or a hauler)

For going 85 you are prolly gonna want something taller than 373's so it may not tow that great... There is a fine line there & you just have to decide which way you wanna go

The bigger injectors is a good deal, infact Heaths big injectors are pretty good

One thing you REALLY need to do to this engine, is get a 96 & later (IIRC) cooling system, they made a lot of changes to it & without it you will most likely over heat it

Also tell Bill that Lee Parker recommended you
He can help you with keeping this thing going & preventing some common problems with them

Im not saying that they are "bad" engines, just not Uber powerful

[Spray-Bomb]

The problem with the 18:1 engines, is that they are harder to start & arent as dependable

here is Heath Diesel

http://www.heathdiesel.com/

I beleive they changed the thermostat housing & the water pump, but I dont remember if there is more or not

[mal68ibu]

Thanx guys for the links. I'll check them out for sure as this is really my first venture into diesel engines. Was planning on manual controler for the glow plugs, but hadn't thought about anything other than stock plugs. Since the pics show where I'm at as of today (just degreased the heads and parts yesterday) I may look into the girdle. I'm also thinking of a fulidampr as my balancer is showing signs of wear.

[Spray-Bomb]

Yeah my dad had a harmonic balancer go out on his truck & it was actually hitting the block making a knock that we thought we had toasted the engine

I got under it with a light while it was running & found it tho

[djw32]

Mal,
What are you going to use for a wiring harness(motor)?

[mal68ibu]

Originally Posted by djw32

Mal,
What are you going to use for a wiring harness(motor)?

I'm using the stock engine harness for the most part. I'll be making a custom harness for the glow plug relay.

[mal68ibu]

Well its been a little slow going this week. I got my new set of pistons on Monday, and just got the rotating assembly back together and in the motor Thursday. Next up will be some pocket porting on the heads. Port match the intake and heads. Valve job and reassembly. Install the stud kit and flop the heads on it.

[mal68ibu]

I got a little busy on this thing the last couple days. I needed some time away from my business 24/7 schedule. Obviously from the pics I have quite a bit of the motor together. We tweaked the injection pump to put a little more juice out. Studded the top end of the motor. Threw a new timing gearset on. Beadblasted the intake and front engine cover. Painted it chevy orange to go with its new surroundings. I'm now waiting for the lower end girdle kit and the dmax fan, H/O water pump and 180 hi flow thermostat to show up before I bolt up the oil pan and toss the accessories back on. I was going to add a fluidampr to it but I've deceided to hold off for a little while because I still need to purchase the intercooler and piping kit. Maybe once I've sold the ranger I'll pony up the cash for the fluidampr. In the mean time I'll be tearing the front clip off the gmc pictured and removing the vacuum power brakes, engine, trans, and heater dog house. I'll give it all a bath and paint up all the tin under the hood.

[67_C-30]

Looks great! These engines look better with a color besides the factory black. I'm going with Detroit Diesel alpine green on mine since thewy were designed by Detroit. That's the color Detroit was using in '67 when the truck was built, so I felt it was fitting.

[mal68ibu]

Thats pretty sweet. My buddy wanted me to find a pair of old chevrolet scripted valve covers so he could cut the chevrolet out and graft it onto the drivers side valve cover for me, but that would have stretched my patience too much. I really wanted it to be chevy orange RIGHT NOW!!! I'll post more pics once I get the rest of the stuff bolted on and once I start tearing apart my truck.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by mal68ibu

Thats pretty sweet. My buddy wanted me to find a pair of old chevrolet scripted valve covers so he could cut the chevrolet out and graft it onto the drivers side valve cover for me, but that would have stretched my patience too much. I really wanted it to be chevy orange RIGHT NOW!!! I'll post more pics once I get the rest of the stuff bolted on and once I start tearing apart my truck.

Can't wait to see it!

[mal68ibu]

Manufactured some free time this week to cut and grind what needed to be (and then some) and get the engine nestled into its new home. Sorta. Everything is marked and the engine is resting there, but I need to pull it back out and have the towers welded down. I'll detail pics of my ugly cutting/hacking job on the frame and after everything is welded in and what I had to clearance on the th400 and maybe the frame to get the crossover tube to fit. Factory heat shields are a definate no-no on this project. No room for the studs or the tin. Hopefully I'll have the 6.5 in its final resting place pretty soon. Pics to follow.