Let's see those 6.2 Detroits!!!

[special-K]

^ What's really unique is one that'll hold up.

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

225hp-450 depending on what type of 6.5 its on. IE: Optimizer 6500, AMG/GEP P400, etc.

So technically Josh and Ryan, it is Cummins killing power.

Originally Posted by special-K

I'd call it 6.5 killing power. And you can get a lot more than 450 from a Cummins...and have it last.

I'll say it again,going for that much more power is a 6.5 killer. You can sit at a computer and read all you want,that doesn't make you an expert. You won't see these people talking about the blown motors. These motors in boats is a different story. They have a hole lake of water to cool with. I like these motors and have run them since before some people here were born. They are good (for the most part) for what they were designed as,economy,low maintenance,and longevity (for the most part). They are at best,"pretty good" and should be left pretty much stock. I was driving these things when I couldn't find anyone around who knew anything about them. Mechanics seemed to think they were no different than the 5.7s. I learned from experience and eventually I got on the computer and was on The Diesel Place. I learned a lot there and got all excited about performance,just like some of you are. I stopped going there when it seemed I was the one answering the questions and it became more about the Duramax. That's when I started posting here. I had my '92 6.5TD I bought new and never touched it. It has been a fantastic truck and now is just shy of 300,000k. Last year was the first time a head came off for new head gaskets. Now I have another coolant into cyl problem and haven't torn into it yet. That motor owes me nothing. My first was an '84 6.2 with Banks Sidewinder kit. I ran that 275k before selling to a friend who ran it for years,until the body rotted off and he sold it. I've had two seize up that I believe were both sudden coolant loss problems,like my '92 has now. My '92 started making white smoke,I parked it,and towed it home. I mean right then and there,just parked it and shut it down. So,I hope I can save it.
The motor in my'95 blew up at 135k. I had that truck just the way I wanted,now knew these motors were iffy,and decided to buy a crate motor all brand spankin' new from Peninsular Marine in '03. This was a GEP higher nickle w/beefed-up main webs,18:1,125 GPM,dual t-stat,medium duty turbo,and reworked DB2 pump. It's their 300hp motor. I added an intercooler,had the gauges, '97-up air cleaner with AFE filter,custom mandrel bent cold air intake,and BD 4"mandrel exhaust. I had it dyno'd at a friend's shop and it came out to 315 HP. That thing was a real nice running motor. I had fun being the under dog and dropping jaws on some Ford and Dodge owners,as well as all the "new to trucks" Duramax drivers. Sure,they could get more out of theirs,but they never expected to eat my black smoke. I really enjoyed rolling up the mountains with power to spare as I passed the Power Strokes with fading power. I was really happy with that truck and many people were impressed. Unfortunately,one evening I hit a curve (at reasonable speed) where an accident scene had just been cleared...all except the antifreeze all over the road. It was like hitting ice when the roads had been dry everywhere all day and it was early fall. I corrected and it whipped the other way (like on ice) and I was sideways all over the road and got t-boned,flipped,and totalled. I saved what I could off the truck,including the motor with 15,000 miles. I had my '92 with just over 200k on original IP,injectors,and glow plugs in need of service. I decided to put the Peninsular motor in to get my money's worth (over $9000) out of it. I got about 30k out of that until one day it started making a racket so I parked it and hauled it home. I thought it was the NV4500 and pulled that. Well,you could pull the flywheel back and forth an inch or more.I pulled the pan and found both a broken crank and broken main webs. This was 45,000 miles on all new parts. So,it wasn't a bad balancer. My '92 still has it's original balancer. I dug that original motor out of mothballs and put it back in with the injectors,pump,and glow plugs from the 600# $9,000 piece of junk. I'm convinced it was too much boost. These things just can't take it. And,even N/As die prematurely. I still run these,still like them. But,I'll say there are too many failures and/or limitations with these motors to brag them up as a great motor. I'll never waste my money on modifications. Just run'em as they are and make the most of them. I get 20-22 mpg in my '85 Jimmy with 12.50/35 rubber and 4.10 gears. That's something not many can brag from a rig that can hold it's own off road and not need a trailer to get it there. I get 13.5-15 mpg out of my '92. Nothing to get excited about. It used to be a lot better,like 18-20 when new. Just being honest