6.5 Diesel

[67-72williso]

Finally, one step foreward. I got the 6.5 Diesel in the 72 K-20 frame today.

[vtblazer]

Cool conversion, I've heard it a decent swap, both relatively easy and functional.

What tranny are you planning on running?

[special-K]

COOL!!I have some questions.I`m familiar with these,but not with that manifold.It`s 6.5TD (GM made 6.5 N/As for a couple years),but is that a Humvee or Van center turbo?I`ve never looked at one.If it is,will it fit the firewall?Is that a new engine?If so,where did you get it?I see the thermostat housing outlet exits to the right rearward.That must be a Humvee or Van thing,too.Mine exits to the left rearward in my pickup.
I`m really interested in your project.

[67-72williso]

vtblazer, I`m using a NV-4500 and a NP-205 combo.
Willis

[67-72williso]

Tim, It`s a reman long block 1999. I`m using a DB-2 injector pump and 97-up brackets so I will have to run the thermostat housing that way. that part will still have to be reworked yet. The fire wall may have to reworked not shore yet but the moter is as far front as I could go with it. If it were the truck intake setup there would be no problem with it fitting. I used newer engine and swaybar crossmembers.
Willis

[msgross]

nice setup... and you're only 20 minutes from me...

[67-72williso]

Hi, Mike
Are you back in Lebanon?
Willis

[wibilly]

looking good i have a 6,2 700/208 combo in a80's burb waiting formeto get the time to transplant it in a k10

[special-K]

I think that`s a good plan with the center/rear turbo.I know on`73-up trucks the a/c box won`t allow a side-mount.I figured the same for 67-72s.I was figuring on going with Vintage Air if I do it.But,I like the balanced flow and heat and that it`s off the right head with a center mount.Right side access is a big improvement,too.
In my`92 I have a Peninsular Marine 300hp.I first had it in my EFI`95.It`s got the DB2,so alot of unplugged stuff on the firewall.Both have/had NV4500s.I wrecked the`95 so I swapped that motor in place of the healthy original 230,000 original 6.5TD just to get my money out of that motor.So,I have my diesel pipe dreams.If I could get a newer truck I`d yank that Peninsular and NV4500 for my `71 K/30 project.The original`92 motor is going in my`91 Suburban which is a 6.2/4L80E truck.
I met a man in`92 that had a`71 Cheyenne/20 he ordered new to haul his travel trailer.When he went over the truck in the late`80s he went with a 6.2 conversion and keep that truck rolling along.I noticed the 6.2 diesel emblem on the tailgate and talked to him.I was impressed and I almost did the same swap in a`70 C/30 work truck I had.But,time and money didn`t allow it.I needed to sell the truck with the 6.2 as a running truck to finance the purchase of my`92 when I ordered it.
That`s going to be a nice truck.

[Yukon Jack]

Very cool project.

[Russell]

Cool! Never actually seen one of those center mount turbo setups before!

[DirtyLarry]

That is going to be a nice truck! I don’t think I have ever seen a 6.5L installed into a 67-72.

I actually am a fan of the 6.5L diesel and believe they are very underrated. The 6.5L is a low cost (often over looked) diesel option with a lot of potential. I have a buddy that works for GEP and has taught me a great deal about these engines over the past few years our companies have been doing business together. In today’s world the 6.5L doesn’t compete with a Duramax or Cummins well but the 6.5L took a bad rap thanks to the Stanadyne POS electronic injection pump and lack of oil capacity resulting in very low maintenance intervals (Not very popular with fleets). I believe GEP now offers the Optimizer with Bosch injection pumps for marine and stationary power plant applications, which fixed the injection pumps woes just in time to be too late to miss out on a chassis partner.

Here a few pics of a tweaked 2004 Marine/Military 6.5L block that he provided the parts to build a locally purchased rust free 1988 Suburban that I found in my area. I bolted it all together for him then when it was done he flew out and drove it back 1,800 miles to Detroit without any issues. He got like 15+ miles a gallon on the trip too… on 35” old dry rotten dangerous scary looking tires! He still drives it often back in Detroit (ok, only on nice road salt free days anyway) and this is his Up North play rig (Michiganders and their Up North fetish). Once it got back to Livonia it also got a fresh layer of mil spec satin black and he somehow managed to shoe horn an intercooler in there somewhere. It turned out to be a really nice rig.

BTW….We tried to use a Military/Marine center mount turbo but it would not fit between the engine and firewall without major modifications nor would the 90’s C/K truck side mount turbo fit. He end up settling on a heavily tweaked Banks side mount aftermarket turbo and exhaust manifold intended for a 6.2L. I think he had the turbo fitted with ball bearings or something like that. The pump was some specially reworked mechanical DB-2 as well…4 plunger or something like that?? I also tried to use the dual thermostat housing that come on the engine but the upper radiator hose interfered with the alternator I believe. I also ended up using the 6.2L oil pump driven vacuum pump as the accessory mounted pump in the pictures interfered with the serpentine belt brackets and 124 Amp alternator. Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures of the completed project after the wiring harnesses were cleaned up but it turned out to be one of the cleanest 6.5L turbo installs I have ever seen.

All I know is stuff started showing up in boxed and I bolted them on. At the end of the project, I was totally shocked how well this tank ran and I am used to running only big block gas rigs. Fixing the leaking RH valve cover on the other hand was a PITA!

My jaw about hit the ground when this thing lit up the rear 35” tires once the turbo spooled up when power braking it. As fond of this project as I was, I was very glad to see it’s taillights at the end of my road as it was there almost a year but I wish I had that 6.5L for one of my own toys….

Sorry to highjack the thread…I just got excited when I saw your 6.5L project. Repowering old GM trucks is always interesting regardless if you are going diesel or gasoline electronic fuel injection....Just about anybody can bolt a carburator on a small block.

[special-K]

Sounds like a cool project,Larry.I don`t mean to hijack,either,but here is what`s on my `92 workhorse.

First,the dual thermostat/hose set-up:


The Switzer medium duty turbo:


The turbo/elbow:


I NEED AN INTERCOOLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Willis,keep us posted.Looking good!

[msgross]

Originally Posted by 67-72williso

Hi, Mike
Are you back in Lebanon?
Willis

got back two weeks ago.... just in time to mow the yard and start on my chores!