97 GM Turbo Diesel-anyone modded one yet?

[turbovanman]

Anyone souped up a GM 6.5L Turbo Diesel. My brother has one and not very familiar with performance items, whats available and also how much gains they got-dollar to performance value.

[Vigo]

i dont think those are particularly well loved in the go fast truck crowd, but anything with a turbo and a tough bottom end has potential.. just gotta find it.

so basically i know nothing about it and just rambling.

[turbovanman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vigo i dont think those are particularly well loved in the go fast truck crowd, but anything with a turbo and a tough bottom end has potential.. just gotta find it. so basically i know nothing about it and just rambling.

Thanks for nothing, lol!

[Vigo]

^^^ lol :P

[cybermrc]

Banks makes some go-fast goodies for the 6.5L

If it was mine, I'd put a huge straight pipe exhaust on it, intercool it, get a tweaked injector pump, and turn up the boost!

[turbovanman]

Thanks will check them out. This is different than Cummins, the injection pump is electric, so you can't turn it up, there is absolutly no room for an IC-in the front is the rad, a/c condensor, huge trans and engine oil coolers, I couldn't even fit a T2 IC there. But the exhaust is being done, thats a gimme,

[cybermrc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbovanman Thanks will check them out. This is different than Cummins, the injection pump is electric, so you can't turn it up, there is absolutly no room for an IC-in the front is the rad, a/c condensor, huge trans and engine oil coolers, I couldn't even fit a T2 IC there. But the exhaust is being done, thats a gimme,

I know it's electronically controlled, but it can still be refined. Be wary of the module on the side of the pump; if they go bad (and they do sometimes), it will do all sorts of strange things (like start hard sometimes, not start, start easily, etc). And the only way to remove the module is to take off the lower intake manifold. There is also a small resistor in the plug on the module, which needs to be replaced as well. If you ever do one, let me know and I can help!
I believe Banks makes an intercooler kit for the 6.5L, you might want to check into that. It comes with a new upper manifold (4x 10mm diam. head bolts).

[turbovanman]

Thanks, yeah, I worked for GM so did tons of injection pumps, they were updated so many times we lost track. When my brother bought it, it had a new pump with the latest and greatest design, so far so good.

Do you want the truth? Dont bother the bottom end will come apart.
There basically like a old caddy or olds diesel-gas conversion .If it were a cummins i could tell you otherwise.Turn a few screws and have fun.
Save your money and dont mess with it or find a used cummins.
just my 2cents

[cybermrc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxTurbo Do you want the truth? Dont bother the bottom end will come apart. There basically like a old caddy or olds diesel-gas conversion .If it were a cummins i could tell you otherwise.Turn a few screws and have fun. Save your money and dont mess with it or find a used cummins. just my 2cents

Actually they're not anything like the Olds diesel converions.

They hold up well and I've seen many with a couple hundred thousand miles on them.

[turbovanman]

Agreed, these aren't your fathers Oldsmobiles. The bottom are quite strong, never seen one go yet but they do crack heads and blow injection pumps.

[BigBluOx]

If you want to pay the membership, go to http://www.thedieselpage.com/.

Lot's of great information there and there are some mods you can do both turbo and supercharged. Not bad for a motor that is *NOT* a gas conversion from Cadillac or Olds. It will still have a hard time competing with the newer diesel engines out today, but you can definitely make it quick If I had the cash, I'd do up my 6.5L Suburban right!!!

Jon

[omnivore]

Remember ANY intercooler is better than no intercooler. SO fit what you can in there, even if you have to top mount and hood scoop it Subaru style.

[Douglas Dircks]

I know a few people with the 6.5 td's. One guy has a 96or7 dually crew cab and at 240K he was on his third motor but never touched the auto tranny. He now owns a Powerstroke. Another guy I know runs four GM diesels for his framing busines, 1 (his) D/A and the other three are all 6.5's. Every 6.5 has between 100-200K and has had major engine work. Two of the trucks have had engine replacements. The guy that works on my small gas stuff has a 98or99 3/4 ton with the 6.5 and auto tranny and last time we spoke at 180K he has not touched the motor or tranny.

Just like anything there's good and bad in every brand. Like the guy I ran into up north last winter in the 12 valve Cummins who at 170K blew up his motor bone stock, said his wife started in fifth gear which sounded funny to me.

[moparzrule]

The 6.5's aren't that great, it's in the heads mostly with all that prechamber crap. Not much you can do to really make them powerful, dropping 4K in it might get you as much power as a stock duramax. They only run about 5-6 PSI stock. Also, forget propane or nitrous or you WILL blow it up.