what would you do??

[nitrohogg]

I have a 97 TD with what I think is a blown head gasket, the same one in my avatar. I'm gonna rebuild it and was wondering if any of you would do anything different, My plan is to make it as powerful and as reliable as possible, not to mention it will also run on waste veggie oil as well as bio and normal #2, this is my plan and money matters but not that much ya know! I have an old 6.2 block and heads sitting in the corner of my shop but it has been overheated and maybe no good, it's just a thought because I know these are thicker blocks. I am starting this thread because I wanna do it right the first time! several minds are better than one! gonna take both blocks into the machine shop and work with what I got.

18.1 mahle pistons coated.
rotating assembly balanced.
new heads from SS.
maybe a gear drive.
fluid damper.
stud girdle.
matched heath computer, marine injectors and turbo master.
upgraded lift pump.
intercooler, what the best for the buck? I can make one but if the price is right I might buy a bolt in.
turbo upgrade, whats good out there? anybody ever deal with 65dieseldirect.com? they claim they have a performance GM8 with 25% more boost. http://65dieseldirect.com/usa/product_XC6500X9.php
best filtering system I can find including a separate one with a heater for the veggie oil, the veggie oil tank will also be heated, so double the heat to keep the oil thin.
truck already has a flowmaster down pipe and crossover and I made my own 4inch wide open exhaust.
homemade PMD cooler and extended harness.......
I don't think I'm forgetting anything, got all the gauges, boost, pyrometer and trans temp. the truck pulls my 28 foot enclosed trailer with my drag bike operation and my open trailer when I tow cars for my shop.
Gonna freshen up the trans while I got the motor out and replace the oil cooler lines with the braided steel ones.
maybe later on if money allows a gear vendors overdrive........
ok, what do you guys have to offer on my duramax 6.5??????:eek:

[3bals]

From what I read about diesel direct is that they are the same company as rj performance and they sell imported castings and also may have some questionable business practices. So. I'd stay clear.

Although it's not in the truck yet, but it is in my shop on the engine stand,
I did the math and came up with buying a new AMG long block, 18:1 from peninsular. It was $100 more than Walt's AMG long block, but I didn't have to send back a core. This way I can take my time to switch over all the parts from the old to the new and not miss something.

I also got an intercooler from them. Along with that I got a new turbo that is significantly bigger than stock and has no wastegate. They say it's not needed with my new engine.

With the new style block and heads, no girdle is needed. I felt it would be a good time to replace my stock water pump (220,000 miles), glow plugs, injectors and IP, as long as I have it out of the truck and it's all easy to get at.

But that's what I did. It all depends on how much money you want to spend. It sounds by your wish list that you're intending to spend some, so do some research and the math before you buy. And ask lots of questions.

Jody

[nitrohogg]

well I have built allot of motors in my time including overhauling a cat in a 96 peterbuilt, and countless friends mild to wild cars out there with my name on the motor...I think I'll save allot of money if I build it myself, never did a 6.5 but I'm confident........no need for a waste gate? hmmmm, what kinda turbo is it? what kind of horsepower you think your gonna get outta it?
I hear ya about 6.5direct, they never answered any of my e-mails....big turn off for me, if your customer service sucks, then usally so does your work and or products!

[3bals]

It's a Borg Warner
P/N 173379
MOD S2E
S/N F2107 388

I don't know how much HP it'll produce. Hopefully more than it had.

I've built motors too, not a lot, but I've done it. I added up the parts to do the job right and I felt this was the way to go.

If you buy new heads, you need new rockers and shafts, then you should have a new cam, lifters and pushrods. See where I was going? Lots of new parts and lots of money. Plus, this way I get the new redesigned block and heads.

Jody

[nitrohogg]

is there something about the new heads I don't know? why would I need new rockers, shafts and pushrods?

[3bals]

The new heads I've seen don't come with them, just valves and valve springs. You could reuse the old ones, but why?

Jody

[nitrohogg]

The new heads I've seen don't come with them, just valves and valve springs. You could reuse the old ones, but why?

Jody

I have owned this truck since it had 28,000 miles on it and have over maintained it, has 200 on it now and I got it from the original owner who owned a dealership and it ran perfect before the head gasket blew, so I doubt that they are worn.....

[3bals]

I’m not here to argue with you, just answering your original question, “what would you do?”

You said: “My plan is to make it as powerful and as reliable as possible”

I just told you what I would do and have done for the money I wanted to spend.

So my question is: why would you use used parts with 200,000 miles on them?


Jody

[nitrohogg]

I'm not arguing......:confused: I have reused push rods and rocker arms many times, as long as they have no wear on them, which is easy enough to tell, I never heard of them going bad on a non race motor that the oil was changed religiously. I can see it on a gunked up motor, I guarantee my motor is spotless inside, I'm even considering using my old cam and lifters, I look at it this way, chances are the new parts are made in Mexico or china just like most everything else is nowadays and will most likely fail before the old broken in originals! did your new motor come all new or was it considered a rebuild? I would imagine a new cam and lifters and push rods would be the norm, but every rebuilder I have dealt with in the past reuse the rockers if there is no wear. please don't think I'm arguing! I didn't mean to sound like I was.

[trukdoc]

...to be a pain butwhy would you balance a new short block assembly with an old cam?...ok rocker arms/shafts...because of rather unique style of construction rocker arm wear is'nt really noticible till you compare to a new rocker...shaft is a hardend tube..will have minute wear at contact point to arm..once it wears thru surface arm will groove shaft preety quick...have seen a shaft cut almost in two...shop for a turbo...place I use{since 79}in waco I posted name elsewhere but told that's a no no{majesticturbo.}sorry garth.....sounds like you've got a good list going but I have same domino mind set...change this..ok..then change this..ok..what the h*** change it all what can I say I'm a diesel trk mechanic...trust me we're a strange group{tooooo many years breathing diesel fumes}..good luk..

[3bals]

No arguements here, just hoping that it wouldn't go that direction.

My new engine is all new, including the tin. I was looking at rebuilding the broken one myself, but after researching, I found that "97 and "98s were the most probable blocks to develope cracks and I already know one or both heads are cracked. So, I came up with, just buy a new long block. Now I know from experience that new stuff breaks too, but at least it's supposed to be good. Where as used is used. And used is fine, if that's what you want or can afford at the time.

As far as affording it, this is why it has taken me almost a year so far on this project and it's still not in the truck. I keep coming up with more things I want to replace as I'm working on it. So I have wait for the money a little at a time.

I too want it to be powerful and dependable.

Good luck on your project too.

Jody

[nitrohogg]

...to be a pain butwhy would you balance a new short block assembly with an old cam?...

..place I use{since 79}in waco I posted name elsewhere but told that's a no no{majesticturbo.}sorry garth.....

...trust me we're a strange group{tooooo many years breathing diesel fumes}..good luk..



I've never had to balance a camshaft in any motor before.....just crank, rods, pistons, balancer and flywheel.....

I actually have his bis card sitting right in front of me!!! thanks for the info on that, will check it out!

try years of breathing what I do! I race a nitro harley!!! I love the smell of nitromethane in the morning......afternoon.........evening.......all hell, 27-7......:D

[nitrohogg]

let me ask you this, now if it's all balanced and I got a fluid damper on it, would I have to worry still about the block cracking??? I could keep using my 97 block with the piston oilers????

[3bals]

I drag raced motorcycle for 4 years in the early 80s. I used to love to line up with a harley, it was an easy win every time. Back then most of those guys didn't know how to race. At least the ones I was around. I rode a stock 73 750 honda and ran a consistant 13.04 at around 105 mph. And I know that smell!

Jody

[nitrohogg]

my best ET is 7.386.....my best MPH is 197........with a mear 120 inch carborated jackshaft bike....in other words......one gear.......bike runs consitant 7.50's right off the trailer.........