Diesel Power Magazine 6.5 TD build project

[Husker 6.5]

Check out the month's newsstand issue (March 07) of Diesel Power Magazine for the first in a series of articles they are doing on a block-up performance build of a 6.5. I've been getting this magazine for the past year, I'm currently starting a heads-up redo of my 224K 6.5 with a lot of performance mods and tech advice from Walt at SSD. When completed, I expect about 300+ hp and 600 lb/ft at the rear wheels (dyno'ed) on my 94 C2500 HD daily work truck with an 8' steel utility box. I will keep you all aprised of my progress as I work on the build myself, and will try to post pics, if possible. Biodiesel is the answer, greetings to you all from the center of the US. Go Big Red!

[RckyMtNDeZL]

I read that piece in the new DP mag, somewhat informative. Yet retarded, at the same time. I guess because they state what most of us already knew as far as "problem areas" go. Keep it cool, thats all that matters is the bottomline. I too have begun my performance upgrades on my 6.5 as well. I can probably get some pics on my 4 inch exhaust install. Coming next week. I dropped in my intake not too big a deal. But if I can lend ya a hand let me know.

[Husker 6.5]

I read that piece in the new DP mag, somewhat informative. Yet retarded, at the same time. I guess because they state what most of us already knew as far as "problem areas" go. Keep it cool, thats all that matters is the bottomline. I too have begun my performance upgrades on my 6.5 as well. I can probably get some pics on my 4 inch exhaust install. Coming next week. I dropped in my intake not too big a deal. But if I can lend ya a hand let me know.
Thanks for the response. Cracked a head last Feb while driving through Omaha. Limped it back to Lincoln (8 gallons of coolant through it by the time I got to my house) Had 180 thermostat, temp guage didn't ever read above 185 since I bought it till it went. Tore everything down in May to the block. Still has honing marks in the cylinder bores at 224K. Tough blocks! Three valve cracks in driver's head, two in pass.

I am a carpenter by choice, but have PLENTY of wrenching and fabrication experience going back to the '60's when I was a kid helping my dad and his team build their sprint car. Walt and I chit-chatted last spring about some of our muscle cars from back in high school in the seventies while I was getting some tech advice on what I could expect prior to dissasembling my engine.

Now working for somebody else and putting in as much overtime as possible so I can rebuild my engine and get back to working for myself. Plan on having it all back together by Memorial Day so I can run out to Mile High Father's Day weekend to visit my dad and also drop my youngest son off so he can go to summer camp for two weeks up in the Rockies.

Here is what stage one of the rebuild is. New heads, SSD performance intake, marine injectors, #9 resistor, FSD cooler (I'm using a massive aluminum heatsink off of a 230V AC inverter to control motor speeds on up to 7hp motors, it can dissipate up to 5000 watts of heat!), SSD fast heat glowplugs, SSD 160gph coolant upgrade kit, urethane motor and tranny mounts (mine were sagging), SSD 80hp chip, full gauges, debating between stock headbolts and ARP studs (may have to pull heater motor and plenum to install passenger head with studs), and a custom 4" exhaust from Heartthrob.

The exhaust is the down and front extension pieces from the kit, they can be ordered as individual pieces from heartthrob, along with two 45 els. The first el will angle down in front of the spring eye where the frame starts to arch up, the second brings it out in front of the wheel opening of my utility box. About $210 + shipping. No muffler, if I find I need one, I'll replace the back part of the front extension with it. Easier, and more elegant than trying to piece one together from scraps from shop class! Yes, I read every thread the other day before I joined the site.

Stage two of the build will consist of a deep tranny pan, low stall multi-disc converter, FS2500 oil filter for the engine, water/methanol injection, switch to all synthetic lubes (engine, tranny, diff) and a custom self-built cold air ram intake. With a little (lot) of sheetmetal work I will relocate the the passenger battery tray to where the stock air box was, and using the opening in the radiator support from the stock intake I will fab a ram scoop under the headlight behind the grill, through the rad support into a airfilter box, and then a straight shot back to the turbo intake.

[Husker 6.5]

Part 2: The article in DP was also intended for those with no 6.5 experience (Powerjokes, D-Max, and ISB owners). I'm interested in what parts they're going to use, and what it dynos at. The first thing I see where they may have problems is using a 6.2 single 'stat housing. It will negate the benefits of the 130gph pump with the new longblock. I also question the use of the Holeset turbo vs a GM8, look at the photo, intake plumbing will have to be modified. I'm e-mailing David Kennedy (Editor and author at DP) tommorow to alert him to this, and to turn him on to a REAL 6.5 expert, Walt at SSDS!! If they don't use a 4L80E with a TCM from a 93-earlier behind it, they WILL tear the crap out of a non race-prepped 700R4 if they want overdrive. Otherwise a late 60's big-block TH400 is the only other viable automatic tranny.