6.5 cheap upgrades

[bamafanjb]

Alrite i just purchased a 1996 k1500 z71 6.5 td and wana know some cheap and easy upgrades. I know a 6.5 aint supposed to be able to be in contention with the cummins, strokers, and dmax's today but id like mine 2 get a jump start on gettin there. It has high miles on it and isnt a coal roller or anythings fast but id like to get it that way. Id like to replace the wastegate system with a cold air intake and turn up the ip and get a bigger exhaust so far on my list for it. Any other suggestions would be good help forme since i know nothing about 6.5's lol. thanks for lookin

[bayko]

Relocate the PMD.

[SnowDrift]

Alrite i just purchased a 1996 k1500 z71 6.5 td and wana know some cheap and easy upgrades. I know a 6.5 aint supposed to be able to be in contention with the cummins, strokers, and dmax's today but id like mine 2 get a jump start on gettin there. It has high miles on it and isnt a coal roller or anythings fast but id like to get it that way. Id like to replace the wastegate system with a cold air intake and turn up the ip and get a bigger exhaust so far on my list for it. Any other suggestions would be good help forme since i know nothing about 6.5's lol. thanks for lookin

please define "cheap".

Yes, relocate PMD. If I was buying an exhaust today, it would be from Heath Diesel. How many miles? If over 150,000, then I'd put in a set of new injectors and get a Heath ECM upgrade. Let those sink in for a while and then we'll spend some more of your money. Those are WELL worth the improvements, though, and you'll think you've got a new truck.

The 6.5 is no slouch.

[bamafanjb]

PMD has already been relocated by the previous owner since he had his fry up. and it has 270,000 miles on which is alot but the truck had 1 owner its hole life before me and was an old man who just used it 2 haul his boat 2 bass tournaments so it wasnt abused or anything. What size injectors would you recommend? And when i say cheap i meant no $2000 dollar crap just simple stuff i can start doin to improve performance

[~MISFIT~]

cummins swap?

[bamafanjb]

i wish, hopefully will sometime next year if i keep it for that long

[SnowDrift]

PMD has already been relocated by the previous owner since he had his fry up. and it has 270,000 miles on which is alot but the truck had 1 owner its hole life before me and was an old man who just used it 2 haul his boat 2 bass tournaments so it wasnt abused or anything. What size injectors would you recommend? And when i say cheap i meant no $2000 dollar crap just simple stuff i can start doin to improve performance

I bought my HO injectors from Heath, but they've gone up significantly in price since then. I'd replace them with a reputable shop's remanned set if you're on a budget. There are a few out there that are trustworthy, for sure. With that many miles on the ticker, I'd be changing them. If you have one leaking, you could end up with a hole in the top of a piston and that's less than cool. It's insurance for you.

After that, put on a free flowing exhaust. Heath has a 4" kit that I would buy if I was replacing my Banks kit today. Put a set of gauges in so you can monitor what is going on. Those can be had through Banks or other suppliers. You can buy or make a "turbo-master" setup. There are plenty that have made them with success. Call Heath and get a reprogrammed ECM, then. You'll be surprised at how sluggish the factory tune is on your 6.5, once you compare the driving experience. You can get a tune from someone else for less $, perhaps, but keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Heath Diesel's entire company revolves around the 6.5 diesel. I'm not associated with them financially at all - I have been associated with them and their products for about 9 years, though.

Don't listen to the nay-sayers. The 6.5 is a VERY capable power plant.

Performance - Exhaust first, then ECM upgrade
Maintenance - Injectors - a must with the kind of mileage you are facing

[vegaman04]

Turbo master(bought or built, your choice), Diamond Eye exhaust, then a ECM. Thats cheap to most expensive. After all 3, you will have a different truck.

[SnowDrift]

[QUOTE=vegaman04;5438190] Diamond Eye exhaust. [QUOTE]

At about $200 less than Heath, I guess I would probably do that, too. They appear to be near equal in content.

[88liftedchevy]

god dam i reckon u put one of them cotton picken mack dump truck turbines in that shell run great COMON:charge:

[SVO1]

Also good gauges. My 94 K2500 burb seemed to be a little doggy at times, and with the boost gauge on it I can see why. The valve on the driver's side goes open intermittently, causing me to lose boost. I actually have the vac pump hooked directly to the wastegate diaphram. In the line I have a manually adjustable bleeder, so I can set the vacuum where I want it at the actuator. Right now I am running 7 psi with everything else stock.
Also make sure your balancer and crank pulley are good!!
Otherwise as has been said, a good set of injectors, exhaust and tune.

[Koots]

Diamond Eye exhaust, home made turbo master, EGR delete or f-code manifold swap, a good tune and you should be running great.

If you got the extra funds, throw in a set of injectors and some ACDelco 60G glow plugs or Bosch Duratherms in at the same time. If you are poorer, you can always pull your injectors and soak them in solvent and give them a good cleaning. Ideally, you should have them balanced while they are apart, which most diesel shops should be able to do in a heart beat. So that could be another way to save some cash.

[bamafanjb]

Im lookin into all of these right now, slight delay 2day when it randomly died on the highway NOT COOL. The check throttle light came on and it shut off n i coasted to the shoulder, started it back up and it died again after i moved it 20 feet so i gotta look into what that is. Im guessin a fuel filter or somethin on that line. I towed it 2 my shop 2 look at it and it ran and drove fine after i looked at it and nothin seemed wrong. I guess it wanted a tow truck ride lol. Yall got a clue what it could be?

[FinalBreath]

Turbo master(bought or built, your choice), Diamond Eye exhaust, then a ECM. Thats cheap to most expensive. After all 3, you will have a different truck.

I second this.

[SnowDrift]

Im lookin into all of these right now, slight delay 2day when it randomly died on the highway NOT COOL. The check throttle light came on and it shut off n i coasted to the shoulder, started it back up and it died again after i moved it 20 feet so i gotta look into what that is. Im guessin a fuel filter or somethin on that line. I towed it 2 my shop 2 look at it and it ran and drove fine after i looked at it and nothin seemed wrong. I guess it wanted a tow truck ride lol. Yall got a clue what it could be?

Could be the ignition switch. I would be sure the fuel filter is new and make sure your lift pump is operating, even though it will run pretty well without the pump operating most of the time. Ignition switch can cause intermittent kills of the engine and can cause no start conditions. Remove the lower cover and you can wiggle the wires running down the column sometimes and be able to duplicate the situation.

[Koots]

Could be a dying or dead PMD or a bad OPS sensor. I know both can cause some similar issues, but have no experience with either. I'm old school :crazy:

[Badaxe]

Sounds like a PMD to me. They can be very temperamental when going bad. Buy new and a spare is good to keep on hand.

[Koots]

Sounds like a PMD to me. They can be very temperamental when going bad. Buy new and a spare is good to keep on hand.

Best advice one can get for the 94+ 6.5TDs.

I'd also advise to look into at least a EGT gauge before you start making any extra power by tuning. Adding any more fuel needs careful monitoring with any diesel, but keep the EGTs south of 1200, for anything less than a brief period of time, should keep your engine alive. I'd feel better if my engine never got that hot, but I know the guys using theirs for towing can get the exhaust and coolant temps past the red zone without heavy modification.

This is supposed to be a cheap upgrades thread and look what I suggested LOL I do feel it is necessary though and it is something I need to do myself soon.

[Badaxe]

I just started a 6.5 punchlist thread that gives better guidance from guys that have been doing the 6.5 thing a lot longer than me.