My first 1998 Chevy 6.5 turbo dully

[Quad racer #212]

Well im new to this side of the forums. I’m looking at purchasing a 1998 4 door Chevy 3500 dully super clean truck. My intent is to use the truck to pull a trailer with my mud truck or one of my race cars on it. I have been looking for bolt on parts but have hade no luck. What all is out there injectors pumps is there abolt on exhaust and can I intercool the turbo and get some more power?

[Koots]

First thing i would do...is grab a Diamond Eye 4" exhaust:

http://www.pmdcable.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2&zenid=7o61r18mf3kqt9l897o2ilsav7

Then get yourself an pyrometer/EGT gauge to monitor exhaust temperatures. Once you can do that, keep the temps below 1200RPM for any longer than a second or two and you should be okay.

Intercooling isn't something cheap or common on these engines, but with the right parts and some prebent tubing and an intercooler that will fit your truck...then you can fit one. Most guys will run a water/meth injection setup to control EGT's but it's a consumable, you have to mount a tank to hold the fluid, plus lines and pump. One huge benefit to W/M is that it will effectively steam clean your engine as you use it. This will clean your combustion chamber/precup right out and should be spotless.

1998 should have the GM-8 turbo as well, which is the best turbo that GM offered for these trucks. The use of any of the 5.9/6.7 cummins turbo's will work better in it's place and all have the same flange (T3) and a good tune to throw some more fuel at it and you got a damn fine tow truck.

If you want it to last, i recommend getting a lower main girdle, putting in ARP headstuds, plus a new set of headgaskets and you should add years to it's life.

[Quad racer #212]

Ok so i need to start with the exhaust then. As in the crossover pipe down pipe a Silverline Universal 4in Stack kit from Diamond Eye and a cold air intake kit? If i can do the intercooler do u think this will help bring the egt temp down? Thanks for your input

[Koots]

You don't need the diamond eye if you are going to run a stack. You would only need to upgrade your crossover, downpipe and add pipe to make it to the bed. Once you get there, the stack kit should have everything else you need.

Running a bigger, freer flowing exhaust will reduce EGT's, but most important with that is to keep the cylinder heads cool. Your truck should be the dual thermostat model, which is the better cooling setup. Throw an upgraded water pump, HWMMV fan and clutch and run and intercooler and you shouldn't see many problems running any load.

If it were a heavy hauler you had to depend on, i'd throw in a WMI system, just to keep the EGT's down in an emergency or allow you to run a more aggressive tune for towing in higher elevations, etc.

This is for the more serious hauler...and seeing as how you're grabbing a dually, i would think you wanted serious :D

[Quad racer #212]

Someone sent me this link its all about 6.5 stuff check it out are they a company? sorry im new to diesel performance stuff. I work on the 6.2 and 6.5
HMMWV (H1) every day at just never done any upgrade stuff to one

http://www.ssdieselsupply.com/

[Koots]

I heard mixed things about SSDiesel Supply, nothing horrible though. It's just that they inflate the value of some of their products. I have no experience with them though.

I think you should work towards head studs, new HG (fel-pro makes a .010" over HG for slightly lower compression) and a bigger exhaust. This will keep the engine together better for a bit more boost and fuel. A bottom end main girdle will help keep the block and bottom end together better as well.

If you want a serious hauler you can depend on, i wouldn't skimp on those areas.

Then you can get a tune, start tampering with different turbo's, less PSI but more volume of air...all equals tons of fun!

[Quad racer #212]

The truck has only 200000 on it and a new motor the first one locked up bad oil pump. I just need to pull my 20ft trailer with a 1982 Chevy short bed 4x4 my 78 ford short bed 4x4 and my v8 s10 drag truck no more than 150 miles one way. I don’t want to Go inside the motor on the dully. I may only drive it 2 times a month.

[Koots]

Well, stick with getting an exhaust and then upgrading the intake, either with a high flow filter or CAI.

If you want more power, i suggest grabbing a used H1C, HX35 or any other turbo from a 5.9/6.7 Cummins and fitting it in there. This will give you better performance than any of the stock turbo's (and you should have the GM-8...which is the best they offered).

It should only require minor modifications to the intake. You could also run a Peninsular diesel intake top (http://www.peninsulardiesel.com/WP-PENTEST/?page_id=589&category=16 It should be the last item), which give you a round 3" top hat, instead of the small, pancaked version they all came with stock. Which would allow you to run an intercooler setup or custom turbo piping.

I'd run that setup, into a custom mounted, used Cummins Ram IC. This should be the cheapest option, while still giving you adequate room for cooling.

BTW, What transmission is in it?

[vegaman04]

Where do you find the stud girdle?

[FinalBreath]

Where do you find the stud girdle?

On the interwebz

[Koots]

Where do you find the stud girdle?

http://www.dieselservices.com/html/product/auto-performance-parts/GM/gm_94-00/gm_94-00_special_products/stud_girdle_kit_10mm_97__up_6_p78.cfm (http://www.dieselservices.com/html/product/auto-performance-parts/GM/gm_94-00/gm_94-00_special_products/stud_girdle_kit_10mm_97__up_6_p78.cfm)

There is the 97+ Stud Girdle kit.

You can make your own fairly easily, but i cannot find the link to the specs on a homemade one. 2 good buddies of mine on another forum, make their own one for each 6.2/6.5 they build. They use 1.5"x1.5" angle iron. These guys even began fire-ringing their blocks to hold boost better, so they are jumping into some cool territory with these engines.

[Quad racer #212]

i dont know what trans is in the truck

[FinalBreath]

4l80e

[Koots]

If it's an auto, it's a 4L80E, if not, then it's probably the NV4500.

If it's a 4L80E, a Transgo HD2 shift kit would certainly add some life to your transmission. Plus performance, quicker shifts to keep the boost spooling throughout the gears.