OBS diesel's

[iridektm]

woudlnt that be a little much for that engine?

[Firestrike87]

Thats a sweet lookin truck there man. I'd go for it if everything looks good.

[iridektm]

Yeah im leaving in about an hour to check it out. Gotta get the price down ALOT!

Does DC make a kit for 8 luggers? (and does the diesel have anythign to do with a lift not being able to fit)

[Pete-FWA]

Originally Posted by iridektm

When the 6.5 turbo came on the scene, all of sudden, cooling issues arose. The original cooling system was not adequate enough to handle a turbo powered upsized engine. These issues would continue on until 97.

I've also been told that the cooling system can be upgraded to the '97 setup. I corresponded with SS Diesel Supply last year about a 1994 6.5 Turbo. This is part of Walt's reply to my questions:

"Hey Pete,

In stock form you have 430ft/lbs @1800 rpm. I'd like to see a gas engine even come close!
For more hp and torque, there are many things you can do relatively inexpensively. First start with a 4" exhaust and induction kit. Diesels need to breathe. Add a set of gauges, egt and boost. Then a power chip for an extra 80hp and 160 ft/lbs of torque.
Being a '94 [I was learning about the older 6.5 at this point], if the cooling system hasn't yet been upgraded, do so immediately. Our ssd-004 cooling system upgrade will take care of that. For towing, I highly recommend our fan upgrade also.

Walt,

SSDiesel Supply
2307 Military Rd
Tonawanda, NY 14150
ph 716-692-7700
www.ssdieselsupply.com"

The information on their site is good and they do have some products and services for sale.

[Pete-FWA]

Originally Posted by iridektm

Does DC make a kit for 8 luggers? (and does the diesel have anythign to do with a lift not being able to fit)

A 2500 can be lifted, but most will tell you that any lift will change the handling characteristics and reduce weight capacity.

I've seen plenty of lifted 3500 DRW's, but the people who lift those seem to be doing it for the look. I know no one with a lifted DRW who hauls major weight...usually it's just taking a speed boat to the lake to play. That's a load many half tons could pull.

[iridektm]

I know you can lift 2500 lol. Just wondering if DC made a 8 lug kit. and if the diesel engine changed how the lift would be installed.

thanks for that site and email! the one im lookin at is a 97, so the cooling system shoudl be alrgith, right?

How much do those upgrades cost yuou reckon.

[iridektm]

Just looked at the truck. Sat real pretty. It knocked alot though. It is probably because it hasnt been cranked forever and it was cold. It was definitly a horse trailer towing truck.

Dad cranked it, said he heard and saw enough. We left.

I guess I gotta trust him on it...............ah I NEED a truck or Im going to go crazy. I have been looking for 6 months now.

[bmdean]

go to ssdiesel supply and you can buy a cooling upgrade it, it includes a duramax fam and hd fan clutch and a dual thermostat crossover i think. all problems that arose with the 6.5L can be corrected. another common problem on the 6.5L's was the injector pump, because it had an electronic box mounted on top if it under the intake manifold (i'm pretty sure that's where it is?) so a lot of heat builds up and burns that electronic box. you can buy a replacement along with a heatsink that moves it to the top of the intake manifold where it is much cooler.

edit: sorry didn't see that other post about ssdiesel supply

[chrisk1500]

You guys need to quit telling him to upgrade the cooling system....the truck he is looking at is a 97 - it already has the upgrade from the factory....

EDIT - Do not mount the PMD on the intake as mentioned in the above post - go to Heath diesel and get the relocating kit that will allow you to mount the PMD OUT OF THE ENGINE BAY and either under the bumper or on the skid plate (underside facing engine)....

[iridektm]

Originally Posted by chrisk1500

You guys need to quit telling him to upgrade the cooling system....the truck he is looking at is a 97 - it already has the upgrade from the factory....

EDIT - Do not mount the PMD on the intake as mentioned in the above post - go to Heath diesel and get the relocating kit that will allow you to mount the PMD OUT OF THE ENGINE BAY and either under the bumper or on the skid plate (underside facing engine)....

ill keep that in mind, but

Just looked at the truck. Sat real pretty. It knocked alot though. It is probably because it hasnt been cranked forever and it was cold. It was definitly a horse trailer towing truck.

Dad cranked it, said he heard and saw enough. We left.

I guess I gotta trust him on it...............ah I NEED a truck or Im going to go crazy. I have been looking for 6 months now.

[Pete-FWA]

Originally Posted by iridektm

I know you can lift 2500 lol. Just wondering if DC made a 8 lug kit. and if the diesel engine changed how the lift would be installed.

Wasn't sure how much weight you were going to pull...nah, no change in the lift installation between gas and diesel.

The cooling upgrade kit they sell is $335 and with the Duramax fan kit included, it's $499.

Sorry the one you saw today wasn't the right truck...you'll find one eventually.

[red suburban]

sry about the long post earlier, just answering some of the power/benefits options.

diesels are known to last for well over 200k miles if taken care of, worked on one today (oil change) that had a 6.5L with over 356k miles on the odometer, ran great.

is your dad familiar with diesels? alot of times when you start one thats been sitting for a while it will make a knocking sound (expecially when its cold) until you get some new fuel in there and the engine has warmed up.

[Larry B]

I've got a 97 and if it hasn't run in a week it will make a lot of noise until it warms up. My only problems have been replacing the boost solenoid and the injector pump twice. Check with a dealer about the warranty on the pumps. The first one was paid for by GMC but the second I got stuck paying for $$$

[bmdean]

chrisk1500, i haven't heard of that kit. sounds like a good place to put it. i've heard of heath, just not that relocating kit. i'm not sure how it mounts, just looking at the pics on their site that's what it looks like.

[chrisk1500]

Heath's kit is made to mount on the skid plate...comes with PMD, extension harness and heat sink....

Personally I just extended my own wires and mounted my PMD on a heatsink....heatsink is mounted behind the bumper so that airflow coming in through the holes in the bumper sweep across the fins....works great....PMD never gets hot....

[restoguy]

Lotta mis-information flying around here about the GM diesels....But a lot of good stuff too! Bottom line is, if you think you want a diesel, inform yourself about what you're buying before you plunk down a pile of hard earned clams. Check out some of the good websites out there. I'm a member at www.thedieselpage.com and it's the best $20yr I spend.(I own a'94 6.5L, remember) There other good ones too. Also, there are good sites for Navistar(Ford) and Cummins(Dodge)

When my roommate was looking at a '96 diesel back in 1999 I told him not to buy it 'cause it wouldn't work out well for his needs. But I didn't know anything about them at that time, I just thought I did. After he got it, I learned a lot about them and then went and bought my own! He traded is truck off and says to this day that he should have kept it. That's after trailering it to the shop(1.5hrs away!)for IP work, 4 times in 6 weeks one summer!

If it seems like I can't make up my mind about these things(they break a lot--I bought one and love it), I'm sorry. I just hate reputation that these trucks have and I would hate to see someone get into one just because 'Diesel' is the new big thing and they can't afford a newer one. They will probably won't get what they expect and will just bad mouth it for the rest of eternity. But if you know what you're getting then your not suprised and life is a lot better.

By the way, if anyone has 6.5L questions, I'll be happy to help. I've got plenty of experience!

[iridektm]

Does anyone have a sound clip of their 6.5 that works great, when it is cold or something. My dad knows about diesels, just not as much as gas. He is more familiar with the New Duramax though. He compared how this truck sounded, compared to a new duramax and a 02 powerstroke.

So a sound clip or something, that would be awesome!

Thanks!

[dozerboy]

They sound like most any diesel when its cold they knock and smoke.

[chrisk1500]

Originally Posted by restoguy

Check out some of the good websites out there. I'm a member at www.thedieselpage.com and it's the best $20yr I spend.(I own a'94 6.5L, remember) There other good ones too. Also, there are good sites for Navistar(Ford) and Cummins(Dodge)

Lots of politics on that particular site.....better off to go to www.dieselplace.com - it has just as much info as the page and its free....

[iridektm]

i go to dieselplace an dtry to learn there to.