89 6.2 to 2002 6.5 td

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Johnny89345

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I found a great deal on a local mini school bus with a 6.5 with 140k miles to replace my 90k mile 6.2. Should i get this motor or search for a different year?
 

90halfton

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It has been my experience that the 6.2 is far more reliable. I know it's a turd but I've beat hard on em and drove them to the scrap yard, the engine being the only thing on the truck that still worked. I'm of the opinion that it doesnt make enough power or heat to hurt itself lol. I seem to remember a lot of guys putting turbos on them, and they didnt last much longer.
 

jdla140

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Nothing from the van is useful for you, you can't use the center-mount van turbo setup on a truck, and is likely a GM cast 506 block, not really worth swapping.

Now your engine, should be have a 660 casting number, fairly robust compared to 6.5's newer than 1995. Put 6.5 exhaust and intake manifolds and turbo on your motor and it's equivalent to a stock turbo 6.5l. For more power, put headstuds in, get a DB2-4911 injection pump (or have yours rebuilt to 1993 6.5 turbo specs), and a larger turbo.


TL;DR, don't swap motors. 6.2/6.5's are basically the same minus the turbo and you can't use the van turbo setup anyway.
 

Sparkysikes

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The van uses 60* heads not 90* and that means your stuck with that ****** intake. The 4l80e is worth the upgrade BUT you need the proper computer or stand alone module. That's some money. My 91 6.2 averaged High teens and was decent on performance ish. My 93 6.5TD blows that one away. I did get the upgrade block and heads from the new hummers. Same dimensions better stuff and threw on a hx35 and soon to intercoool. If I were you I'd do a gm8 turbo and stock components run 5 psi (nothing more!) and that'll give her a little pep and get you constantly into the high teens or 20's even. My dad's 85 6.2 with banks turbo kit uses to see up to 28mpg highway at 55mph. My 6.2 with 3000 pounds in the bed and shell got 24mpg at 62mph avg.

Just remembered that the 6.2 will move the world just slowly. Crack the throttle to 1/4 and let her do her thing at her speed and she will do it. A good thing on those is the new heads and stud it for the turbo.
 
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