6.5td in a 1500?

So im new to the forum and cant really seem to find anything on this subject but i need some help. I want to know if you can drop a 6.5td in a 1500 and what the difference between the 1500 6 lug 4x4 and the 2500 6 lug 4x4. my friend said that the whole chassis is different but from what i can see there's nothing different in the frames(ex. same thickness) the sub frame doesn't really look different either. but im setting my truck up for some light offroading and towing alot of other offroading projects and other builds so if anyone can help thank you for your time.


ill attach some pictures of my truck for some idea of what im working with. As of currently i have just a stock 95 with a 305 5spd and its got some issues pulling my jeep around. don't know why, but it dogs down really badly when i put the jeep on the trailer.

1500 vs 6 lug 2500. Additional frame braces, 14 bolt semi float rear end, heavier spring rates. The 6.5 isn't worth swapping. I've owned several and I still have one but if you're going to shell out money it is better spent on a 383.

The. 6.5 turbo diesel came in 1500's. And the 6.5 can pull huge loads around. They aren't always the fastest but they get it done. I love mine but if I had a week down I would've done the cummins swap. There are some 4bt swaps that are bad ass in half ton chevy's

I agree with sparky, 4bt is my plan when a swap becomes necessary. See a 1500 6.5 pop up for sale on occasion but they're getting rarer. Saw a z71 ext cab 6.5 with a 5 SPD I really wanted a while back, mainly for the rarity of it.

90halfton said:

I agree with sparky, 4bt is my plan when a swap becomes necessary. See a 1500 6.5 pop up for sale on occasion but they're getting rarer. Saw a z71 ext cab 6.5 with a 5 SPD I really wanted a while back, mainly for the rarity of it.

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a 5 spd 1500 6.5 would have been either swapped, or worse, N/A. However I'd love to get my hands on a 95 z71 N/A 5 spd 6.5 because of the rarity.

I've got a N/A 6.5l 5 spd 1500 and it is a slow pig, not ment for towing, if I were you just build a 350, or drop in a 454

Here are the factory tow ratings for a 96, it probably wouldn’t have been any higher with a TBI 95.








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