Reworked 6.5L pipe dream

Kobo_Dyger · Sep 16, 2019

I have a lot of crazy ideas go through my head. This one seems like a fun one to ponder over.

New technology has left the 6.5 in the dust, but what if some of that technology is slowly integrated in to her through almost a complete rework?

Step 1. Start from the bottom and work your way up is what I always say; so crankshaft and new firing order. The more power lose negated is always better. Compensation for balance and oil pathing are factors.

Step 2. Updating parts/design. Direct injection has it's ups and downs but is a power upgrade none the less. A high pressure commen rail design like on the duramax should work good with a lot of fine tuning.
Changing out the 2 overhead valve design for a modern 4 overhead valve design should work wonders with direct injection.

Step 3. Fine tuning. Just like all engines tweaking miner components is critical for max potential of a design. Could be coolent flow, oil pressure, pcm tuning

Step 4. Time and money. And this is why it's a pipe dream.

BNielsen · Sep 16, 2019

I've actually toyed with the ideas of a fully "built" 6.5L; Upgraded casted block from Bostic Motors, Promaxx heads, marine rotating assembly, ARP hardware all around, premium gasket sets, high flow intake and an upgraded turbo. Maybe even retrofit a P-pump to work with the 6.5 injection system as well as install an intercooler in a better location.

But of course, like you said, time and money.
Collecting and tallying prices from Bostic Motors, Leroy Diesel, SS Diesel Supply, Jegs, Summit, anywhere I could find "performance" parts for the Turbo Diesels, I was around 12K in parts alone.

Would something like this be cool? Hell yes. Would it be economical to do such a build? Not when you could build up a 12-Valve Cummins for 1/4 of the price and still possibly double the power output.

Supercharged111 · Sep 16, 2019

I wouldn't say the Cummins is 1/4 of the price, at least not here. But the dollar per torque just isn't there. It'd be a labor of love and nothing more.

Kobo_Dyger · Sep 17, 2019

BNielsen said:
I've actually toyed with the ideas of a fully "built" 6.5L; Upgraded casted block from Bostic Motors, Promaxx heads, marine rotating assembly, ARP hardware all around, premium gasket sets, high flow intake and an upgraded turbo. Maybe even retrofit a P-pump to work with the 6.5 injection system as well as install an intercooler in a better location.

The p400 long block could save you a lot of money if you can find one for a good price

b454rat · Sep 17, 2019

I bought a Cummins for $500. I never tore it down, but overall wasnt in bad shape. One downfall it had was the pump, since it was in a bus was considered industrial, so couldn’t add only so much fuel. I sold it, made money so can’t complain. Still want to build a monster Cummins. Built small n big blocks, why not lol

Schurkey · Sep 17, 2019

There's guys still hot-rodding Flathead Fords. I've seen folks with Model Ts who invested in "steel pork chops" that get welded to the crankshaft because the original crank had zero counterweights.

You can take an ancient engine and put lipstick on it. Happens thousands of times a day, all over the world.

That doesn't mean I understand trying to make power with a Flathead, or trying to make power with a 6.2/6.5 diesel. For what it would cost to upgrade a 6.5, you could install a good used Duramax and put the money you saved into upgrading the driveline to handle the extra torque.

Kobo_Dyger · Sep 17, 2019

Schurkey said:
There's guys still hot-rodding Flathead Fords. I've seen folks with Model Ts who invested in "steel pork chops" that get welded to the crankshaft because the original crank had zero counterweights.

You can take an ancient engine and put lipstick on it. Happens thousands of times a day, all over the world.

That doesn't mean I understand trying to make power with a Flathead, or trying to make power with a 6.2/6.5 diesel. For what it would cost to upgrade a 6.5, you could install a good used Duramax and put the money you saved into upgrading the driveline to handle the extra torque.

The turn of the century is a interesting time in the automotive world, with emissions being the new focal point of design leaving the previous generation of engines no longer cost-effective to use.
With modern emissions the engineers had to come up with new ways to still improve the engines, GMs 5.7 and 6.5 are just lacking the updated parts and other tweaks to be massively greater. Look at fords 351 it is still being used for NASCAR with better intake, pcm and more. The 6.5 was untill resently was still being made by AMG as the p400 with upgraded cooling pathing for military use in the humvees.

True the older engines won't be as good as the new engines that have had 20 years of improvement, but it could be fun to try even if it only hits the drawing board.

BNielsen · Sep 17, 2019

There is one 6.5 out there that I would trust to do literally anything with. It can not and will not die.

@kkirwan71 @Biggershaft96 @Sampuppy1

Sampuppy1 · Sep 17, 2019

BNielsen said:
There is one 6.5 out there that I would trust to do literally anything with. It can not and will not die.

@kkirwan71 @Biggershaft96 @Sampuppy1

Geo's ****** minty old 6.5. It's broken more than enough times but he's beaten the unholy fawk out of that truck for so long. He's like the USA Chevy version of zipties.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Supercharged111 · Sep 17, 2019

BNielsen said:
There is one 6.5 out there that I would trust to do literally anything with. It can not and will not die.

@kkirwan71 @Biggershaft96 @Sampuppy1

Thank you for tagging members just now in a thread that I'm subscribed to, I failed at tagging someone just now and can see why.

Reworked 6.5L pipe dream

Kobo_Dyger

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BNielsen

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Supercharged111

Truly Awesome

Kobo_Dyger

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b454rat

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Schurkey

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Kobo_Dyger

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BNielsen

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Sampuppy1

Diesel nut

Supercharged111

Truly Awesome

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