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6.5 swap - Best turbo upgrade for off road use?

scottystills

scottystills

1/2 ton status
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Calgary, AB
So i have a line on a 93 k2500 with the mech pump 6.5td and what i believe is the mt8 nv4500. Definitely want the tranny, plan lockers and 4.56 regear this summer so will need the OD (3.54s atm). MT8 is the ideal with the 6.54 granny similar to the SM465 that's in there now which i LOVE on the trail.

Had been considering a 6bt swap down the road, but the 6.5 with some tweaks may make a big difference already without the complications of the cummins swap. Motor mounts are broken already anyway have the ORD mounts to go in this weekend.

Brain hurts from dwelling. Anybody made the swap? Or thoughts if it's worth the trouble?

:thumb:
 
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I replaced a worn out 350 with a 6.2L and never regretted it. It was an easy deal since everything bolted in easily. The 6.5 with the NV4500 would be even better.
 
Love my turbod 6.2 right now, but it starts like a sumbtch. I've narrowed that down to injectors already though. I can orded a reman set from accurate for 240ish. 6.5 has some room to move i think. Bigger bore DB2, better heads, much more capable of handling an upgraded turbo.

Can you tell I'm trying to talk myself into it? Hehe

SHOULD have less turbo lag with the wastegated turbo, but not sure there, never driven the mech pump 6.5 before.
 
I didn't notice you already had a turbo 6.2L reading this from my phone. So overall it would be an even easier swap than going from a gas 350.
 
Well, here's the thing. Originally I wanted to find a scrapped 6.5 to steal the serp setup. Then I thought I should use the wastegated turbo too. If I use the turbo I need the exh manifolds. If I'm going to pull all that, might as well take the heads too. Then I think to myself, is it worth is swapping all that stuff or just easier to pull a motor out and put another in? Besides the added cost of gaskets, TTY bolts (or studs), etc.

The way I look at it now, I can pop that 6.5 in. If (when) I blow/swamp it, I pull it, transfer the top end onto my 6.2 short block, and throw that in. Then when I blow/swamp that one, I transfer the top end onto my OTHER 6.2 short block. hehe it's like double redundancy!

But seriously, just thinking swapping all that stuff over inside the engine bay, if the tranny's going to get pulled off anyway to swap might as well just pull the engine out at the same time. If I weren't doing the tranny, it would be worth putting everything on to the 6.2 in the truck.

I've done the heads on my 6.2 once while in the truck. Long story short, I did not enjoy it.
 
scottystills said:
Well, here's the thing. Originally I wanted to find a scrapped 6.5 to steal the serp setup. Then I thought I should use the wastegated turbo too. If I use the turbo I need the exh manifolds. If I'm going to pull all that, might as well take the heads too. Then I think to myself, is it worth is swapping all that stuff or just easier to pull a motor out and put another in? Besides the added cost of gaskets, TTY bolts (or studs), etc.

The way I look at it now, I can pop that 6.5 in. If (when) I blow/swamp it, I pull it, transfer the top end onto my 6.2 short block, and throw that in. Then when I blow/swamp that one, I transfer the top end onto my OTHER 6.2 short block. hehe it's like double redundancy!

But seriously, just thinking swapping all that stuff over inside the engine bay, if the tranny's going to get pulled off anyway to swap might as well just pull the engine out at the same time. If I weren't doing the tranny, it would be worth putting everything on to the 6.2 in the truck.

I've done the heads on my 6.2 once while in the truck. Long story short, I did not enjoy it.
Click to expand...

Ok. You do the engine swap and let me have the 6.2 Banks kit for my truck. Everybody wins! :thumb:
 
I was just about to put an ad up for a serp setup from a 94 in case your other truck falls through. I'm sure shipping would suck, but at least you know where one is :thumb:
 
I lured this little beaute home today finally. Little does it know it's destined for the tear stained mattress that is the garage to be disassembled...



Thinking I may run the 241 (if it's the correct drop, can't remember) instead of having to buy the $650 adapter from AA to run my fig 8 205... So much to do!
 
Going with the adapter to run my fig 8 205. Although my wallet hates me. Nothing shipping until end of March though so looks stalled until mid April probably.

What's a 3+3?
 
New one...

New question by the way. looking ln DP at the turbo upgrades on 6.5s and most seem to be going with HX40 for lots of air while towing. obviously on the K5 I'm more concerned with quick spool to get the engine going when i need it. From what I've been reading HX35/HY35 might be abetter bet.

Any thoughts?

Figure might as well take care of everything while the engine's out. Much easier!
 
Seems pricey... i was thinking an HY35 because they're cheap and easy to source, and the smaller housing lets them spool faster. Still has to flow better than the stocker.

They don't seem to list any specs on the ateam site, though admittedly i didn't search too hard.
 
scottystills said:
Going with the adapter to run my fig 8 205. Although my wallet hates me. Nothing shipping until end of March though so looks stalled until mid April probably.

What's a 3+3?
Click to expand...

3+3 is a crew cab. Three people in the front three in the back.
 
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