KirsL submitted a new Build:
82 stepside. Build, break, rebuild, repeat!
Read more about this build here...
82 stepside. Build, break, rebuild, repeat!
Read more about this build here...
CK5
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82 stepside. Thoughts and crazy ideas
- Thread starter KirsL
- Start date
So there's been a few folks asking me to do a build thread on my truck. So figured I might as well just get start on one.
So some back story on the truck. I purchased the truck in August of 2000 before I even had my license. She was a bone stock K10 with the 6.2 non-turbo diesel. It was beat up, slow and gutless but I loved it and it was all mine. I'll have to see if I can find any of my old photos from when I first got her.
I'll try to keep up with updates but they may be slow as I have time and money.
So some back story on the truck. I purchased the truck in August of 2000 before I even had my license. She was a bone stock K10 with the 6.2 non-turbo diesel. It was beat up, slow and gutless but I loved it and it was all mine. I'll have to see if I can find any of my old photos from when I first got her.
I'll try to keep up with updates but they may be slow as I have time and money.
These two shots are from back in Jersey about 4 years ago. A before and after of a quick primer paint job, new door shells, fixed some rust on the rockers and replaced all 4 cab mounts.
What's really crazy is the cat sleeping on the hood has been around for as long as the truck has been.
Old guy is going on 19.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
So I'm going to try and post each project I've done. They probably wont be in any order of how they were done until I get caught up.
So this picture is of the 6.5 diesel that I had built. Specs on the that engine were AMG forged crank, 18:1 pistons, headstuds, center main girddle, .033 plunger DB2 injection pump and GM8 turbo. I never dynod the truck with that engine, wish I had. I'm thinking it made somewhere around 220/380 at the rear wheels. I base that by comparing 0 to 60 vs my dodge when it was stock.
So a number of years ago I decided that I was going to install an intercooler to help in my then quest for better performance from the built 6.5. I found an intercooler from an 05 duramax would fit with minimal modifications. At the time of this project I was still learning how to TIG weld and had mostly done mild steel. So this was my first aluminum TIG project. So the welds are kind crappy looking but they don't leak.
The first step was to make room to for the intercooler to occupy. The space the original a/c condesencer was the perfect spot. The main thing that changed was to remove the "boxes" that run vertically. With those out of the way the ic would fit width wise.
Now to make the ic fit.
If I remember correctly I cut off about 3 inches off the top. Then I capped the open ends of the tanks. In hindsight I should of reused the factory top mounts and in due time I'll fix a couple little things with how it's mounted.
I also cut off the bottom locating pins which I should of tried to reuse. Do to using the stock GM turbo setup, the turbo outlet is above the engine so I had to raise the inlet on the cooler. The inlet is made up of the original inlet and a piece of 4" channel. I also had to straighten out the inlet. I cut most of the way through and then used a piece of flatbed and wrapped it. It's kinda funky looking but works.
For my first major aluminum TIG project it came out decent.
The final product the outlet was extended by making a square tube out of 2x2x1/8 angle, I got it for free from my then job. So did with what I had.
There's a lot of little details I want to change but it works for now.
So this picture is of the 6.5 diesel that I had built. Specs on the that engine were AMG forged crank, 18:1 pistons, headstuds, center main girddle, .033 plunger DB2 injection pump and GM8 turbo. I never dynod the truck with that engine, wish I had. I'm thinking it made somewhere around 220/380 at the rear wheels. I base that by comparing 0 to 60 vs my dodge when it was stock.
So a number of years ago I decided that I was going to install an intercooler to help in my then quest for better performance from the built 6.5. I found an intercooler from an 05 duramax would fit with minimal modifications. At the time of this project I was still learning how to TIG weld and had mostly done mild steel. So this was my first aluminum TIG project. So the welds are kind crappy looking but they don't leak.
The first step was to make room to for the intercooler to occupy. The space the original a/c condesencer was the perfect spot. The main thing that changed was to remove the "boxes" that run vertically. With those out of the way the ic would fit width wise.
Now to make the ic fit.
If I remember correctly I cut off about 3 inches off the top. Then I capped the open ends of the tanks. In hindsight I should of reused the factory top mounts and in due time I'll fix a couple little things with how it's mounted.
I also cut off the bottom locating pins which I should of tried to reuse. Do to using the stock GM turbo setup, the turbo outlet is above the engine so I had to raise the inlet on the cooler. The inlet is made up of the original inlet and a piece of 4" channel. I also had to straighten out the inlet. I cut most of the way through and then used a piece of flatbed and wrapped it. It's kinda funky looking but works.
For my first major aluminum TIG project it came out decent.
The final product the outlet was extended by making a square tube out of 2x2x1/8 angle, I got it for free from my then job. So did with what I had.
There's a lot of little details I want to change but it works for now.
I have to find a picure of just the intercooler installed but this picture shows the final product. 
The tubing is all made from 3.5" 1/8 wall stainless tubing. Complete and total overkill but again I had it all on hand. It was all leftover from a job my dad did, so free pipe it is.
On the performance side turbo lag grew ever so slightly but a GM8 spools stupid fast so no real loss. On the exhaust side egts dropped a solid 75 to 100 degrees across the board. So the effort was well worth it. Now that I have an HX40 the gains will be even better for both performance and engine reliability.
The tubing is all made from 3.5" 1/8 wall stainless tubing. Complete and total overkill but again I had it all on hand. It was all leftover from a job my dad did, so free pipe it is.
On the performance side turbo lag grew ever so slightly but a GM8 spools stupid fast so no real loss. On the exhaust side egts dropped a solid 75 to 100 degrees across the board. So the effort was well worth it. Now that I have an HX40 the gains will be even better for both performance and engine reliability.
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Yes!!!
Yay for 6.2/6.5 builds!
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Said no one ever.
Using a grid heater?
There's more out there just working then most people realize.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
We know.
Lol, just giving you a hard time. I'm enjoying the thread even if that old leaky diesel isn't my choice.
Using a grid heater?
Yep that's a working grid heater. I originally installed it to help when really cold when I had the low compression engine. The current engine shouldn't ever need it but it was simpler to leave it installed. Plus it's a handy backup should I ever need it.
It's simple and works, plus it's different which I like the most.
Which is why I like mine so much. It opened the door to me daily driving a real truck, and not draining my wallet with terrible MPG's. I'd take my old 8.1 crew cab back in a heartbeat, if it wasn't for the 10mpg's. I loved that truck and it had so much power, but it sat all the time.
Exactly, with the low comp engine I saw a solid 17 average with mix city/highway. That's not babing either. This current engine should actually do better. I'll take that over single digit fuel mileage any day.
Sometimes it's the little things. The front bumper had just been held on with 2 bolts, now it's fully bolted in place. One step closer.
A little teaser of something simple I'm working on
. More about it later.
Is that for making easy-over eggs?
I mean you could, but you're going to get some extra flavoring that you don't want
.
