86 CUCV

[4X4ForDad]

I recently bought a 1986 CUCV from GovPlanet. When I received it I was totally surprised! NO BODY RUST! Yes, I thoroughly checked it.
Question of the day is...I want to install a Gear Vendors overdrive and headers w/2.5 & Magnaflow exhaust. Has anybody had any good/bad experience with these upgrades? I'd like to install a Banks Turbo kit but they stopped making them. Anybody have a NOS complete conversion for sale?

 

[campfire]

I recently bought a 1986 CUCV from GovPlanet. When I received it I was totally surprised! NO BODY RUST! Yes, I thoroughly checked it.
Question of the day is...I want to install a Gear Vendors overdrive and headers w/2.5 & Magnaflow exhaust. Has anybody had any good/bad experience with these upgrades? I'd like to install a Banks Turbo kit but they stopped making them. Anybody have a NOS complete conversion for sale?

I think this thread is in the wrong section. Perhaps it should be in the garage section? Or maybe the driveway? @tRustyK5 should be able to move it if you want.

I don't have good answers for your questions, but I did like the knockoff magnaflows that I put on my M1009. Speaking of which, which model of CUCV did you get?

 

[6.2Blazer]

Same question, did you get the K5 Blazer or pickup version? Big difference in regards to the gear vendor since the K5 has 3.08 gears and the pickup has 4.56.

I think the 6.2 sounds good pretty on dual exhaust and performance mufflers. I've had glasspacks spliced into the original dual pipes, then a complete system with some sort of turbo style mufflers that were fairly loud, and now some Flowmaster 40's. Most people I talked to say it sounds really good and are surprised it's just an ol' 6.2 diesel. With the slightly larger 2.5" pipes and free flowing mufflers you can then turn the fuel pump up a little for better performance. The military versions should already have non-EGR intake which flows better than the EGR version.

For even better flowing exhaust some people have made adapters for the outlet of the exhaust manifolds so you don't have a restriction. On the factory setup the ball and socket style pipe collector causes a small bottleneck in the pipe as it has to be reduced in size to fit. While you can make the 6.2 run better with some mild tweaks......it's still going to be a 6.2! I was always satisfied with mine but don't expect any screaming demon........

 

[4X4ForDad]

Same question, did you get the K5 Blazer or pickup version? Big difference in regards to the gear vendor since the K5 has 3.08 gears and the pickup has 4.56.

I think the 6.2 sounds good pretty on dual exhaust and performance mufflers. I've had glasspacks spliced into the original dual pipes, then a complete system with some sort of turbo style mufflers that were fairly loud, and now some Flowmaster 40's. Most people I talked to say it sounds really good and are surprised it's just an ol' 6.2 diesel. With the slightly larger 2.5" pipes and free flowing mufflers you can then turn the fuel pump up a little for better performance. The military versions should already have non-EGR intake which flows better than the EGR version.

For even better flowing exhaust some people have made adapters for the outlet of the exhaust manifolds so you don't have a restriction. On the factory setup the ball and socket style pipe collector causes a small bottleneck in the pipe as it has to be reduced in size to fit. While you can make the 6.2 run better with some mild tweaks......it's still going to be a 6.2! I was always satisfied with mine but don't expect any screaming demon........

Non EGR pickup. The plan is to install 2.5 inch pipes with Magnaflow mufflers and tweak the pump too. Performance on this stock engine is ok, not expecting a lot of "umph". It does have 456 gears, therefore the OD for highway driving. I wish that it had a tachometer, maybe I can find an aftermarket unit. The lower the RPM's the longer it will last IMO. 456 in town are liveable. Thanks for your input!

 

[tRustyK5]

I ran dual 3" exhaust with 40 series flowmasters on my last 6.2 rig. Sounded like a big block with bad lifters.

 

[warrpath4x4]

I have never ran them but people swear by stans headers http://www.stans-headers.com/gm_headers.htm if I remember right there was info that they add the same power as a banks turbo (but dont quote me on that)

 

[6.2Blazer]

I have never ran them but people swear by stans headers http://www.stans-headers.com/gm_headers.htm if I remember right there was info that they add the same power as a banks turbo (but dont quote me on that)

I've heard that claim about Stan's headers many times over the years but yet to ever see any first-hand impressions about them. There have been several posts on the diesel page here that somebody had bought a pair of these but never any follow up saying they installed them and gave any impressions. The only real follow up information and dyno sheets I found was from somebody who had modified a set of Hooker headers to fit. Believe he stated about 10-15% improvement, which at least seems more reasonable. Owned a 6.2 K5 since the mid-90's and was always interested in more power so the headers were definitely on the list. They are close to $800 so not exactly cheap, but are much cheaper and easier to install as compared to a turbo. However always very skeptical about those power claims from a set of headers. The Banks kit claims 60 HP and 115 ft/lb torque which is around 40% increase (FYI - still listed on their website but states "call for availability"). I know in the gas engine world people would laugh if you said headers alone gain anywhere close to that much power.

 

[4X4ForDad]

Headers do two things, increase exhaust gas flow (restriction / back pressure) and will decrease engine running temperature. I had a 1972 Dodge B300 van with a 440 in it. On a long grade the coolant temp would climb to 230*. I installed the headers with Flowmaster mufflers with 2" pipe and the overall temperature ran at thermostat 195* except on extremely hot days using the A/C. Under the engine cover there is minimal air flow because of the engine size blocking the area.

What my theory is that with a free(er) flowing exhaust the exhaust temp will lessen. No real proof without a pyrometer before/after analysis. Exhaust temp on a diesel can be critical to engine longevity (valves) and other related items. Am I going to gain 40hp? Nah, but there will be some increase. Not really looking for a racer, just a good running dependable diesel.