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duramax in a k5?

87 Blue Beast said:
i know i could make a gas engine more powerful for the money, but i want a diesel.
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Once again....You've got that backwards. You could make twice as much power with a Dmax with half the money than a big block chevy...


what about the diesels that came in k5's? were they really poopy? is there an aftermarket for them to make them compete with the dmax?
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GM 6.2 naturally aspirated. It make a whopping 135HP or something. It basically has 305 acceleration, 350 towing power, and a 292 inline 6 economy. The 6.2 is a fuel saver, not a fire breathing power house like a Dmax. Infact, a 6.2 and a Dmax wouldn't even be on the same planet together. I think the aftermarket can get a 6.2 somewhere in the 250HP/500ftlbs range on a good day. A factory early Dmax had 300/520, and with a simple tuner can be close or at 500HP depending on what you use. Now if you want to get into custom computer tuning, injectors, turbos, nitrous, propane.... 800-900HP is your ceiling...
 
Duramax in a K5 would be sweet! I've always liked BBC in chevy's but I have alot of respect for duramax's or any of the new diesels...So refined but they make power real easy. I have a friend with an 85 K30 Single cab srw, and I tried to talk him into a duramax, but he ended up goin with a built 454 in it....strong motor but it gets like 8mpg on a good day (4.88s/39 TSLs). I'd love to do it if i had the money one day tho, be extremely cool
 
You can just barely make out the instrument panel in one of the interior pictures. That late model instrument setup looks terrible, what a hack job on that.

Likely, that is why there is no direct picture of it....:rolleyes: The rest of the truck looks good, which is why I can't understand why he would have "given up" there and just did a hacker job on the guages.
 
^^ i figured that from what ive been hearing. im thinkin im either goina look for a decently prived duramax or building the hell out of a 6.5 turbo. what would a dmax/allison combo run? probably a purty penny..:confused:
 
I would imagine that a decent used d-max with an allison would go in the 6000-7500 range. *But* you would basically have to buy the whole truck to get everything you need to complete the swap. And a gm service manual. Plus probably have to do some computer work, swap in the security system, the electrical junction box(es) etc etc. Not to mention all of the mechanical fab work.

The swap is just not worth it to me. Engine is heavy, complicated and expensive. Just buy a truck with a d-max in it to start. If you want a solid axle, just swap one in. As stated before, drop in a big block if you want power and put the extra $5000 you saved into fuel or a honda to drive.
 
rjfguitar said:
Ever heard of an interesting little invention called "EFI LIVE?" You are simply comparing factory crate engine numbers to factory Dmax numbers. How do you think there are 7K Dmax trucks out there running 11's in the 1/4 mile???? They don't exactly do that from the factory......

It's so easy to make 500+ HP out of an LB7 Dmax it's not even funny, along with it's 1000ft lbs of torque that comes with that 500 diesel horsepower.....granted.....I am bieng cautious and being conservative on the Dmax numbers....:whistle:
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Why yes I am comparing factory numbers, not apples to oranges like you. If you really think that it would be that hard to get a 502 powered truck into the 11's then you really are dumber than you sound Bobby. BTW please stop thinking you are "the" all knowing of diesels it's getting pretty annoying. :rolleyes:
 
Big91RustyBucket said:
He answered my question within an hour. I just asked if there was a forum he posted build info on and he sent me the link I posted. That's all . Wish there was more info .
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yeah I asked more details on the build, I know he posts over on www.dieselplace.com and thats where I tried to pm him and email him but no use for me.

Remington
 
rjfguitar said:
You can just barely make out the instrument panel in one of the interior pictures. That late model instrument setup looks terrible, what a hack job on that.

Likely, that is why there is no direct picture of it....:rolleyes: The rest of the truck looks good, which is why I can't understand why he would have "given up" there and just did a hacker job on the guages.
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Not everything has to be done to a factory finish, he swapped it, it runs good, and maybe has a few flaws here and there but who the fa#k cares. According to his build post over on diesel place, he has $1k+ in tuning, so a "hack" looking gauge cluster would be the least of my worries. ALSO***efi live wont delete or turn off the security vatts in a dmax computer.

As far as buck fer buck performance. if you already have the motor in and running then yes the duramax performance is hard and very unlikely to beat cost wise.

but were talking about engine swaps and performance and the cost benefit of doing one over the other. The cost alone of the engine/tranny/other parts plus all the fab work required, tuning, custom stuff made for various parts such as wiring harness, exhaust work etc etc, you will be in the hole DEEP. You would have to invest ALOT of work and money into both motors before you see a cost benefit to the dmax over a big block, or even a new fuel injected vortec motor such as a 6.0. Heck with cam, L92 heads, exhaust and a tune, those motors crank out over 500hp.

Remington
 
rjfguitar said:
You can just barely make out the instrument panel in one of the interior pictures. That late model instrument setup looks terrible, what a hack job on that.

Likely, that is why there is no direct picture of it....:rolleyes: The rest of the truck looks good, which is why I can't understand why he would have "given up" there and just did a hacker job on the guages.
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I was thinking the same exact thing. The least he could've done would be to make a custom bezel that would make it look better. Get rid of that gap in between the gauge cluster and the dash panel.

Scott
 
Corey 78K5 said:
Why yes I am comparing factory numbers, not apples to oranges like you. If you really think that it would be that hard to get a 502 powered truck into the 11's then you really are dumber than you sound Bobby. BTW please stop thinking you are "the" all knowing of diesels it's getting pretty annoying. :rolleyes:
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Hey, you're the one that asked the silly question about a 365HP factory smog dmax compares. Of course I was talking about a slightly modded Dmax. What would be dumb, would be to have a Dmax.....and not take 15minutes to upload 100-200HP.

It would take a crap load of money for huge serious components to make a 502 push a 7K 3/4ton 4wd crew cab into the 11's. Try a huge blower, different heads, and some serious fuel....

If you have a problem with a topic I enjoy discussing, including diesel pickups....sorry about your luck.:thumb:
 
uao85 said:
Not everything has to be done to a factory finish, he swapped it, it runs good, and maybe has a few flaws here and there but who the fa#k cares. According to his build post over on diesel place, he has $1k+ in tuning, so a "hack" looking gauge cluster would be the least of my worries. ALSO***efi live wont delete or turn off the security vatts in a dmax computer.

As far as buck fer buck performance. if you already have the motor in and running then yes the duramax performance is hard and very unlikely to beat cost wise.

but were talking about engine swaps and performance and the cost benefit of doing one over the other. The cost alone of the engine/tranny/other parts plus all the fab work required, tuning, custom stuff made for various parts such as wiring harness, exhaust work etc etc, you will be in the hole DEEP. You would have to invest ALOT of work and money into both motors before you see a cost benefit to the dmax over a big block, or even a new fuel injected vortec motor such as a 6.0. Heck with cam, L92 heads, exhaust and a tune, those motors crank out over 500hp.

Remington
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That just suprises me that he would go and do such a good job on everything else, and then do that silly cluster guage install. It's like....he did everything else right....why not finish it up right. Oh well.


I would completely agree, the amount of money that it would take to get a Dmax into an older GM would likely be higher than the price tag of a 502, especially if you are going to use a "cheap" transmission like a th400 in it. But, one has to consider the actuall cost of the Allison vs. a recon. th400 too.

Now if a guy was going to compare a Dmax/Alli combo vs. say a 572 Crate motor with a built 4L80E behind, then it could be very competitive financially.

Regardless, a big block and GM trans would be a heck of a lot easier to swap in, as you mentioned.:doah:
 
so what kind of power could/should be expected out of a decently built intercooled turbo 6.5? what tranny should be used behind them? and what would one cost from a yard or something?
 
87 Blue Beast said:
so what kind of power could/should be expected out of a decently built intercooled turbo 6.5? what tranny should be used behind them? and what would one cost from a yard or something?
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I have heard anywhere from 275-300 hp for a healthy 6.5...but that was just speculation, pb someone else here with more experience with that engine than me, Im still a diesel newb.

For the record...I would still go with a dmax and allison just for s#its and giggles, and I have to do everything the hard way atleast once. Plus a m1008 with a dmax in it would be just plain badass

Remington
 
It takes some doing (lower compression, higher turbo pressures, and an intercooler) but hp in the mid 300s and torque around 500 ft-lbs is possible for a 6.5TD. Peninsular sells a 340hp version. That would be on par with a duramax in stock form.
 
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