The truck has 4.88's in the 14 Blt and the d44, on 315's
CK5
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More is better... Is it legal in Calfornia?
- Thread starter retroblazer
- Start date
If you have a 3/4-ton burb, and they where available in that year with a big block TBI 454, then you can legally put a TBI 454 in it. You would have to go to a referee station to get it certified as an engine swap. You could even put a stroked TBI 454 in it. The smog tech guys do not know how many cubes, camshaft, or TBI CFM flow rate your engine has by looking at it. as long as it can pass the sniffer test.
So glad I don't have to deal with that bs
Thanks for posting all of this info. It's very helpful. It looks like I may need to allow for more transit time on the short run. I have a lot of work now just to get it roadworthy. My first challenge wil be to get it through CA smog. I never registered the Sub when I moved. In Illinois, I would stop a couple of blocks away from the smog dyno an switch back to the stock chip.
I will be putting a CARB approved Cat on, and then trying the test.
I'll look at an engine swap later.
I think that's a good plan for now, good luck man!
The Sub is a K1500 series that came with a 5.7/4L60E . I was reminded that there was a 6.5 oil burner option, when I was looking at RockAuto.com, so it appears that there is a diesel in a 1/2 ton. My limited understanding of CA's crazy smog laws suggests that CA has exempted pre 97 diesels. If I had time, I would swap the engine, and register the Sub as a 94 diesel off of its current Illinois registration. And, on a personal note, just as I moved from Illinois to CA, Ill changed their smog testing in a very smart way. They exempted any pre OBD 2 cars and trucks. My 94 is OBD 1. Sucks...
One more note on the smog thing...... Don't think because it hasn't happened where you live, that it won't. As long as Democrats control California, and continue to mandate the way cars are made, the rest of the country will suffer. The size of the California market allows the tail to wag the dog. The people in power in SF Bay Area and LA, are anti car for the masses. They do not like cars.... almost, they only like brand new cars to get the union vote.
I just did some more reading on the 6.5... It's not pretty.
The engine's not pretty? Or getting California happy with it isn't pretty?
What's the upside of a 6.5? Assuming I'm right, that the pre 97 diesel are exempt, what could be done to a 94' 6.5 to make it get out of its own way, let alone tow 7,000 lbs?
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Easy. Put a 12 valve in it.
Mileage and low-end torque are the upsides of a 6.5. If you want power, a 454 or 8.1 is probably your best bet (assuming that CA will allow such). If not, a 6.5 should keep up with a 350 easily enough when towing is the aim. But I don't know whether it would be improvement, as I'm not sure what your Stroker is producing. Do you have a power/torque curve for it? There are a few tweaks for the 6.5 (making sure you have the proper turbine is where I would start), but it runs out of cooling capacity pretty fast if you start running things hot.
Is mixing OEM applications allowed? A 6BT would be a fine choice for his application, but I thought CA wouldn't allow that.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Is mixing OEM applications allowed? A 6BT would be a fine choice for his application, but I thought CA wouldn't allow that.
Yeah you can mix match brands. Thats why its very common to see fummins trucks...ford plus cummins. Its pretty hard to beat the ol 12 valve.
Oh. Well, that sounds like a good idea if he's wanting better-than-stock towing abilities and diesel exemption. It's not the easiest swap out there, but it has been done many times. Or you could just rock the 6.5 and enjoy life that way.
find a burb diesel chassis and swap it all over. Do what you want with it, no smog required.
You are correct. Everything 97 and older has no smog for diesel. My understanding about the 6.5 was that it is pretty similar to a tbi 454 when towing on the open highway and mountains. In town towing, the 454's pep will out pull a 6.5 from light to light.
Oh and yes, California sucks. They regulate anything that is fun for us tax paying constitution loving folks, unless you are an illegal, gay, dope head. In that case you can do whatever you want and the state will pay for it.
I've pulled with 6.5s and they aren't bad.
Tow like a big block but with better milage.
A slightly hopped up 6.5 towed my rig ( truck and trailer close to or just above 7k)with zero issues at 75 didn't have many hills but it didn't bother that thing too much
Tow like a big block but with better milage.
A slightly hopped up 6.5 towed my rig ( truck and trailer close to or just above 7k)with zero issues at 75 didn't have many hills but it didn't bother that thing too much
