Project 67 GMC custom 6.5 turbo diesel

[mal68ibu]

I got the drivers side of the engine compartment fairly finished up. I had to massage the inner a little to clear the air intake piping. I made a little bracket for the engine oil cooler hoses. I had to relocate the wiring and I'll clean that up before I'm done. I installed my engine temp and oil pressure gauges just to find out my oil pressure gauge needs to be replaced. I have another pod on top of the dash with a vacuum gauge in it and a hole for the boost gauge when it shows up. More on that later. Trans still does not shift right so I'm hoping that I just have to fiddle with the throttle position sensor a little more, or dink around with the vacuum pump......you know the easy stuff. I did a couple laps around the block and the temp got up to 195 and just stayed there. It was 100 degrees out. Once the truck warmed up I got very little black smoke and it felt strong.

[barthmonster]

Awesome thread ! Subscribed !

[wildwilly4x4]

I just put a 6.5 turbo into my 72 long/short box conversion 4x4. I plan on mounting my NV 4500 behind it though, for OD. I ended up using the entire engine crossmember(had to hack it all up to fit) out of the '86 military truck that I originally had this motor in. Looks like your project came out really good.

[mal68ibu]

Right now I must say that I really wish I had a NV4500. I'm pulling my hair out trying to get my th400 to shift. I had to replace the throttle position sensor (regulates vacuum down to the trans to mimic a gas motor), and I've adjusted it everywhere and the trans still wont shift right. Trans mind you only has about 2K on a rebuild, and has never towed anything. I have a few things left to check out before I throw the towel in and bolt up the NV3500 and hope for the best. However I did get the interior decked out. Covered the entire floor in sound deadener, and heat resistant stuff on the passenger side where the exhaust will be. New Carpet, and I found a good seat at my local junk yard that got a new cheapo seat cover, and restored 67 gmc lap and shoulder belts. No center belt because I was planning on restoring the buckets I pulled from a 69 and using those until the wife told me it needs to be a 3 seater for a little while. LAME!!

[mal68ibu]

Originally Posted by wildwilly4x4

I just put a 6.5 turbo into my 72 long/short box conversion 4x4. I plan on mounting my NV 4500 behind it though, for OD. I ended up using the entire engine crossmember(had to hack it all up to fit) out of the '86 military truck that I originally had this motor in. Looks like your project came out really good.

What are you going to run for clutch linkage? or will you go with hydraulic clutch? My NV3500 is my back up if I can't get the th400 to work.

[mal68ibu]

We just finished off a sick exhaust system for the truck a couple hours ago. Took it to the local watering hole for a celebratory beverage. I found out through process of elimination that my vacuum modulator on the trans took a dump on me while hanging out doing nothing. Replaced that and the thing shift pretty good. I think I have some tuning to do as it shift to second really quick and takes a while (imo) to get into third. But between the adjustable vacuum mod. and the VRV on the IP I should be able to tune it quite a bit. The exhaust is LOUD!! I also need to do somthing about the crank case vapor and all the holes in the firewall, that I'm not using now. I should also have my boost gauge so I can see whats going on there, by monday, and later this week I should have the truck over to the tuner to make sure I have the IP in the right spot. The quick report now that the trans shift just about right is that the truck hauls the mail. My diesel buddy drove it tonight for the first time and just said wow. 1/4 throttle is more than enough around town. If I can keep my brain cells rolling in the right lane I'll pack my camera and get some more video of it moving.

[wildwilly4x4]

I posted my build in the 67-72 truck forum. I am using a '91 model clutch master, and the internal slave thats on the '97 nv4500. I just drilled a hole directly off the clutch pedal and gave the master cylinder a home just to the drivers side of the hydroboost. I had it all working fine, until the used slave cylinder decided to start leaking, now I have to pull the tranny and mucho heavy np205 back out just to change it. I guess that will teach me to try and be cheap and reuse unknown condition parts..lol

[ERASER5]

You said residual valve[U]s[U]. Do you still have front drum brakes? If so, then your golden, but if you have disc brakes, you do not need nor want a front residual valve.

[mal68ibu]

I ended up using two residual valves as pictured. The brakes are awsome. I really need to get a boost gauge on this thing, and a waste gate. Found out yesterday on a drive that I didn't tighten the oil return from the turbo, and oiled down my exhaust, so everything is a good ol mess under the hood now. I just got all the crap out of the bed of the truck so I can mess around with it and dial in the adjustable prop valve.

[Spray-Bomb]

[mal68ibu]

Originally Posted by Spray-Bomb

Give me a break, nobody needs to see pics of nasty diesel oil sprayed all over the underhood. I'm still shaking it down. Let me post the nice pics.

[*Dylan]

I'm in love.

[mal68ibu]

Its been a while. I don't have any new pics, but I'm bringing the truck in to a local shop to have them make sure the injection pump is timed right. This guy deals with many different makes and models of diesels and has some fancy pulse tool to set the timing. I have a hand fabbed exhaust on it, and a passenger side inner fender in it that I butchered horribly (I have another decent one to chop up using this one as a template). I've installed all the rest of the parts that were missing from the truck. Current issue is crankcase vent to remove as much oil as possible from the system so as not to oil down the intercooler, and a more permanent air filter set up. I should have some time to get some new pics posted up later on this week.

[mal68ibu]

Got a clean bill of health on the truck. Timing is set at 4 degrees. The tech told me to keep track of my mileage for a couple weeks and stop back in. I put the wipers back on the truck but the arms weren't in the park position so I need to fix that before I take some new pics.

[wildwilly4x4]

Cool deal! I used to vent my crankcase to open atmos below the truck, just to keep the oil resid out of my airbox, but I dunno if that is an option for you.

[mal68ibu]

That is what I have going right now, but I found out that I really need to have the stock style set up on this motor, and multiple guys on the dieselplace have mentioned that it will keep seals on the truck, and won't oil down my intercooler. I just need to come up with a suitable air intake and I'll be good.
Adam

[Sub-versive]

Updates and Pics?

[67_C-30]

I finally got mine running today, so hopefully I'll be tooling around in few weeks myself. Can't wait to see the updated pics!

[gm4x4chris]

subscribed im fixing to start an extra cab 4x4 build and plan on using a 6.2 with 6.5 turbo stuff backed by a 4l80e going to using you and 67_c-30 build pages as a refrence

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by gm4x4chris

subscribed im fixing to start an extra cab 4x4 build and plan on using a 6.2 with 6.5 turbo stuff backed by a 4l80e going to using you and 67_c-30 build pages as a refrence

Sounds like a cool project. I don't know if you know this or not, but 91 - 93 C2500 and C3500 diesel trucks (6.2 non turbo and 6.5TD) came with 4L80E's and had stand alone ECM's just for the tranny. The diesels didn't have computer controlled engines until '94, so that stand alone controller from the 91 - 93's is really nice to retrofit into something older.

[gm4x4chris]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

Sounds like a cool project. I don't know if you know this or not, but 91 - 93 C2500 and C3500 diesel trucks (6.2 non turbo and 6.5TD) came with 4L80E's and had stand alone ECM's just for the tranny. The diesels didn't have computer controlled engines until '94, so that stand alone controller from the 91 - 93's is really nice to retrofit into something older.

thats good to know thanks for the info i have 3 sweet running ole 6.2s right now and a 4l80e outta 95 3500 hd i know they make a stand alone computer aftermarket for it but maybe i can find one at the bone yard for cheap that would be killer

[woodwright]

Come on man! Weres the updates? I just read the whole thread and am dieing to know how the story ends. What all is upgraded over stock? Got any mileage numbers? I'm interested in doing this swap into my k10.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by woodwright

Come on man! Weres the updates? I just read the whole thread and am dieing to know how the story ends. What all is upgraded over stock? Got any mileage numbers? I'm interested in doing this swap into my k10.

I agree!

[mal68ibu]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

Sounds like a cool project. I don't know if you know this or not, but 91 - 93 C2500 and C3500 diesel trucks (6.2 non turbo and 6.5TD) came with 4L80E's and had stand alone ECM's just for the tranny. The diesels didn't have computer controlled engines until '94, so that stand alone controller from the 91 - 93's is really nice to retrofit into something older.

I could kick myself square in the.........well. I personally chopped up that harness in the 93 3500 I pulled my motor from not having any idea what it was. I've now clocked 4000 miles on my "new" truck and have tweaked the fuel mileage up to 14.5 on the highway. I made a bed extender for it out of one of the factory stainless ford units. Huge difference on the HWY. I also stumbled across a Doug Nash (US Gear) under over drive unit for a TH400 at my local pick N pull so that is how I'm getting my overdrive. Tho a 4L80E would be AWSOME.

[mal68ibu]

Here is a pic of my 71 suburban and the gmc out front. I also added an in the bed spare tire holder to leave room for a blazer tank under the bed. The exhaust is 3 inch pipe to a stainless custom muffler to a 5" tip down. I still do not have the veggie oil stuff on the truck, and I don't have a boost gauge or pyro gauge yet. I have the boost controler turned down to a safe level. BTW the burb is for sale as I'm relativly confident in this trucks ability. I've towed 5 3/4 complete trucks behind the GMC and it flys. I still have some brake issues to work out but nothing more than a day project.