• Welcome to The Truck Stop! We see you haven't REGISTERED yet.

    Your truck knowledge is missing!
    • Registration is FREE , all we need is your birthday and email. (We don't share ANY data with ANYONE)
    • We have tons of knowledge here for your diesel truck!
    • Post your own topics and reply to existing threads to help others out!
    • NO ADS! The site is fully functional and ad free!
    CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

    Problems registering? Click here to contact us!

    Already registered, but need a PASSWORD RESET? CLICK HERE TO RESET YOUR PASSWORD!

1982 C-20 restoration do I keep the 6.2 or do I put in a 6.5 TD

E

ebredskins

New Member
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Location
Corona
My step dad passed away and left me his truck 1982 Chevy C-20 with the 6.2 in it. His dad bought the truck new in 82 and it has been in the family since. My 14 year old daughter and I want to restore it from the ground up. It runs well now, but has some leaks. We want to make it like show room new. I have been doing some research and hear things like ( that is not a good motor, dog, belt system no good, look for a motor with serpentine) My original idea was to remove the existing motor and trans and have them rebuilt and put back in, but I am open to sugestions. I found a guy localy that has a 6.5 TD from a 1999 chevy truck and said I could put the maniflod from my 6.2 on the 6.5 and add a spring to the turbo to make it manual and it would all mate up and give me more power and torque. I am not really concerned with the power, but I did notice that the truck runs great up to 55 mph, after that it is to much on the truck. Not sure if that is trans or rear end gearing. I would like to hear what you guys think. Do I keep it stock as is, or do I retrofit it?
 
Welcome.
The 1982 6.2 has special heads that have different injector threads. A 6.5 is simply a bored out 6.2 with different injector angles and precups. Slightly different pistons, but, in all years except 1982 heads and blocks interchange. Get different injectors for newer 83+ heads and the 1982 exception goes away.

You can check out the fuel system and see why it doesn't like more than 55MPH. Do you know what gearing you have as you may be running the engine out of RPM at 3600 RPM. Missing top gear in the trans, low diff gearing etc. The IP may be shutting down fuel as the pre 1985 govener rings came apart with any drygas use - not supposed to use that in diesel anyway...

How many miles on it?

You can add a "banks" turbo to the existing 6.2 and be near the same as a 6.5. the IP on a 6.5 delivers more fuel and precup size will hold your max power back. But you get way higher MPG 20's with a NA engine vs 15 MPG for a turbo.
 
A 6.5TD wont fit with the 80's AC set up. The turbo will hit it.

The engine is pretty much the same between the 6.2 and 6.5L. It might be a good idea to figure out the rear gears and what trans. In 82 the c20's can be had w/ 4.56's and a TH400 with no O/D. That would make them top out at 60-70MPH
 
Not sure how many miles, the odometer reads 7K probably turned once or twice at most. I looked at the banks sidewinder system, but they want $5,900 for it. I am willing to put 3-5K into the engine and trans. but not 10. This truck will not be a daily driver, it is more of a heirloom at this point.
 
I think it is the th400 3 speed. Someone told me I can bolt a 700RH with OD to this motor and that will help. I got a price from a local guy of $1,100.00 for the trans, OD and torque converter.
 
ebredskins said:
My step dad passed away and left me his truck 1982 Chevy C-20 with the 6.2 in it. His dad bought the truck new in 82 and it has been in the family since. My 14 year old daughter and I want to restore it from the ground up. It runs well now, but has some leaks. We want to make it like show room new. I have been doing some research and hear things like ( that is not a good motor, dog, belt system no good, look for a motor with serpentine) My original idea was to remove the existing motor and trans and have them rebuilt and put back in, but I am open to sugestions. I found a guy localy that has a 6.5 TD from a 1999 chevy truck and said I could put the maniflod from my 6.2 on the 6.5 and add a spring to the turbo to make it manual and it would all mate up and give me more power and torque. I am not really concerned with the power, but I did notice that the truck runs great up to 55 mph, after that it is to much on the truck. Not sure if that is trans or rear end gearing. I would like to hear what you guys think. Do I keep it stock as is, or do I retrofit it?
Click to expand...

Hey welcome! hah im the guy u called i believe. these are the guys to talk to they can asnwer all your questions!
 
ebredskins said:
Not sure how many miles, the odometer reads 7K probably turned once or twice at most. I looked at the banks sidewinder system, but they want $5,900 for it. I am willing to put 3-5K into the engine and trans. but not 10. This truck will not be a daily driver, it is more of a heirloom at this point.
Click to expand...

Burning oil, Lerory diesel a vendor on here, may be able to get the special Banks manifold from the kit. Then get the turbo of your choice. ATT, HX40II, GMx asthma attack etc. Used is also an option and you can resell or toss the Banks turbo. Junkyards have them from time to time.

Pickups are 'useful' and not a show truck. So I would suggest you build it to intended use. If freeway is important than gearing/transmission makes a difference. Load/grades make the need for a turbo justified. Otherwise leave it as stock as possible.

At 100K the injectors need to be rebuilt. Has this been done?
 
I would start with the basic things that could be used regardless of 6.2v6.5. Make sure fuel system is at 100%. Get a 4" exhaust in there, even if you have to swap out manifold connection to turbo connection later.

Drop in new or rebuilt injectors at turbo specs, if the pressure is high on n/a I have never seen it have ill effects. Possible reman ip same thing turbo vs n/a, you might loose 1 mpg but if not a dd i say woth the power and only spending the build cost once. Then you can run it and see how you like that. If I is still a bit under powered then turbo expense.
 
I do not know much about the truck. I have had it for about 2 months and I ahve been preparing and getting the list of stuff I am going to need and pricing things out. Thank you forthe advise about bulding it right and to be used, I will do that. I have the front end off now and have removed control arms and all down to bare frame, the next part is removing the engine and trans. If all goes well, we should be doing that in a couple weeks. Any thoughts on the 700R4, is it compatible with the 6.2?
 
if its not equipped for comfort, I would restore it just like it came off the assembly line, no turbo or overdrive, just as is. you will save money, and wont take it out too often and pile the miles on. It takes a bunch of money to update a vehicle, adding cruise, a/c, turbo, overdrive, etc.

my little red 91 GMC could get a NV4500 swap, turbo kit, etc. but its still doesnt have factory a/c, so I will rather just keep it nice and clean, stuff it in a shed over winter, and drive something else that came with a/c, turbo, overdrive, etc.
 
GM Guy said:
if its not equipped for comfort, I would restore it just like it came off the assembly line, no turbo or overdrive, just as is. you will save money, and wont take it out too often and pile the miles on. It takes a bunch of money to update a vehicle, adding cruise, a/c, turbo, overdrive, etc.

my little red 91 GMC could get a NV4500 swap, turbo kit, etc. but its still doesnt have factory a/c, so I will rather just keep it nice and clean, stuff it in a shed over winter, and drive something else that came with a/c, turbo, overdrive, etc.
Click to expand...

In the shed for the winter and too hot to drive without AC in the summer... Hmmmmm... Does it ever get taken out? :hihi:
 
oh yeah, 2-60 a/c unit. :) it had 57K on it when I bought it and it has 69K on it now, so it still sees the miles, but I try to keep it to a minimum. got plenty of ext. cab NV4500 trucks with a/c that are much better daily/ roadtrip rigs.

plus, whoever said you can have too many pickups. :) at the very least, have 2 or 3.
 
Well, I'll be the odd man out here.

You say it won't be a daily driver and it won't be a tow mule. It will be an heirloom or "keepsake" if you will.

I'm guessing it will be mainly used on short weekend drives to bring back memories of dad and grandpa and a project for you and your daughter to connect with.

Put it back stock.

Rebuild the engine if needed, restore the paint and the interior.

That will be a fine project for you and your daughter and it will drive the same as when gramps and pops drove it. They have plenty of power for just plinking around from place to place and the experience will be the same as it was for your dad and his dad.

A fine connection through 4 generations if you ask me.
 
If you like the truck as is all original factory built,why complicate things.Since you said power isn't a problem and still runs good,then rebuild what you have.Restoring a truck can get very involved and costly so you want to keep the restoration process on a level that you can enjoy and rebuilding exhisting engine components supports that.Corse thread injectors can be rebuilt,if heads are cracked buy new ones from peninsular,american castings not chinese,they can help you with new fine thread injectors that will fit and new injection pump.Kennedy is also a good source.Check the truck stop venders list.also a very good sourse.Go through the posts on our site,good info,take your time,find a machine shop who knows these engines and see if they have any they are currently working on,ask questions on 6.2 engine rebuilding,note thier answers,and refer back to the truck stop and thier members to help clarifiy.Good luck and enjoy the experiance.

SMOKEY
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top