215 Hp GM program myth or actually exists

[JeffsJeep04]

Just imagine if the tune Goldsberg describes had made it into production around 1996. This program coupled with a factory intercooler would have made the 6.5 a real contender in the diesel towing market at that time.

The cummins with an auto was only putting out 180HP and 215 for the 5 speed until 1998.5, and the powerstroke was at 215. All three motors were in the mid 400 ft/lb range. I think the main issue with the 6.5 being a contender was it's reliability issues. We know a lot more about these motors now then we did then.

 

[Turbine Doc]

The dirty secret is that GM knew a LOT about the 6.5's reliability, but chose to deal with it via attrition, vs campaign recall, ie fix them when/if they break, if they make it past X miles then we won't have to fix them, plus DMAX already on dwg board, and no way a non common rail engine would ever meet tougher emissions they knew was coming. Same with other mfrs, 7.3 & 5.9 gone from production for same reason.

I'm living through same issues at work, converting MFI Diesel locomotives to EFI Diesel for tier 0, 1, & 2 compliance, will soon be working common rail fuel locomotives, and hybrid Diesel/electric/battery ones on not too distant horizon

 

[JeffsJeep04]

What would happen if the big three collectively decided to give the EPA the finger and start making powerful, fuel efficient diesels again? Let VW get in on it with a non-emissions laden jetta. Times like these are not conducive to having the air out the tailpipe cleaner then the stuff going into the air box.

 

[gmctd]

Reason you got the 6.5 is because GM thumbed their noses at EPA and congressionally-mandated CAFE back in the '60's-'70's - when threatened with exorbitant taxation and loss of the 350 and 454 truck engines, GM\Chev\Detroit Diesel responded with the lite-duty 6.2, then the 6.5 and the DS4 to meet emissions criteria - Ford\Navstar replaced the medium-duty 6.9 with the 7.3, adding an electronic IP for emissions - Dodge\Cummins added the VP44 to the med-duty 5.9 for emissions - all the l-d, m-d and h-d engines (18-wheeler motors) have gone EFI and CRD - even the big marine and stationary Diesels are required to meet EPA criteria for emissions - conform or convert - nothing like threatened federal taxation to promote compliancy

 

[Acesneights1]

Now you guys got me thinkin. My 2000 K3500 always runs hot when towing despite supposedly having the better cooling system and yes of course all coolers and rad remove from truck and thouroughly cleaned. The truck does seem to have decent power for a bone stock 6.5. No comparsion to my 95 with all the upgrades but it is an F with a GM8. Too bad I don't have a scanner. Autoenguiniuty is on the wish list.

 

[Monarkman]

The cummins with an auto was only putting out 180HP and 215 for the 5 speed until 1998.5, and the powerstroke was at 215. All three motors were in the mid 400 ft/lb range. I think the main issue with the 6.5 being a contender was it's reliability issues. We know a lot more about these motors now then we did then.

Yes and part of the reliability issues was heat. The 13 psi and an intercooler would have done alot to help this as we have seen with many trucks here. I had a friend with a 1997 cummins 3/4 ton auto 3.55 gears (180hp). He would walk all over my truck in sig on the highway in the summer pulling very similar loads because of defueling.

 

[buddy]

hyperchip

I had a hypertech chip in my 94 C1500 until last week when troubleshooting a no-start I must have fried it with ESD or something. But I went to the junkyard nearby and they had a 95 3500 dually 6.5TD, which I bought the ECM w/ chip and put it in my ECM and it runs just as powerful as the Hypertech chip, but I notice higher boost through out and top end. And I think I have smoother shifting now maybe.

So my S engine L56 E-prom code must have just been holding it back, but no longer, I ordered an aftermarket with an F engine code with a 94 year code at least, and the same truck features. I also bought a new intake and plenum on ebay with no EGR, and with new exhaust manifolds still only $249 including shipping the 30lbs.

I also have the GMTDScan software and cable from engh motors, for $200 this thing is awesome, only applicable to 94 and 95 though. Does all the stuff that scanner does on your laptop. He was able to help a lot with my chip codes too, he has a lot of information and understanding on it.

For power, I'm going for the propane

 

[Rodd]

Well I may have some confirmation on the 215 hp chip. W/ my autoenginuity hooked up on my trip home I was doing some playing around and put up coolant temp, timeing, fuel, etc. I went to a different graphs tab and it showed minimum and maximum for the ecm. Mine showed maximum fuel was 79 mm3. I knew last year when I was on a trip I got near 80 when I was watching it. I don't know if there are any other indicators for this mysterious chip.