• 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!

Fun with Ted, Todd, Bill and Paul…Resurrecting an Ultimate Rebuild.

Status
Not open for further replies.
I also use a 20% methanol mix in the water, so some added fuel. I dont normally get 24mpg, just long interstate rides with the water meth spray (3.42 gearing). I havent actually run my propane in over a year, not really needed.
 
buddy said:
I also use a 20% methanol mix in the water, so some added fuel. I dont normally get 24mpg, just long interstate rides with the water meth spray (3.42 gearing). I havent actually run my propane in over a year, not really needed.
Click to expand...

Used some methanol one time and could feel the extra power, but just tapwater after that. Not sure of the miles per gallon I will be getting with this new engine, new stock heads, stock intake and exhaust manifolds, Heath towing cam, and a stock turbo! Nothing special about them, just stock. But I will still use the WMI and the propane. With the larger tires and 4:10 gearing Randy's Ring and Pinion figured out the final drive to be 3:58. Lots of fuel, water and propane should make for a long day. Just like I used to do when I long hauled!

Paul's new engine will and should be the one getting the mileage along with a ton of performance!
 
I run devilsown wmi and use straight water. My nozzles are 10 & 5 gph so could burn through 15 gallons of water in an hour. I use it sparingly for hills to keep the egt's down and it does that. I have a 6 gallon plastic marine fuel tank under the rear seat. After 300 miles of hwy driving with hills in between I need to refill it. No need to keep wmi on all the time. I also have an ATT and although I never kept track of mileage, I know from previous trips to the lake that my mileage has gone up considerably. I get about 650 kms per tank unloaded and last week towed the RV trailer up to the lake. I was quite surprised to get 515 kms before needing fuel. That's 135 kms I lost for the difference between unloaded and loaded so I figure that's pretty good by me. I don't have the exact mileage figured out. I need to absolutely top the tank off and won't be doing that till I need fuel.
 
One Down, three, maybe four to go...

IT IS ALIVE! Todd's truck played Phoenix today and finally rose from the ashes of it's melt down a couple years back. "Blue" will pull the camper this summer and the family will get to enjoy the outdoors again. Glad for them all.

The Running order right now is:
2. Ted's K3500. Assembly and install. I think he's waiting on a cam to come back.
3. My K1500. Still need the block to be checked out as OK. It was scheduled for 15 NOV 11 so I'm positive it will be done on re schedule for "call me Wednesday.":rof: Then the rod bushings that were due in Mid April can be waited on.... Good thing the Rockers are in...no...wait...:skep:
4. Ted's 81 will probably get the 6.2 N/A conversion later this summer, right before the block on mine is done and way before the bushings and Rockers show up...:???:
5. Bill's white gasser drag truck (I think its an 81 as well) will get a diesel conversion this summer too. I'm thinking his will be done before too long. Maybe his should be listed as 2.5 instead of #5 :agreed:

Sure glad this was all going to be finished by April 8th if we waited a bit... I know I sound whiny but it's actually working out quite well with the new schedule I'm on so its all good. Patience is a virtue, I'm Virgo...whatever:hihi:
 
Now, one of these years I'll finish the top end rebuild on my '94. All the parts (I think!) are still around, just a matter of locating them, some in the basement, some in the garage, some in the truck...
 
Rod Bushings are in.
Block and Rockers are the delay now. That and the same guy we waiting on for the block is the one who will be pressing in the bushings. I know I'm done bashing DD but Ted, are you certain Bennie and this machinist guy aren't somehow more than very distantly related?
 
Bill dropped off the bushings today at the machinists. Ted will drop off the rods Wednesday. He was there this morning and said the block was on the decking machine; main caps are good and the deck needs only a slight surfacing. So, the pistons, rods bushings and pin assembly will be done, along with the block (yes the BLOCK) and ready for pick up on Monday. Fingers crossed....
 
As explained in the 'When Suppliers Turn Bad' thread on the 6.5 forum (post 120), Diesel Depot strikes again.
The "ceramic coated" pistons are junk, pitted, with the wrist pins falling out they are so loose.
So, the damages are:
New Mahle Pistons and Rings, Re-Balance the rotating assembly and bore the cylinders "30 over"
Boring and balancing are in excess of $1200.
New pistons are about $950 unless Mahle will cut us a discount as Ted is such a peach of guy.
Husker's last comment in the other thread was very apt and may happen one way or another in that 'this devil just may go down to GA 'cause this guy is not happy with how Jamie Avante and Diesel Depot have treated a very honorable man....Ted I mean.:thumbsup:

The pistons will go back to Diesel Depot, in an un-protected state meaning loose in the box. The faces will probably be drilled through or, if I had my way, engraved deeply with "Another High Quality Product from Diesel Depot and Jamie Avante." I may keep two, have them engraved and hang them from Reese hitch mount like those bull ball ornaments you see now and again (which just make me shake my head....).

The 'speed shop' has me at the front of the list so; the block deck has been surfaced, the center bore on the mains has checked out "as good as any [he's] seen", the rod bushing will be pressed in and the rod ends checked all by Monday. He'll balance the rotating assy and bore the cylinders once the pistons show up, which should be next week, and then it should be ready for Todd's magic touch. I'll be in Phoenix next week and, if the plan holds, will drive the truck up on the 11th and return home. Meanwhile "T2 Engine assembly and Installation" (my name for Todd and Ted's expert workmanship) puts the motor together, pulls my old one, installs the new motor, and runs it for a bit to ensure its as good as it can be. I'll build some comp time up and then return to Ellensburg get it and all the photos Todd is supposed to take during the assy. I'd love to have the time available to stay and assist/learn, drive it on the initial runs and then go on another 5 day 5000 mile road trip with Ted to really break it in. Alas, wishful thinking, like getting quality service and parts in a timely manner out of Diesel Depot and Jamie Avant.
 
If you decide to make that road trip, take I-80 and swing through Lincoln. I'll join your little convoy!
 
AK wrote me a PM so as not to dime out my ignorance in the open. No biggie but I do appreciate the 'top cover' my friend.
ak diesel driver said:
Paul IIRC the pistons have full floating wrist pins which mean that they will rotate in the piston and uses circlips to keep them in place. without the circlips the wrist pins should be able to slide out. Is this what you're refering to with the wrist pins "falling out"?
Click to expand...

I probably should have been more clear but I'm 900 miles away from what's happening so I get the updates in phases and texts. From what I understand, yes, full floating wrist pins and sliding out is one thing and I've two sets of pistons (plus two blocks, cams, rocker sets etc. in the garage now) that will do just that. But, from what I gather, these pretty much rattled and wobbled in the process as they 'slid' out....much too much play/room/whatever. So, that is quite another matter. Plus, when Ted, Todd and Bill all say, well, when they agree they are no good, I think it is safe to say they aren't right. Ted isn't looking for excuses to throw more money at this think either. Then there's the fact that when Jamie pressed the wrist pin bushings into the rods, he didn't line up the oiler holes! I Googled "Customer Service-FAIL" and the first link was to Diesel Depot...
 
Made the run up to Ellensburg and the truck never skipped a beat. It's like it knows the motor is coming out and wanted to make one last pitch to stay in the game. I'm keeping the motor to tinker with and not have to have down time on the truck to pressure me to make time expedient choices over doing it right once.

So, it is now part of the 6.5 crowd around Bill's place until the motor's parts get delivered and assembled. If you want to see what kind of work Todd does from an external standpoint, here are a few shots of his motor after a few weeks of driving around the dusty roads of Ellensburg.

IMG_1529.jpg
IMG_1528.jpg
IMG_1527.jpg
IMG_1530.jpg

Here's a couple of shots of the pistons sent by the DD boys. Talk about quality control, some of the wristpins rattled, most were very loose and only one was as tight as it should have been. The nicks and gouges were pretty discouraging but at least the ceramic coating was equal across the face of all...NOT
IMG_1535.jpg
IMG_1536.jpg
IMG_1533.jpg
IMG_1534.jpg

The heads, at least, passed muster
IMG_1531.jpg
IMG_1532.jpg
 
I wonder if he just boxed up and sent you a set of pistons out of a detonated motor out of pure spite, hoping that you'd install them "as is" outa the box without checking them or having them checked by the assembler. Can't find any reason why a reputable person would send such garbage. Of course the key word might be reputable in that last sentence....

BTW, that is one CLEAN (both dirt-wise and detailing-wise) motor!
 
DD got dumped from the side of the truck when Mahle came on board as a sponsor. That happened right around the time you had your extended visit last year. Since he wasn't planning on running the truck that year, he must not have made the switch yet. I didn't even think to look Saturday as it was parked out back under protective cover.

Speaking of Mahle, the pistons should be showing up this week if they haven't already. Everything else is at the machine shop waiting so the rotating assy can get balanced. Then its all back to Todd for assy and swap. I think I'm still waiting on the rocker arms though. Hard to say as I'm even further way this week than the normal 850 or so miles.
 
Mahle pistons are on back order with no projected date for delivery...
Machinist will have back surgery soon...
Todd will not be able to do the engine build...
Changing my first name to Ted...
Other Ted says he will let me have his copies of MaxxTorque with article detailing the original engine build...
Think I'll pass the time making an annex to the article comprised of photos and the dialogue from the two threads and send them to Jamie for the heck of it!
 
Paveltolz said:
Mahle pistons are on back order with no projected date for delivery...
Machinist will have back surgery soon...
Todd will not be able to do the engine build...
Changing my first name to Ted...
Other Ted says he will let me have his copies of MaxxTorque with article detailing the original engine build...
Think I'll pass the time making an annex to the article comprised of photos and the dialogue from the two threads and send them to Jamie for the heck of it!
Click to expand...

Damn Ted II:D, that engine is cursed. You guys aren't having much luck.:nonod:

We were looking forward to the results, hopefully things will change.
 
ak diesel driver said:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Piston-Set-...pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr
Click to expand...

Thanks but: my engine is a 6.2 and these, while they are available, the seller only has 6 left anyway.:nonod:
Same with this seller http://www.ebay.com/itm/Piston-GM-6...es&hash=item2c4baaa5a1&vxp=mtr#ht_1728wt_1166
Kaskar has them as singles too but then there's the rings that have to be purchased. I got mine near these price points with rings included.
I'll wait it out. Got a line on an engine builder in the area that does good work and is willing to take on the project. He doesn't normally do these but figured I was a basket case in need of a good turn of luck. If the parts come in and the machinist still hasn't had surgery, I should be ok by July.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top