new here, with a 6.5L Camaro

[83GMCK2500]

I forgot how awesome that thing looked. Very nicely done.

 

[Dave01]

Why up for sale? What will be you next project?

That's a very impressive rig, only one in the world like that?

 

[Matt Bachand]

Damn man, awesome.

I just reread the entire thread and that thing looks so clean and factory.

Question is, there was plenty of reference to rear turbo, That picture of the engine bay is pretty clearly shows a turbo up front or am I confused?

 

[Rafedial1]

Thanks tom,
give me a 3rd gen and $10K, you will get one wicked car. :smile5:

yeah, the 96 truck has been problematic, but it's all sorted out now. issues were like alot of used 6.5 trucks, that being the previous owner was not aware of it's quirks. had 600 trouble free miles since the repairs(all at once). very happy with the fuel mileage at 18 average. the 3.42's help though.

It is a rare truck, a 2500hd on the title and 6 lug wheels?!??

she's taking me camping for the Fourth.

-thanks 83gmc

-Dave01-thanks. not sure what I will do next. I have my whole life(23) to build again. (insert evil laugh). the only one in the world, yes sir.

-Matt, thank you. I tried to build it clean just like it could roll off the assembly line at GM, AND IT WOULD HAVE IF I WORKED AT GM IN 1994. I always tell people I should have been born in the 70's. seriously.

 

[tanman_2006]

My wife would be pissed but I would love to have that car! Has matching color with me 95 z71 :thumbsup: thats the only reason I would want it.

 

[buddy]

If I were closer I might buy that one, but I'd really like an OBD1 one. I like the color, and my 97 Z28 has seen better days. Not sure what the street value is on a diesel camaro, interested to see what it goes for.

Does it still get 30mpg?

 

[Dave01]

The guys that convert mid 2000 Suburbans to Duramax's get upwards of $50,000 for them. I'm not even sure if they are still in business but the vehicles looked great, just a ton of money to spend on a used vehicle, even if somewhat unique.

Your Camaro is worth a lot to the right person - a collector that wants something special. See if you find an auto collector's forum somewhere, you need to get the word out nationally to really get the bucks out of it.

 

[Rafedial1]

Damn man, awesome.

I just reread the entire thread and that thing looks so clean and factory.

Question is, there was plenty of reference to rear turbo, That picture of the engine bay is pretty clearly shows a turbo up front or am I confused?

missed this question last post. Yes, made many changes to the car since its first mile. I always loved the rear mount turbo, it performed very well. I had to redesign the hot side once, going from 2.5Y/3" to 2.5" into 2.5" into turbo that made it spool quicker, along with using my gas fill door(not needed due to fuel cell) for an air intake, that was even better.

But it the back of my crazy mind i always wondered how a front mount turbo would perform. THEN I caught wind of the Holset VGT turbos. That was it. I had to rebuild the turbo system. But I faced some hurdles. The car was already plageud with alot of nose weight.

So how would I fit a turbo where one should and COULD NOT be?

Well I had to relocate the radiator by building a totally new upper AND lower radiator mounts/core support. I also cut and removed almost all unused weight front the front AND/or replaced with tubular steel (V. stamped OEM) to reduce weight. This also netted me more room.

I also had to exchange the oem Electric fans for a set of slimline.

All I did for the turbo system is recycle(ha) some hot side from the old system (2.5") and flip the passenger's OEM exh manifold forward, build a mount for the turbo. I have some pics during fabrication if interested. Well, I have a ton of pics. I am very proud of the merge section I fabbed too. :smile5:

But yes, Holset HE351VE turbocharger, running at 18 psi, 4 inch dowpipe, big honkin K&N, no intercooler(just WMI).

Water Mist injection was later added(not in pictures posted above) WMI is wicked!

If I were closer I might buy that one, but I'd really like an OBD1 one. I like the color, and my 97 Z28 has seen better days. Not sure what the street value is on a diesel camaro, interested to see what it goes for.

Does it still get 30mpg?

Yes, OBD2 would be in the next one I build, but I love mech injection. Not sure on the value either. I was prob thinkin 15k, but hell it might be only worth 8. who know's, It's not like you can compare the value with another Diesel Camaro. lol.

30mpg, no it hasn't got that in awhile. It stayed steady at 28 avg for some time, but since all the additions, front turbo, 3.42 gears, higher/earlier boost, fuel screw cranked it just gets 25 average now. But I am sure I/the car could do better.

The guys that convert mid 2000 Suburbans to Duramax's get upwards of $50,000 for them. I'm not even sure if they are still in business but the vehicles looked great, just a ton of money to spend on a used vehicle, even if somewhat unique.

Your Camaro is worth a lot to the right person - a collector that wants something special. See if you find an auto collector's forum somewhere, you need to get the word out nationally to really get the bucks out of it.

Jay Leno! ahah! thanks Dave I'm gonna shoot an email to him and see if he's interested. you never know. He's a unique character and I truly admire him.

I dont want to make a profit, but I would like to see someone by it who will cherish it like I do or let it sit in a collection. Hell I may be 16 years late on the design. But if GM built this car in 1994, imagine what we would have now.

2010 Diesel Camaros with the 4.5L Duramax, with hybrid electric drive. 45 mpg and low 12's in the quarter.

I really am disappointed in how hard my mission has been to build something that should have already been done. It saddens me to think the common man can't lead/start a whole new market without corporations participating. But they don't even do that.

 

[12ga diesel]

Cody, I don't get in here in the 6.5TD section, but I just read this whole thread. I have to tell you, you did an awesome job on this car! You should be very, very proud of yourself and of your accomplishment of building this car just how you wanted to. I really have always liked the lines of that Camaro, a car I always wanted in high school, you have just taken it to another level for me by puting a diesel under the hood. Looked at all of your pictures on photobucket and I love the simple look of the interior, somewhat racecar-like, with all of the guages in the center.

If you are looking for somewhere you could send it to somewhere or someone who would enjoy or cherish it like you would, if I were you, I would look seriously into the Barrett Jackson Auction. The next one is in late September in Las Vegas and again in mid January in Scottsdale, AZ. Something so unique as your car, I am sure you could sell it there and wouldn't have a problem.

 

[ak diesel driver]

x2

 

[Nico]

I'd take it off your hands for 8k in a heartbeat, not that I have them but I'd sell stuff to get the funds, I have day dreamed about a diesel camaro for a looong time.. oh and great job btw!

 

[malibu795]

30mpg, no it hasn't got that in awhile. It stayed steady at 28 avg for some time, but since all the additions, front turbo, 3.42 gears, higher/earlier boost, fuel screw cranked it just gets 25 average now. But I am sure I/the car could do better.

at 70mph you truning 2300-2400rpm with 3.42

get the rpm below 2000 and mpg should go up big time irrc sweet spot is 1800-2000

 

[Rafedial1]

Cody, I don't get in here in the 6.5TD section, but I just read this whole thread. I have to tell you, you did an awesome job on this car! You should be very, very proud of yourself and of your accomplishment of building this car just how you wanted to. I really have always liked the lines of that Camaro, a car I always wanted in high school, you have just taken it to another level for me by puting a diesel under the hood. Looked at all of your pictures on photobucket and I love the simple look of the interior, somewhat racecar-like, with all of the guages in the center.

If you are looking for somewhere you could send it to somewhere or someone who would enjoy or cherish it like you would, if I were you, I would look seriously into the Barrett Jackson Auction. The next one is in late September in Las Vegas and again in mid January in Scottsdale, AZ. Something so unique as your car, I am sure you could sell it there and wouldn't have a problem.

thank you 12ga. Diesel I will look into Barrett auctions. maybe one close to Ohio?

x2

thank you ak. did you get those head studs I sent ya?

I'd take it off your hands for 8k in a heartbeat, not that I have them but I'd sell stuff to get the funds, I have day dreamed about a diesel camaro for a looong time.. oh and great job btw!

thanks. Well, I don't know why I spit out 8k. I would never sell it for under $15K, lol. I just don't have much confidence in finding the right buyer for her. She needs special care, and a new owner who loves and has had as much experience with the 6.5 as I have.

at 70mph you truning 2300-2400rpm with 3.42

get the rpm below 2000 and mpg should go up big time irrc sweet spot is 1800-2000

yep. I musta screwed up my calcs when planning the gear swap cause I had figured 2200-2300, but yes it is more near 2400 at 72mph. so 65-68mph on the highway from now on to get my mpg back, not bad, but I love speed!

edit: wait, maybe i have excess converter slippage. It has been acting funny. lockup comes in too late too. hmm maybe my TPS adjustment is off. thanks now I'll go **** with it.

 

[buddy]

My truck with 3.42s TCC locked in OD is like 2100-2200rpm at 75mph, but I have 31" tall tires. To get your RPMs down at speed you just put on taller tires in the back, which screws you for launching it on the track, but thats why you have two sets of wheels right?

 

[Rafedial1]

My truck with 3.42s TCC locked in OD is like 2100-2200rpm at 75mph, but I have 31" tall tires. To get your RPMs down at speed you just put on taller tires in the back, which screws you for launching it on the track, but thats why you have two sets of wheels right?

yes, had a set of taller M&H drag radials and 17inch wheels but they got loaned to a friend for few track sessions. Well, a few turned into several, then he ended up buying them from me since I never hit the track.

I would go with a taller street tire but my rear Michelins are near new and a taller 275w tire is $$$!

been thinking about how a TCI towing converter would do in the trans, maybe a lower rpm lockup speed as they advertise?

 

[buddy]

Mine locks up at 55mph while accelerating in 3rd gear and stays locked in OD as soon as it shifts to OD. I can program it to lock up whenever, but it causes slipping if you do it too early or right before a shift setting.

Hmmm...so you put taller tires on it for the track? For max torque to the ground to take off from a stop you would want to use as short a tire as possible, like a 15" wheel with short tires. Although I guess if you have more than enough power to take off and spin the tires forever, maybe you dont need the short tires. My truck's wheel spinning ability was greatly reduced when I put on the 17" wheels with 31" tall tires, compared to the stock 15" wheels with 28" tall tires.

On my Z28 I put taller tires on back too and it helped to not spin the tires so much off the line. With the stock tires it would spin the tires like crazy.

 

[ak diesel driver]

yes and thank you

 

[Rafedial1]

I have decided to keep the car as of now. As of way of preventing myself from selling it, it's going under the knife for surgery.

Plans:
-route exhaust to the back of the car, muffled in some way
-buy rebuilt db2 pump since mine has been having no hot start conditions for 3 months, still running though.
-get my VGT turbo singing better
and the big one
-a manual transmission swap

I have pondered a manual trans in this car for sometime. Even have had the 6speed pedal assembly in my storage area for about a year. so, obviously this has been on my mind for awhile.

Cost is projected to be about $1000, which includesmoney made from 4l80e related parts I will sell.

What I will need:
-pedal assembly (have)
-slave cylinder ($100)
-clutch master($100)/quick bleed line
-bellhousing is the same pattern
-custom flywheel.
-trans crossmember(easy free fab work for me!) lol
-driveshaft will need a new yoke
-hole for shifter(buzz saw free)
-shifter/ball (will be oem short shifter)($100)
-trans umm....a few choices.....
Lt1 T56 trans, Zf-6 speed trans, still haven't eliminated using nv4500 too, and LS1 style t56

4L80e length is 32 11/16" for the 2wd truck trans.
LT1 T56 is 31.3" overall
LS1 T56 is 31.9 overall
Zf-6 ???"

so driveshaft shouldn't have to be cut. I can make up for the difference easily elsewhere.

the hardest part about this swap is finding an appropriate clutch and flywheel assembly. and also just as important, the spacing between the slave cylinder/throwout bearing and clutch pressure plate arms. This is vital to having a clutch that applys and disengages properly. not sure what i will do with the pilot bearing and input shaft in the crank end.

Note to myself: I have an Ls2 gto flywheel and an 6.5 flexplate i should compare dimensions, starter teeth#, backspacing. I will probably have to make some kind of hybrid flywheel combining the diameter/bolt pattern of the nv4500/6.5 flywheel with the clutch/PP of a T56. something like that....

I am very excited to get started, just gathering funds now.

this should greatly benefit the driving experience and mpg.

 

[buddy]

Sounds like a good plan, and will probably keep you busy. It would be great with the manual. If you want it to be better MPG just make sure the final ratio is higher. Or perhaps go to the 3.08 gearing even though it would be slower off the line.
I have tall 285 width tires on my Z28 but unfortunately on turns the passenger rear rubs, must be sagging over there.

A more narrow tire and I could have gone taller to reduce RPMs, but I was an idiot and got wide wheels.

 

[Rafedial1]

Sounds like a good plan, and will probably keep you busy. It would be great with the manual. If you want it to be better MPG just make sure the final ratio is higher. Or perhaps go to the 3.08 gearing even though it would be slower off the line.
I have tall 285 width tires on my Z28 but unfortunately on turns the passenger rear rubs, must be sagging over there.

A more narrow tire and I could have gone taller to reduce RPMs, but I was an idiot and got wide wheels.

it's late here. but, what the hell I'll respond.

your tire rub issue. umm could be a couple things. Have you rear springs sagged overtime? do you have lowering springs? if either you could have panhard or axle-to-body alignment issues. Does it only rub on one side around turns? is it rubbing on the bumpstops any?

the easy fix....

big f-ing hammer mod to your inner fenders. if you look at the wheel well from under the car and feel around with your hand, you'll feel where it's tight. remember those spots (several), use a flat faced heavy mallet and take some anger out. some of the paint/undercoating will flake off but just recoat it. if you do it right, it looks like factory and you can fit up to 315 tires pretty damn easily(seen it in person).

now if I did this correctly I should have plenty of gear to keep my 3.42 gears and be great on the highway.
my crappy math:
+3.42
+0.50 T56 6th gear ratio
+26.68"tire diameter
+1500 rpm
=69.65 mph

so 1500rpms at 70 mph sounds very nice! :smile5:

update to trans swap: I found a T56 updated style slave cylinder in my garage from when I swapped a T56 into my 04 silverado gasser(sold)

It's a sign!!!

So. minus $100 from the list and this swap is being put officially one of my priority lists. i try to be organized.