Please share yr thoughts with me...leave it be or do MODS?

[Turbine Doc]

One thing I missed in this discussion is thorough cleaning of radiator, which means remove radiator and spend 3 hrs or so getting gunk out of the fins, also de gunk the condenser core, 6.5s are hot running beasts and need max cooling, especially once you start delving into performance adders. A retuned fan clutch, and 9" Dmax style composite fan is a plus, check out what Bill Heath has to say http://blog.heathdiesel.com/ yes some sales speak in there but a good primer to those new to the 6.5 game. Bill is one of THE 6.5 guys to listen to that just happens to hold the record for the fastest 6.5 in the world, FWIW Bill says many of his customers are at 200K mark when they start adding performance stuff.

 

[Crankme69]

Thanks again for sharing & discussing this here.

My truck runs so good that I have to convince myself to jack with it. Yes it has many miles on it, but it don't run like it has 199K on it, it does not look like it has that many miles on it, the only thing for certain is the odometer says 198,936 miles.

I will change the intake manifold & rid it of the EGR restriction when it comes and prolly pull the radiator to clean that of crud followed by new oil cooler & lines have one that has slight drip & for certain the new Sunpro gauge set I purchased is gonna get installed...and I am monitoring the harmonic balancer for play.

Additional investments may require some coaxing & I'm a friggin tight ass, so please don't get discussed with me...justifying a new exhaust may be easy for me, as I run this thing enough miles weekly that 1 or 2 extra miles per gallon would not take me many weeks to pay for a $400 exhaust.

You all have been so generous to freely share your experiences & knowledge here with me and for that I THANK you ALL.

B/r 69

 

[ak diesel driver]

Another way to look at it is if your planning on keeping it. Even if the engine takes a dive you will already have the upgrades for the new engine.

 

[Crankme69]

Very true :thumbsup:

 

[guybb3]

Crank, I consider the exhaust and intake mods a must have. The rest, as you have money, will make you smile as everybody has given you great advice.

 

[Crankme69]

I agree some very good exchange of info & advice from all of you.

This 6.5TD is my first ever engine with a turbo. I ran my old 7.3 N/A truck for 3 yrs, great truck still have it.

This 6.5 just seems to grow more to my liking with every little thing I do to it. As I mentioned earlier in this post, last Friday I swapped out the old thermostat with a new AC Delco 190.

Really looking forward to next weeks 450 mile run to see what performance & hopefully MPG increase I will gain from increaing the operating temp by 10 degrees, at least that's what I have spotted on the OEM temp gauge since I swapped it out.

I really enjoy this exchange of info & camaraderie with you all :grouphug: :thumbsup:

 

[WarWagon]

Ask yourself what you want. The "pay to play" experience from you other 2500 does not need to happen again. However if you grenade this engine it is way cheaper to replace than a Duramax. At 200K it can grenade on it's own without help.

 

[Crankme69]

Yup I hear ya, I played with my 2005 Harley & got burned :mad2:, but there is a prime example of me, no fricken way I could ride that thing stock...it was so slow that could not have pulled a dick out of a lard pale...

I guess any time you start changing things it is somewhat of a risk...but shucks anyone can open their wallet & go sign their name & drive off with a new vehicle, the last NEW vehicle I purchased that had 4 wheels was in 1991.

I enjoy these challenges and even if it does chit the bed...at least I had the chance to converse with all you great folks here.

What will I do if it does grap out...I don't know, we'll cross that bridge when it arrives & with any luck it will be a while down the road, starting to rust & that will make the decision for me :33:

 

[dangerousdave]

I had an extensive discussion with Bill Heath about mods to my over 200k mile engine; To the best of my memory, this is the bottom line, not necessarily in this order (see farther down).
Reliability and economy mods only,
Turbo master, no boost over 10psi.
new injectors, or at least new tips, to prevent piston death.
single thermostat 190
relieved intake flow (cool air, better filter)
Clean the cooling "stack" (rad, a/c cond., oil cooler)
PMD upgrade to FSD bumper mount
oil cooler lines
OPS relay upgrade

and the first thing I should have done was
the downpipe and crossover

I don't remember if he mentioned it, but perforating or removing the cat made a HUGE difference in mileage and performance.
Replace the heater hose quick connect with a regular nipple, too.
Always use lube additive to prolong IP life.
Adding a filter pre-LP will make it last longer IMO.

 

[Crankme69]

Excellent!

I'm not doing anything more currently until I get my gauges intalled & even those prolly will take a back seat to the oil cooler/lines.

I just last Friday installed the A/C delco 190 T stat.

Dtech PMD is mounted in the bumper cooling nostril.

Injectors I don't know, but my truck starts clean, runs quiet and gets good MPG, decent acceleration pickup but I am concerned about my injectors, I don't know if they have ever been changed, they might be OEM, it just today turned 199K on the clock on my ride to work this am.

My OPS was the first thing I had to change last Oct 3 days after I bought the truck. It is not an AC delco switch, I think the name on the switch was "Standard". So far so good with that, being as though it's a 95 very easy to check if the LP is running.

Just purchased a fuel press gauge used from our swap meet here, gonna check my fuel supply pressure next.

My exhaust looks like it's 3.5 inch, with 3" dn pipe & newer cross over I need to investigate that this spring...

Keep the suggestions coming...very much appreciated!

PS Bill didn't say nuttin about the harmonic balancer or did ya forget about that?

 

[dangerousdave]

Don't remember that, but its a dang good idea to check, replace if in doubt or ya jes got some change burning a hole in yer pocket!:thumbsup:

Seriously, though; he may have said, but I am memory challenged sometimes... usually.