I think I've settled on a direction for the engine when I get time to do a bit of more serious fab work.
Parallel turbo. There's a lot of work out there that supports the scheme.
I'll be using GM8's for my own reasons. They're much maligned units on the board so I'm not willing to entertain discussion of the choice. Too hot of a topic. I have my reasons. 'Nuff said.
They'll be running Bill's turbo master control. It would be too difficult to make the vacuum wastegate system control two independent wastegates and have them equal at all times. One turbo for each side of the engine, exhaust manifold will be very short for improved transient response (this is a driver, not a drag or speed queen).
Air to air charge air cooler, mounted in between the evap core and the rad. A little modification will sort that out. It's already in progress anyways.....
Water injection will stay, but I've got an alternative use for the system as opposed to pumping it into the cylinders.
Common plenum, but arranged in a "ram style". Think along the lines of a TPI manifold or a Banks "Boss Hoss" intake manifold for the Duramax. Heck, altered parts of a TPI setup just might show up since I have a couple units languishing in the garage on hooks and a couple more incomplete setups in boxes. Have to wait and see how the prototypes deal with flow and reversion....
Intake tract is going to be something custom, but will involve ducting air from the high pressure area at the front of the truck to the filter box. I've looked at Banks "Ram Air Scoops" and it will probably be a variation on that theme, yet won't poke out under the bumper. It will involve cutting and fabricating. Filter box is as of yet undetermined. Considering everything from staying with the stock K47 to a few other modified stocker units. May go with two independent boxes to feed each turbocharger. Dunno yet, packaging will be one of the deciding factors....
Truck already has cooling up grades and is a new (10,000 kms) GEP optimizer 6500 so minimal worries there. I wish I'd gotten the P400 when the 599 crapped out, but c'est la vie.......
Have some plans for the cooling fan and better air management, but that's about it.
PCM will be my own calibration. I'm at the point where I'm comfortable altering fueling and timing as well as the transmission parameters. Haven't given up on real time programming yet, but it's a very distant possibility now. Probably won't happen if I was to guess....
I'm comfortable with the raptor and fuel feed, the DS4 and the stock injectors for now. We'll see how it goes as it all evolves.
Staying with the 4L80E. Will be looking at a better converter with a stouter lockup clutch. Have a possible line on a calibration that will enable a "tow/haul" mode or maybe a tap shift. Unfortunately, not my work so it may never come to pass. There's a couple talented programmers working on it so it's a "wait and see" thing....
Remainder of the truck will essentially be stock. Maybe a few bumper changes, aux lights and other bits and bobs for comfort and practical uses.
It will still be a daily driver and a weekend tow rig so all of this is going to be fairly conservative despite how it "alternative" sounds to a typical 6.5 TD.
Goals?
Not gonna make a guess. I get what I get so no disappointments. If it comes out at near stock power levels I'll be a bit disappointed after the work, but I'll still be OK with it. If it comes out nearer 250 hp and 500 Tq at 2500, even better (that's SHP I'm talking, not WHP). There's also a MPG target in mind, but ultimately I'll see what i get....
This is a long term project. IE: multiple years.
I have some financial things to sort out (couple years there) before I even start serious work.
I also don't plan to "hack it together", not even the mule pieces. Fit and finish is important to me, so that is going to mean a lot of time spent there also. For example: whittling out one exhaust manifold flange will probably take a couple weeks to a month, minimum. Hand cut and fitted.
First step is to source a toasted 6.5 as a mule for mock up. It would be nice if they made it in those plastic blocks.
Then, I have to replace my spool gun and start gathering up some stock......
