new to me!!!!

[toe-b]

i just bought a 94 chevy ext cab long bed it has the 6.5 turbo diesel in it. i was wondering what some of my to do first things should be with this engine? it is all stock as far as i know the pre owner had alot of service records for things over the last few years. truck runs great its got 194,000 miles just wondering is there was something to look at first. i do plan on a few mods in the future exhaust, intake, maybe a few other things.

any advice would be great as i am new to diesel engines!!
thanks
T

[Robyn]

If the PMD is not already relocated to a cool spot off of the injection pump, it would be a great time to do it.

At 194K I would advise that you start saving some repair $$$$ for the not to distant future.

I love these trucks and the 6.5 but somewhere around 200-250K they will usually need a set of head gaskets.

If you can catch it and do it on your time, its far better than not.

When a gasket goes, it usually gives little warning, just one morning it will start up and then poof, start blowing clouds of steam.

Dont mean to alarm but, its just the nature of the beast.

You might search through the service records you got from the PO and see if maybe this was done already.


Welcome to TDP.


Missy

[forbey]

When a gasket goes, it usually gives little warning, just one morning it will start up and then poof, start blowing clouds of steam.

Missy

That is what it did to me, right about the 220K mile marker.

[Robyn]

The really late 6.5's had an updated gasket.

The 92 to about 97 had the older design gasket and about 200K is the end of the line for the gaskets.

I have had this happen on two different rigs, one at 230K and one at 198K


Missy

[toe-b]

i did see something in thoes records about the head gaskets i will go look again when i get home. thanks for all the input guys and gals. i just want this rig to last me a while. as far as the pmd is there any better reloc kit than the other, and i think its all stock so would it be better to relocate or replace? i dont mind spending money but if i dont have to i dont want to.

thanks
T

[forbey]

With all the problems it caused blowing, it would have been better to just replace the head gaskets at 190 to 200 k before they blow (Too late for Robyn and me!)

[blackshirts]

if you dont wanna do a PMD relocate (cause it can be costly if you dont and if you do) you can start by taking the plastic cover off the top of the engine and hanging it in your garage as a wall mount or trophy that will release alot of heat that normay builds up under there creating faulty PMD's that can be a quick-medium term fix i suppose get the BD turbo downpipe (is bigger) and a brand new straight pipe all the way to the back or wherever you please with a nice tip(or two) and then a BD re-flashed ecm/e-prom......atleast thats what i plan on doing if i ever get one cause its cheap and gives you alot of easy fixes and quick power (long term maybe put in a new set of pistons and crank)

http://www.dieselperformance.com/index.php/product/index/129P
http://www.dieselperformance.com/index.php/product/index/103P

[6.5 Detroit Diesel]

you can get those upgrades from heath or kennedy. i dealt with heath myself, but have heard good things about kennedy. heath was cheaper then BD, and his customer service is top notch.

i made my own extension for the PMD harness and relocated it in front of the drivers side battery. took a half hour of work, and i am happy with where it is.

[toe-b]

How good would a turbo back 4" exhaust and intake do? I got the pmd relocated and, got the engine cleaned up( damn it was nasty) don't think the po ever herd of soap and water! I looked at the receipts there was one for the head gasket at 160k. So it got 30,000 miles on gaskets what would be some other simple "regular mant." I should look in to such as injecters glow plugs. Any advice would be great I really like the truck and would really like to keep it awhile!

[6.5 Detroit Diesel]

downpipe, and the 4" exhaust will really open it up. not to expensive, but help with cooling and power.

[blackshirts]

btw looking on heaths site they have them mechanical boost controllers are those worth a future investment?
btw i know on the older model 6.5ls 95' and older it is i belive they simply pop in a prom for the chip what about the 96+(which is what i plan on getting) they have a big old box does it work the same as the previously mentioned chip you pull out old one pop in new one? http://www.heathdiesel.com/P/HDP1638/

[toe-b]

got the exhaust on order today found a 4" for $255 shiped i didnt think it was to bad i went turbo back with muff delete. got to looking around the shop and found a old intake tube and filter. ( i think it came off a honda) ima cut it down a make an intake and a heat sheild for it, as it doesnt have mass airflow cen. is any one else have lowered suspension?

[blackshirts]

your lowering the truck???that kills the whole point of having a truck and makes it look ugly :'( (these are my opinions no one should take offense)

[toe-b]

I take no offense everyone has there ideas of what looks good. I'm in the wheel industry and people everyday make choices for wheels I wouldn't even consider. I like how they look when there low down and wide, now I'm not going all bagged and bodydroped or anything like that. I still have to tow my show and race cars. : :D

[blackshirts]

ohh ok not soo bad then low down and bagged is un-thinkable and just plain disrespectful to a good chevy though but i had the impression you where baggin and stuff from the previous post :P if i get that 2500 id like to put a inch or 2 lift kit and get some 285's or bigger but i think im gonna keep stock with 245's or 255's so i odnt mess up the speedometer and 16' 45's or 55's arnt too small and i found some with some sweet offroad tread and yah it keeps it lowish for pulling maybe someday ill find a 1500 6.5l z71 i can jack up :D

[toe-b]

finished the drop kit yesterday heres a pic of how it turned out.
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r196/djtoeb/IMG00239-20100820-1933.jpg

not to low i like it ride is good and still can tow my trailers :D:D

[suburbanK-2500HD]

Nice, i think that was wery good looking....

[AJDuvall]

finished the drop kit yesterday heres a pic of how it turned out.


not to low i like it ride is good and still can tow my trailers :D:D


I am currently working on a project truck that I want to lower. Yours looks like what I want for ride height. Nice job.


Which suspension company did you use for lowering and how many inches front and rear?


When I get a little further along with my project I will post some details.

[toe-b]

I am currently working on a project truck that I want to lower. Yours looks like what I want for ride height. Nice job.


Which suspension company did you use for lowering and how many inches front and rear?


When I get a little further along with my project I will post some details.


its a belltech kit, springs and spindels up front, flip kit shock relocaters and 3" mini notch for the rear. its a 4" front and 6" rear i also got the lower drop shocks for the front it rides really well and still pulls nice. had a car trailer and drag truck on it friday night towed it about 2 hrs away for test and tune event. no problems what so ever i do still need to have the front lined up but i will take care of that next week when i do the exhaust:D

[racer55]

toe-b (http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/member.php?u=31768) If you plan on towing then an EGT gauge,boost gauge and fuel pressure guage are all wise investments.
Mounted in a pillar trio pod makes them easy to glance at and if you wire them to the dash dimmer they won't blind you at night.
If you have the auto trans then a trans oil temp gauge would be worth considering as well,maybe even a remote trans oil cooler if not already equipped.

Additionally you would be well advised to look into a cooling system upgrade from Heath or Kenedy.

These trucks are also famous for leaking engine oil cooler lines and a complete replacement kit with lines,a new cooler and fittings can be had from PMD Cable and Lubrication Specialist.

On your truck you could consider the lift pump relay mod and a new AC DELCO oil pressure switch.
I expect that a search of this forum will get you the info needed for the lift pump relay mod.

[AJDuvall]

its a belltech kit, springs and spindels up front, flip kit shock relocaters and 3" mini notch for the rear. its a 4" front and 6" rear i also got the lower drop shocks for the front it rides really well and still pulls nice. had a car trailer and drag truck on it friday night towed it about 2 hrs away for test and tune event. no problems what so ever i do still need to have the front lined up but i will take care of that next week when i do the exhaust:D

Do you have the part number(s) for the lowering kit?

I can only find the 8" flip kit, not the 6".

I was considering 3" front and 4" rear. But I like the look of what you have.

[toe-b]

Do you have the part number(s) for the lowering kit?

I can only find the 8" flip kit, not the 6".

I was considering 3" front and 4" rear. But I like the look of what you have.
i will get you the part numbers for the drop kit no problem.

i got my exhaust on yesterday love the way it sounds i also decided to do a air box mod insted of fooling with the cold air intake idea. trucks running smooth and i can tell a big diff in the throtle.