How many wires can I disconnect and still run?

[benaustic]

I'm a new member and I know that I'm supposed to look through old threads to see if my problem's already been covered... but here's the deal... I'M DESPERATE!

Here's the quick background: I have a 96 K2500 6.5 Vin F. Bought it not running for cheap. Turns out some jackleg yanked the original motor and replaced it with a (GASP!) 6.2. So I have vee belts instead of serpentine and a mechanical motor. The 6.2 had no compression but had a new DB2 pump, newish turbo along with a new torque converter, rebuilt 4L80E, new ball joints, new tires and a decent body. So... I bought a 2000 6.5 vin F out of a school bus and I'm in the process of switching the exhaust, intake and externals from the 6.2 over to the new 6.5.

Here's the thing: I have a throttle cable and a whole lotta wiring from the original motor that wasn't hooked up to this 6.2. How much actually HAS to be hooked up to make the 2000 6.5 run? The wiring harness on the truck doesn't match the wiring harness on the 2000.

Can I switch my DB2 to the new 6.5?

Ideas? Help?

[phantom309]

how is the 4l80e being controlled?

is the school bus motor a side mount turbo or a center mount?

[benaustic]

It's a center mount turbo, but I'm switching all intake, turbo and exhaust to the 6.5.

The 4L80E was not being controlled with the old 6.2. When it was running, I had to manually shift it. The previous "mechanic" had a bunch of wires individually plugged in to the main harness. The tranny is all plugged in. All sensors on the engine were plugged into something... but I don't know enough about the wiring to know if it was the right something.

[phantom309]

I saw a truck like that for sale in my area i think,..


The heads on a center mount engine, have different angle on the intake bolt holes,.
You will need to swap heads too,.as the side mount turbo intake bolts will not line up on the center mount heads,.

[benaustic]

That's awesome. NOT. Except I hear the old heads were better for fuel economy so that's good I guess.

In that case, I think I'll just ignore all the electronic stuff except the basics. Might as well switch the injection pump to the new motor and try to make the 4L80E work. If all else fails I'll buy a tranny controller.

Bah.

@Phantom309 - was the truck in Wester IL? Do you know any more about it? I see some invoices from NEMO Diesel in the glove box...

[benaustic]

Second thoughts. Decided I oughta run the newer electronic injection pump. Don't really know that much about the old mechanical one except I had a hot-no-start problem when it was running. Better not chance it. Need to find an electronic throttle.

[Dvldog8793]

Howdy
IMHO....If you have all the parts keep it a mechanical pump. If you read on this sight there are many "issues" with the electric pump. Many people have converted to mechanical and there is much info here on the subject. I would eliminate all the electrical and get a trans controller. Makes things much simpler.
Good luck!

[phantom309]

The no start when hot on a mechanical pump usually indicates it needs to be rebuilt,.
Cold water poured onto it when its hot and not starting is said to get them to start,.

[benaustic]

Well, fellas! I had a breakthrough today! I found a '95 6.5 in decent shape complete for $500! She was running when she came out... so I'm on my way to get her and put her in!

More to come...