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More Power
08-21-2023, 10:42
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Core group of the 2000 Rendezvous participants. Many more people attended during the 4-day event.

This article is a reprint from what appeared online here at The Diesel Page in 2000.


By Jim Bigley



The 2nd annual Diesel Page Rendezvous could best be described as a series of highlights and surprises! The entertaining and informing speakers presented a series of "glued to your seat" seminars, the Duramax Diesel Power Tour showed us all that we really are just kids at heart, the Diesel Page advertisers were very generous again this year for the prize drawings, and the scenic trail ride provided for some great photo opportunities. Best of all, we were able to get re-acquainted with old friends and make many new ones.


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More than 40 members from around the US and Canada converged on Stevensville, Montana July 1-4 for the 2nd annual 2000 Diesel Page Rendezvous. All totaled, there were 20 travel trailers, 5th wheels and campers, and a people total of well over 100. Even more interested diesel drivers came to see the Power Tour. Three members drove from as far away as sunny Florida, and several others came from the east cost of the US. Members from Alberta and British Columbia Canada also attended.


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There is nothing quite like the sound of a couple dozen GM diesels idling into the parking area. I was impressed with the fact that more than 40 6.2/6.5 diesels came from all across North America (some pulling huge trailers), and not one experienced a single diesel related problem coming or going. This group of GM diesel owners are enthusiasts, as evidenced by the many spotless engine compartments and "tricked-out" accessory installations. Nearly every aftermarket 6.2/6.5 product known to exist could be found on someone's truck or Suburban.


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The arrival of the Power Tour was an unexpected, but greatly appreciated and enjoyable part of the Rendezvous. As the Power Tour was pulling into the drive, someone remarked that a truck load of naked women could drive by, and no one would even notice. It was several hours before most people's interest had diminished. C.J & Ged (Tour operators) were great, and they were able to give us more information on the truck and powertrain performance. We were also treated to all the new 2001 HD brochures and a few Power Tour t-shirts.


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There were a few attending trucks that stood out from the others. Martin Quandel's 1982 6.2L GMC K1500 has been tweaked, tuned, modified and customized till it's just the way they like it. Martin fabricated a number of custom additions including the hand-built front bumper, dual exhaust stacks and intake air snorkel. You can bet that Martin gets the attention he was looking for wherever he goes. Martin drove here from Henderson, Nevada. Cool truck!!


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Nearly $3,000 in free prizes were donated this year by our generous advertising sponsors and Diesel Page supporters. Not shown in this photograph is a new DS4 injection pump donated by Peninsular Diesel and a complete water/alcohol injection system donated by Bill Heath of Performance Diesel. Everyone was a winner. Those who weren't selected by their fellow members in the following categories received free products in a random drawing.




$500 gift certificate from The Diesel Depot:
Best work in progress 6.2 or 6.5 - Martin Quandel
Gear Drive starter from Gomer's Diesel:
1993 and earlier highest mileage 6.2/6.5 - Pat Johnson
1985-93 Glow Controller & wiring harness from The Diesel Depot:
1993 or earlier 6.2/6.5, lowest mileage - Jack Roberts
6.5TD mandrel crossover supplied by The Diesel Page
Most modified 6.5 without one. - Bob Bucknew
New DS4-5521 electronic fuel injection pump from Peninsular Diesel:
1994 or newer highest mileage - Roger Paxton
Light Booster headlight wiring kit from Kennedy Trailers:
1992 or newer - Dennis Bradford
J-model 6.2L intake manifold from The Diesel Depot:
Longest distance towing with a 6.2. - Terry Pittman
Complete wash and detail kit from The Diesel Page:
Longest distance not towing with a 6.2. - Lee Swanger
Amsoil Synthetic oil change from Amsoil dealer Greg Landuyt:
Longest distance towing with a 6.5. - Jim Glus
Amsoil Synthetic oil change from Amsoil dealer Greg Landuyt:
Longest distance not towing with a 6.5. - Phil Garrity
AC-60G glow plugs from B/K Farms:
Best 6.2 - Brad Knight
AC-60G glow plugs from B/K Farms:
Best 6.5 - Tom McCauley
AC-60G glow plugs from B/K Farms:
Best trailer - Claude Vickers
Diesel Tech books from Dr. Lee:
Member's choice - Greg Mead & Brad Engdahl
Commercial water/alcohol injection system from Performance Diesel:
Member's choice - Ivan Belyea
4- Duramax Diesel Power Tour t-shirts - GM Powertrain:
won by Jim Glus, Rick Meyer, Ron Wong, Bogdan Szewczuk
One each of every book published by - The Diesel Page
Two each hats & t-shirts by - The Diesel Page


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Bill's own 1995 6.5TD has been a test-bed for a variety of products, all developed by Bill. These include water/alcohol injection, propane injection, boost control, sensor modifications and custom computer programming. This particular truck (used as a race car tug) is said to have produced 1/4-mile trap speeds of 95 mph.


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One of Bill's interests is in starting a new company called "Performance Diesel". Bill hopes to bring many of these products to market in the not-too-distant future, and The Diesel Page will be there covering these developments.

To get into the swing of things, Bill donated a complete water/alcohol injection system to the Rendezvous prize drawing pool. Ivan Belyea (on the right) was the lucky winner of this system, which will be installed by Bill himself.


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John Kennedy of Kennedy Trailers made the trip from Wisconsin. John is perhaps one of the most enthusiastic Diesel Page advertisers about the 6.2/6.5. John himself drives a beautiful red 1996 6.5TD GMC K2500, and has devoted considerable effort to increasing performance for the electronic trucks. This picture shows John part way through a seminar covering the GM diesel performance products he has in stock.

John's knowledge of the electronic 6.5 was put to good use during an entire afternoon. I lost count of how many 1994 and newer 6.5's John looked at, but I know he used his Tech II scan tool to measure the actual and TDC Offset timing on a bunch. Some of those that were out of spec had their timing re-set by John. One member noted an increase in fuel economy of 3 mpg on the return trip home after having his injection timing set correctly. Kennedy Trailers is one Diesel Page advertiser that can answer your questions about DS4 injection timing, and offer suggestions for increasing power.

continued....

More Power
08-21-2023, 10:43
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Moe Johnson returned again this year, representing Gomer's Diesel and BD. Gomer's Diesel donated a new remanufactured gear-drive starter this year for the prize drawing pool. I've known Moe and Bill Gomer (Gomer's Diesel/USDieselParts.com owner) for quite a while. An honest dealing and fair minded operation.

Moe demonstrated his sense of humor by driving his new Dodge ISB Cummins to the Rendezvous this year. We all enjoyed his enthusiasm for the diesel industry, and we didn't give him a lot of grief about the Dodge. Actually, we have quite a few members who also own either a Ford or Dodge.


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Dr. Lee Swanger delivered a couple of interesting and important seminars relating to lubrication, oils and diesel engine maintenance. A significant part of his current position with an engineering firm in Florida deals with large diesel engines in stationary power and marine propulsion. Lee also teaches at the University of Miami, in his "spare" time.

During the second day of the scheduled events, Dr. Lee showed us the preliminary work he's doing on a glow controller system upgrade. Lee's 1984 thermo-mechanical glow controller was upgraded to the 1985-93 electronic glow controller system during the Rendezvous activities. Lee will have a complete article presentation available for The Diesel Page in the not too distant future. Gomer's Diesel provided the ACDelco controller.

Thanks to everyone for attending and making the 2000 Diesel Page Rendezvous a success!

Jim Bigley

arveetek
08-22-2023, 12:03
There is nothing quite like the sound of a couple dozen GM diesels idling into the parking area.


I agree with this statement! I wasn't able to attend any of the Montana events, but I was present for the 2001 Rendezvous in Ohio. One of the coolest parts was attending the AM General plant tour and getting to see the 6.5L engines being built, and then listening to them on the test stand. But the absolute highlight was seeing and hearing truck after truck after truck, all with 6.2L or 6.5L powerplants, pulling into the parking lot. What a neat experience.

Which begs the question, any plans for a future TDP Rendezvous?

Casey

More Power
08-22-2023, 13:19
I agree with this statement! I wasn't able to attend any of the Montana events, but I was present for the 2001 Rendezvous in Ohio. One of the coolest parts was attending the AM General plant tour and getting to see the 6.5L engines being built, and then listening to them on the test stand. But the absolute highlight was seeing and hearing truck after truck after truck, all with 6.2L or 6.5L powerplants, pulling into the parking lot. What a neat experience.

Which begs the question, any plans for a future TDP Rendezvous?

Casey

Casey, Members like you and others here make me want to do another. But... :(