After you reach a certain age (and it's different for everyone), the only answer to the question "Why did you do it that way?", provided you're not harming anyone else, is "Because I wanted to."
This is wise advice. Social feeds us a lot of good fabrication and build ideas, but also a lot of opinions masquerading as more than they actually are. Your comment makes me think about the value of trusting your instincts, yet not allowing yourself to become governed by them. Building something the way you want, thoughtfully, is almost always the right move.
I’ll be honest, I never heard any good things about the 6.5 until recently, goes to show to not listen to everything you hear 😂 this was fascinating to learn more about them
"goes to show to not listen to everything you hear" more importantly: General rule is: People who are "just fine with the result" will NEVER post or speak out loud! It is the sam since 15 years regarding so called "reviews". In addition: Most people do not have a clue and cannot compare. I worked in consumer products industry and the after sales lead´s desk was not far. We had 2-5 of 10.000 products fail. Do the math of the value of a person speaking of a failed product.
GM did a poor job of making these work for how people wanted to use them, so their reputation came from that. Now, we finally have the parts need to make this hidden gem perform.
the 6.5 got the "nickelback" treatment for a long time. mainly cause of a few crappy electronic pieces GM put on it. the marine version is still in use today and quite good
@@WillometMotorFab how about the junk blocks I would agree accept that fact and they are under built a good optimizer build is a solid unit for sure with a mechanical pump
@@johnsweet8410 I believe there is one (1) rolling around in around in my country. Everytime I see and hear it I am super Jealous. The guy constantly gets offers on it from everyone including his family so I am very far down the line.
Amen to that brother. I can't recall how many times I've been asked what's in my burb. Before I answer, it makes me look something like this, 🥰😍, every single time. Lord willing here's to another 350,000 miles. 🙌🙏. God bless you in your endeavor.
I tricked out a neighbor's '64 Chevelle SS Malibu convertible. The oddity was the Strange engineering narrowed 9" Ford rear with Torsen posi diff. Wilwood brakes, SS lines and braided SS vent line to a chrome K&N breather filter mounted remote to a polished Aluminum angle mounted across the rear frame rails. Add the chrome fuel pump also mounted on it , the 4" dia Aluminum Drive shaft, and custom stainless exhaust, it was a sight to see even on a lift. A buddy came by and saw it and nearly had a fit. "Pimp my ride car!" It really was sweet. 3" lower in front, 2" lower in rear, 16" front wheels (disc brakes), 19" matching on the rear. Under the hood it was something else. It looked like 1964 with just a raw motor sitting there. Meaning nearly all wiring was hidden. The big 4 ga coming from the 120A alternator going to a power pole on the firewall feeding the starter, the MSD 6, and the gear reduction starter. No battery visible. AC, PS, PB, Hooker Headers(only company that made headers for that car with PS), and a Beautiful Ididit telescoping column.
As a father with a little one I loved watching you and your father building it hoping to pick up a spare for my 96 to rebuild with my father and of course the little !
Glad you like it, there’s something about these diesels that’s really special. Now, you won’t hold it against me if I build the waggy with an LS, will you?
@@WillometMotorFab i guess that can get a pass. thje waggy is super cool. my eventual plan is to get a vintage jeep "tornado" OHC engine in a willys flat fender and try to run it on megasquirt. its just a beautiful piece of engineering. thats the only jeep i will venture into again
I think it was cool that you built a 6.5 even though at first I was thinking why not a Cummins but that’s the easy way out I appreciate when someone does something different and makes it cool. Awesome fab work I enjoyed watching this on the Washington bdr.
I'd like to hear more about the duramax intercooler fitment. From what I can see in your videos, it looks really good compared to the 2nd gen dodge intercooler everyone puts in these trucks Watching your videos has me thinking about turboing my 6.2 for a while before ripping it out for the 12v swap. If I already have an intercooler in, then that's less to worry about later.
I'm a SBC Chevy gas engine builder.Looking at the big gaps between the head bolts looks like a design flaw from top to bottom.The spacing of head bolts(even spacing) on a SBC V8 would make sense for the Insane cylinder pressure a diesel compresses.Amazing they don't eat gaskets regularly.
The odd 5 pattern is driven by the IDI chamber and is similar to the 6.9/7.3. I don’t know where they most commonly fail, but it sure does make sense that 6 evenly spaced head bolts might not need the whopping 125 lb-ft to sustain 25psi of boost that this pattern does.
Nice to see someone build and drive a clean IDI turbo motor. I went nuts with the 7.3 IDI turbo. Spent lots of money like yourself but I enjoy that truck way more than anything I could buy for that same cash. Building is always better than buying. Takes much more time but you get exactly the vehicle you want. Nice work
Byt far the best sounding diesel v8 imo. It has both that distinctive truck-like diesel rattle, and a distinctive, thick, low pitch v8 exhaust rumble. Love it!
its cool to see someone building up a 6.5 engine with a mechanical pump. Such a simple and reliable engine and it weighs much less than others. Makes it perfect for off road when you got the power. fuel economy and function.
Love your build! I started playing with 6.2's in 1984 when I bought my first 1983 GMC 6.2 2500 pickup. I lost count as to how many 6.2's I have owned, Blazers, Suburbans, pickups. I converted my 1970 Blazer to a 6.2 with a sm465 and dana 60 front and 14 bolt rear with detroit lockers. Then I stripped the Blazer and built a one ton pickup complete with a NVG4500 5 speed and ultimately converted to a 6.5. Most of my builds were low budget. My first 6.5 was a warranty take out after the vehicle suffered a oil cooler line failure and the customer demanded a new engine. I got the take out with 30k original miles and started my first 6.5 build ocmplete with a Rajay turbo but without an intercooler. I later upped the bar and got a set of 18:1 pistons and a wide open 4911 injection pump and it was a lot of fun until I got bit by the Cummins bug. At that time all of my running gear was in a 1985 Suburban body and it was a blast. When the cracks started showing up on the bottom ends of 6.2's and 6.5's I got discouraged when all of my spare blocks showed main web cracks. I sold my 18:1 6.5 and installed a 2001 Cummins in the suburban. I wish there was better support and better parts back when I was playing with 6.5's, but Penninsular was about it and there were no forged cranks or beefed up blocks available. I always had a soft spot in my heart for the 6.2/6.5 platform. Three years ago I had to sell the original 1983 GMC that I had purchased at 50k and later sold to my dad because I was struggling with finances. That truck had over 300k and still ran great!
Sounds like you've done it all with the 6.2/6.5s. I'm glad you've been able to enjoy them, and it seems like support has only gotten better these last few years.
@@WillometMotorFab I haven't played with a 6.2/6.5 since my daughter finally sold her 86K-5 Blazer that I installed a 6.5 into as well as a 14 bolt rear and 8 lug front axle. To be perfectly honest I was getting tired of fixing it all the time, from rebuilding the 700 R4 to the budget 6.5 that I installed that was a warranty take out that had a defect in the block deck. It was a late model 6.5 though and it had beefed up main bearing webs, probably just prior to the current models. It was a shame that I was broke back then and had to skimp on everything and just get it running for the least amount I could. I actually thought about putting a 6.5 into my 97 built Jeep TJ but knowing how the 6.5's tend to run hot, I opted for a Cummins R2.8 crate engine and it is perfect for the Jeep.
I love this build!!! You and Merrick are the reason I bought a 90’ barn door. I also think it’s awesome taking a 6.5 to the next level. Me personally think it’s perfect. No emissions or BS to break. Yes it’s probably expensive getting to this point but once you’ve got it you’d think dollar for dollar the 6.5 is gonna be cheap to maintain and fix.
My old boss had NINE 6.5 trucks and he loved them. The lowest mileage one had 250k on it. I wanted to swap one into my Mercedes but alas it wouldn't fit
This is a great video for guys who have these engines and especially guys with HMMWVs (humvees). I've got a K5 Blazer with a 6.2 and a HMMWV with a 6.5. I'd like to keep both diesel, but I'd also like to have enough power to not have people in a Toyota Yaris honking their horn and yelling at me to move over. After watching this, I could see LS swapping the Blazer if I really wanted more power. With the HMMWV, you can put an LS in it, but it was really designed around that 6.2/6.5 Detroit Diesel. Also, there is something about not having that sound that makes it weird if you're keeping it looking like a military truck. I'd say that anyone looking to go down the rabbit hole on improving the power of a 6.5 should really watch this. The cost to build such an engine was pretty surprising to me.
It is strange seeing humvees with a gasser. The 6.5 can be made to work, and certainly there’s something about an older diesel that’s just satisfying to me, but the math on a full build isn't going to work for everyone. However, pieces of this build get a whole lot more reasonable. Subtract at least 9K if you already have a well-running 6.5.
I drive a old military K30 with the 6.2 diesel. I turned the fuel screw 1/4 turn and put on a ram air intake tube. It’s got plenty of power for me. I couldn’t imagine having the numbers yours is putting down.
Can you talk about the exhaust manifold and how the turbo is attached. Can you also talk about the crossover pipe and how it runs. I have a 1983 GMC K2500 that I'm building.
He used a banks manifold ment for a 6.2...It's way better than a stock 6.5 manifold... I have a stock square body with a 6.2 and I also am runnin the same manifold but I made my own crossover, turbo drain, and air intake but I bought the lower radiator hose from banks
Such a crazy amount of detail went into the engine peripherals! Lots of really good information worth a lot. On a side note, as a European it's still crazy for me that you guys put single turbos on V8 engines 😀
@@WillometMotorFab biturbo can also mean quite a few different things like register turbos and other stuff but in general, yes 😂 main idea is better throttle response, much less spool up time
@@mazevx2451 I'm secretly dreaming of building a twin turbo, ported, forged crank & balanced 6.5. But not for power. Mainly for better flow and hopefully slightly better efficiency. The 6.5 is already a good platform to start with in terms of efficiency, but you can always make things better.
Every time you do a video on your Burb it inspires me to work harder on mine! I’m currently doing completely useless stuff like converting the serpentine system to an 8-rib belt. For no other reason than thinking it looks cool. lol
I’m all about the little details that add up to the big picture! We all do a lot of work just because it satisfies us, personally. 8 ribs sounds cool to me.
I have a 6.5L in a Chevy box truck(cutaway) that I purchased from the Air Force. It had low mileage, needed some work but works great with some upgrades I did. Fuel mileage is 20 mpg's but the main thing it is inexpensive to maintain. I had a 7.3L Excursion it was a great vehicle but costly. Thanks for the video and I myself want to build a 5 cylinder Mercedes and find a light duty truck for it to use as a daily driver.
@@WillometMotorFabI have a rabbit hole for you. I figured out a way to run 75/90 in the wheel bearings in my Dana 60. No grease. With that fab experience you could probably improve on my method. Would be interesting to see it, I've never seen or heard of it outside of semi axles.
Have you ever tried "solar flux" for welding stainless? It's a flux that backs the weld so you don't have to back purge, saves a lot on welding gas 😅. It has a sort of glass transition when you heat it that covers the back of the weld in a nice glassy layer, but this layer can be brittle, so you don't want to use it anywhere you can't remove it after and are worried about chunks/particulate (cooling system, etc) but it's perfect for exhaust. Argons expensive 🤣
That’s pretty interesting. I’ll have to google it. All the sanitary and exhaust welders I know keep it simple with argon. I probably used 600 cu ft (2 tanks) to make the whole exhaust.
@@WillometMotorFab can't use it on sanitary welds because of the crap it can leave in the pipe (unless you can reach the weld to grind it out after), but works awesome for exhaust in my experience! You're a much better welder than me though, if you try it I'd love to hear what you think. Maybe I'm just cheap but 2 bottles of argon is a few hundred bucks, that adds up! (although maybe you'll only save half the gas if you aren't back-purging). Personally I also find it a lot faster than setting up backpurge, but I don't have all the different sized rubber plugs you have - better equipment probably saves both time and argon.
A good ol' 6.5 is pretty hard to beat... I had a '96 GMC K2500 with a 6.5l and a NV4500. Great truck, got 20mpg, did what I asked it to with little fuss. I rebuilt it at about 290k because it lost a head gasket. Sold it after buying a duramax truck. Compared to modern diesels, 6.5's are like the 12 valve Cummins; loads of idle and off idle torque and good compression braking. That low end grunt is gone with the Duramax or 6.0L and up Ford diesels. Cummins still has it, but not like an old 12 valve...
As always, awesome rig man. perfect apocalypse/play rig! Have you heard of classic diesel designs? They sell monster pumps for these ol gals. I've had their 130cc pump on mine for about 2 years now. They rate it for 400hp. While I've never dynoed it, it has no problem hanging with modern diesels. I too run an 86 burb, with a 6.7 powerstroke air to water intercooler, charged by a 6.0 powerstroke turbo, utilizing a 9 blade turbine wheel and an 11 blade 64mm compressor wheel. She rips!
@@WillometMotorFab I don't have any social media. Could email you some pics and vids. I know, just as bad as writing a check at the grocery store now days lol
Hey mate, cool video. I love my 6.5 in my 80 series LandCruiser. The question I have is where you plumb the coolant filter into....any pics or video of that? Cheers, Tim😊🙏
Nice build! I feel you on not wanting to do another. I doubt i'll do another om617 build again. after pump upgrade, turbo, intercooler, all the fab work, etc. I've just lost the drive to do another. That does not look like a CS130 alternator. That looks like an AD230. very different. also from the looks of it, you could have used the AD244 (and still could).
I love the way you built your suburban. I have a 1996 with the 6.5 (electronic injector pump). I love the truck, and want to rebuild it before I get too old (turn 55 next month). I’ve been thinking about Duramax or Cummins swap, but that always goes away whenever I drive it. I would miss that 6.5, if I did. Thank you for the build sheet. One question: did you buy the engine in parts, or as a long block? That forged crank is what it should have always had in it.
A Duramax swap will be super cool, but the 6.5 bolts in and you can also use the super duper quadstar DS4 pump. I ordered a long block, and only listed those separate parts since Quadstar now has them as individual options in case someone didn't want/need a whole darned engine.
Great walk thru on the build! I’ve been basing my plans for my 88 off your suspension, but staying to about 4”. The power plant will most likely be a 6.0 LS with a carb to start. Someone try and talk me out of it lol… I just don’t trust myself to do diesel correctly or be able to afford it.
6.0 LS is a great engine and will make the torque you want with very few modifications. You're targeting 4", which is about where my truck sits. They get tall, quick.
@@WillometMotorFab they do! Thanks for your feedback. The boomerang hanger is my favorite design. Placed correctly I should be good to stay under 5 haha.
@@WillometMotorFab of course! Im a 6.5 guy myself. Have a great relationship with the guys over at Quadstar for years now. Ill be making some more content myself soon as i update my truck build
I have see a 6.5 on a 6.2 block and thrown in an old GM wagon with a 4L60 and where able to put down nearly 30mpg. I know you are running 40’s and a ton of drive line but have you seen a reasonable MPG on your travels?
On the big trip in NV, I got 14.5 mpg doing backcountry roads and running an average of about 55mph. Pure highway should be 15ish. Rock crawling is usually 7-8.
Did any of the military humvees have dual alternators? They were 6.5's. Not sure when they got rid of the 24 volt 6.2 in the CUCV's and if they upcycled the 24v system to the 6.5.
I have my good old 6.5 never had any issues aince rebuild only failing parts was the old stuff from the miles. Oil cooler lines hoses etc. Just doing cheap mods to keep the engine cold and low exhaust temps she been slowing rocking. Cuase one thing they aint fast 😂😂 but would.trust it to go.anywhere ohh and loaded 12k trailer all day
I'm building a burb' that had a 6.5, unfortunately low compression and a cracked main web made me switch to a 24v cummins converted to a ve pump with a nv4500 and np205 out of a bronco. And I figured a dana 60 front would also be nice just wished the 6.5 had survived. Oh well maybe later.
I like the Duramax, but I've always liked the 6.5 better. I dunno, it's just the way it sounds, it's got a cooler character IMO. I just wished the aftermarket support for them was as big as the Duramax's. But hopefully that will slowly change in the future.
It's the medium or small cooler from Triton. They're the real deal, and handmade here in the US. There's a whole video with the detail: th-cam.com/video/EmhJ61EOEv4/w-d-xo.html
You spent your money on exactly what You wanted to do, and you have pleasure in the outcome. You are obviously not a "Me Too!" I have the one from my 99 Suburban in my 86 E350 RV. That 460 was a gas hog! 5mpg. This motor was not made to be a powerhouse but an economical engine. It has the same torque as the 460, and the same rpm range. It comes with a 4L80E which is over drive 4 speed with converter lockup. C6, not so much...
Besides, a reman late model high output Diesel will set you back $30k in the box. And have you seen how shitty they are built? A tiny dowel pin secures the crank balancer and cam drive. Built in obsolescence.
You're exactly right, the 6.5 wasn't built to be a powerhouse, but that doesn't mean it can't be made one! So you swapped a 6.5 in a ford RV?! That’s awesome!
Yeah $14k is a chunk of coin for a motor, but a quick search for an LB7 crate motor shows I'll be about the same money into a Duramax before the swap even begins, so is $14 large really a lot of money? Not really, for a diesel
Considering dropping in a Duramax would probably have cost a lot more overall, this was way more cost effective. Even if you had just an unmodified Suburban, Blazer, K-series truck, these engines were supposed to be close to drop in ready if it had a gas engine or another diesel. I would try this on a K2500 GMT400 if I could find one. It is kind of sad that GM never did this engine the justice it deserved with what AM has been able to do. Least you shouldn't have to worry about a crank splitting, cracked cylinders, bad heads. Its been pretty much gone through and you won't have to worry about it.
The 6.5 got short-changed by GM, but the aftermarket has really come through. A Duramax would have been at least as expensive and required substantially more fabrication, which I would have entertained if I hadn’t just finished (6 months earlier) most of the fabrication work that you see in this video. It’s OK, this is a project that’s never done and this will not be the last engine that goes in it.
Not to mention a lot of the money he spent was on an entirely new engine and you could get one/rebuild one for fairly cheap but then it does depend on how much you want to build it up
The hub dyno interests me most. You can dial in a DB2 fairly well with the right fuel and timing. The old snap on timing meter can be frustrating, but that’s the worst of it.
Hey went to the website and the build sheet is priced at $0.00 is that a misprint? I just wanted to make sure before putting my card information in. Thank you for the awesome video and thanks for making a build sheet available.
Knowing diesels are known more for torque, 250hp is the good starting point. The IP has quite a bit more in it, and I’m getting up the guts to mess with it.
@WillometMotorFab 250hp by modern standards is terrible. 500hp of torque is the same as the 7.3 at factory specs. Sorry, dude, a 6.5 isn't worth the expense compared to a cummins.
@WillometMotorFab I'm currently in college for engineering and I'm working on building the most reliable 6.0 powerstroke possible. Sounds like an effort in futility, but after 20 years, there's an engineering fix for everything.
That’s a fair critique, and the math is hard to justify without something else at play - in my case, that my dad and I wanted to build our “ultimate 6.5.” Of course, there are no cheap options, but some are harder to figure. Also, thank you for being respectful and constructive in your response. There’s a range of vulgarity the 6.5 videos seem to inspire, and I appreciate that your pushback didn’t have to get caught up in that filter. Thank you.
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
After you reach a certain age (and it's different for everyone), the only answer to the question "Why did you do it that way?", provided you're not harming anyone else, is "Because I wanted to."
This is wise advice. Social feeds us a lot of good fabrication and build ideas, but also a lot of opinions masquerading as more than they actually are. Your comment makes me think about the value of trusting your instincts, yet not allowing yourself to become governed by them. Building something the way you want, thoughtfully, is almost always the right move.
I’ll be honest, I never heard any good things about the 6.5 until recently, goes to show to not listen to everything you hear 😂 this was fascinating to learn more about them
"goes to show to not listen to everything you hear" more importantly:
General rule is: People who are "just fine with the result" will NEVER post or speak out loud! It is the sam since 15 years regarding so called "reviews".
In addition: Most people do not have a clue and cannot compare.
I worked in consumer products industry and the after sales lead´s desk was not far. We had 2-5 of 10.000 products fail. Do the math of the value of a person speaking of a failed product.
GM did a poor job of making these work for how people wanted to use them, so their reputation came from that. Now, we finally have the parts need to make this hidden gem perform.
the 6.5 got the "nickelback" treatment for a long time. mainly cause of a few crappy electronic pieces GM put on it. the marine version is still in use today and quite good
@@Christopherbever its a GEP Block is why
@@WillometMotorFab how about the junk blocks I would agree accept that fact and they are under built a good optimizer build is a solid unit for sure with a mechanical pump
I’m slowly getting mine put back together. The sound of a 6.5 is what brings me back to it, EVERY TIME.
That clatter is super distinct, right?
@@johnsweet8410 I believe there is one (1) rolling around in around in my country. Everytime I see and hear it I am super Jealous. The guy constantly gets offers on it from everyone including his family so I am very far down the line.
Amen to that brother. I can't recall how many times I've been asked what's in my burb. Before I answer, it makes me look something like this, 🥰😍, every single time. Lord willing here's to another 350,000 miles. 🙌🙏. God bless you in your endeavor.
Your content is pro-level narrated and edited, sir. Nice work as usual.
Appreciate it! Thanks for being here.
You mean filling the entire frame with his mug is "pro-level"?
Love your build. I’ve always been a 6.5 fan. A 6BT in something is like going to car shows and seeing a 350 in almost every car there.
I tricked out a neighbor's '64 Chevelle SS Malibu convertible. The oddity was the Strange engineering narrowed 9" Ford rear with Torsen posi diff. Wilwood brakes, SS lines and braided SS vent line to a chrome K&N breather filter mounted remote to a polished Aluminum angle mounted across the rear frame rails. Add the chrome fuel pump also mounted on it , the 4" dia Aluminum Drive shaft, and custom stainless exhaust, it was a sight to see even on a lift. A buddy came by and saw it and nearly had a fit. "Pimp my ride car!"
It really was sweet. 3" lower in front, 2" lower in rear, 16" front wheels (disc brakes), 19" matching on the rear. Under the hood it was something else. It looked like 1964 with just a raw motor sitting there. Meaning nearly all wiring was hidden. The big 4 ga coming from the 120A alternator going to a power pole on the firewall feeding the starter, the MSD 6, and the gear reduction starter. No battery visible. AC, PS, PB, Hooker Headers(only company that made headers for that car with PS), and a Beautiful Ididit telescoping column.
More like an LS swap. Seeing a 350 swap is way less common.
They’re popular for a good reason, but it felt like my dad and I had unfinished business with this platform.
Thats because people want something that works. The 6bt does that well.
What an awesome build. If only the engineers had your attention to detail these engines would have had a much better reputation.
It’s frustrating that a lot of these issues could have been avoided if GM followed Detroit’s original design.
As a father with a little one I loved watching you and your father building it hoping to pick up a spare for my 96 to rebuild with my father and of course the little !
That’s what it’s all about. Building things with family is special.
Id love to do a build like this with an idi. Very well done, quality and prideful work
Love the suburban. This is one of my favorite TH-cam Offroad build. Nice departure from the typical LS jeep build lol
Glad you like it, there’s something about these diesels that’s really special. Now, you won’t hold it against me if I build the waggy with an LS, will you?
@@WillometMotorFab i guess that can get a pass. thje waggy is super cool. my eventual plan is to get a vintage jeep "tornado" OHC engine in a willys flat fender and try to run it on megasquirt. its just a beautiful piece of engineering. thats the only jeep i will venture into again
I think it was cool that you built a 6.5 even though at first I was thinking why not a Cummins but that’s the easy way out I appreciate when someone does something different and makes it cool. Awesome fab work I enjoyed watching this on the Washington bdr.
And I like Cummins swapped trucks! They work really well, and you’re right, this was the harder way. But, I’m stubborn. Thanks very much for watching!
I'd like to hear more about the duramax intercooler fitment. From what I can see in your videos, it looks really good compared to the 2nd gen dodge intercooler everyone puts in these trucks Watching your videos has me thinking about turboing my 6.2 for a while before ripping it out for the 12v swap. If I already have an intercooler in, then that's less to worry about later.
That burb is an absolute unit. 👌
👊
I'm a SBC Chevy gas engine builder.Looking at the big gaps between the head bolts looks like a design flaw from top to bottom.The spacing of head bolts(even spacing) on a SBC V8 would make sense for the Insane cylinder pressure a diesel compresses.Amazing they don't eat gaskets regularly.
The odd 5 pattern is driven by the IDI chamber and is similar to the 6.9/7.3. I don’t know where they most commonly fail, but it sure does make sense that 6 evenly spaced head bolts might not need the whopping 125 lb-ft to sustain 25psi of boost that this pattern does.
Nice to see someone build and drive a clean IDI turbo motor. I went nuts with the 7.3 IDI turbo. Spent lots of money like yourself but I enjoy that truck way more than anything I could buy for that same cash. Building is always better than buying. Takes much more time but you get exactly the vehicle you want. Nice work
It’s so satisfying to build what you imagine. Those 7.3s were great engines!
Just Like You said ! You built your suburban the way you wanted to ! I think its awesome !
It's my dream build, I'm happy others like it. Thank you for being here.
Have to love the 6.5 Detroit they sound awesome, best way to convert money to sound. Love this build series!
Their diesel rattle is pretty distinctive!
Byt far the best sounding diesel v8 imo. It has both that distinctive truck-like diesel rattle, and a distinctive, thick, low pitch v8 exhaust rumble. Love it!
its cool to see someone building up a 6.5 engine with a mechanical pump. Such a simple and reliable engine and it weighs much less than others. Makes it perfect for off road when you got the power. fuel economy and function.
The mechanical pump option is part of why the 6.5 is among my favorites. Like you said, simple.
Love your build! I started playing with 6.2's in 1984 when I bought my first 1983 GMC 6.2 2500 pickup. I lost count as to how many 6.2's I have owned, Blazers, Suburbans, pickups. I converted my 1970 Blazer to a 6.2 with a sm465 and dana 60 front and 14 bolt rear with detroit lockers. Then I stripped the Blazer and built a one ton pickup complete with a NVG4500 5 speed and ultimately converted to a 6.5. Most of my builds were low budget. My first 6.5 was a warranty take out after the vehicle suffered a oil cooler line failure and the customer demanded a new engine. I got the take out with 30k original miles and started my first 6.5 build ocmplete with a Rajay turbo but without an intercooler. I later upped the bar and got a set of 18:1 pistons and a wide open 4911 injection pump and it was a lot of fun until I got bit by the Cummins bug. At that time all of my running gear was in a 1985 Suburban body and it was a blast. When the cracks started showing up on the bottom ends of 6.2's and 6.5's I got discouraged when all of my spare blocks showed main web cracks. I sold my 18:1 6.5 and installed a 2001 Cummins in the suburban. I wish there was better support and better parts back when I was playing with 6.5's, but Penninsular was about it and there were no forged cranks or beefed up blocks available. I always had a soft spot in my heart for the 6.2/6.5 platform. Three years ago I had to sell the original 1983 GMC that I had purchased at 50k and later sold to my dad because I was struggling with finances. That truck had over 300k and still ran great!
Sounds like you've done it all with the 6.2/6.5s. I'm glad you've been able to enjoy them, and it seems like support has only gotten better these last few years.
@@WillometMotorFab I haven't played with a 6.2/6.5 since my daughter finally sold her 86K-5 Blazer that I installed a 6.5 into as well as a 14 bolt rear and 8 lug front axle. To be perfectly honest I was getting tired of fixing it all the time, from rebuilding the 700 R4 to the budget 6.5 that I installed that was a warranty take out that had a defect in the block deck. It was a late model 6.5 though and it had beefed up main bearing webs, probably just prior to the current models. It was a shame that I was broke back then and had to skimp on everything and just get it running for the least amount I could. I actually thought about putting a 6.5 into my 97 built Jeep TJ but knowing how the 6.5's tend to run hot, I opted for a Cummins R2.8 crate engine and it is perfect for the Jeep.
It's cool that you say all of that on YT, and have zero videos related to engine building...
There’s literally footage taken from the two part long block build and install. Did the links for the engine build video not show?
I love this build!!! You and Merrick are the reason I bought a 90’ barn door. I also think it’s awesome taking a 6.5 to the next level. Me personally think it’s perfect. No emissions or BS to break. Yes it’s probably expensive getting to this point but once you’ve got it you’d think dollar for dollar the 6.5 is gonna be cheap to maintain and fix.
Burb is the word! Welcome to the party!
My old boss had NINE 6.5 trucks and he loved them. The lowest mileage one had 250k on it. I wanted to swap one into my Mercedes but alas it wouldn't fit
That’s a lot of 6.5s - Mercedes would be interesting!
@WillometMotorFab I didn't want to deal with making a 6.5 front sump, but otherwise it would have fit
I can tell you guys that it's definitely worth watching the build series on this! Super slick build! Thanks for making this summary video David!
So very glad you enjoyed it!
This is a great video for guys who have these engines and especially guys with HMMWVs (humvees). I've got a K5 Blazer with a 6.2 and a HMMWV with a 6.5. I'd like to keep both diesel, but I'd also like to have enough power to not have people in a Toyota Yaris honking their horn and yelling at me to move over. After watching this, I could see LS swapping the Blazer if I really wanted more power. With the HMMWV, you can put an LS in it, but it was really designed around that 6.2/6.5 Detroit Diesel. Also, there is something about not having that sound that makes it weird if you're keeping it looking like a military truck. I'd say that anyone looking to go down the rabbit hole on improving the power of a 6.5 should really watch this. The cost to build such an engine was pretty surprising to me.
It is strange seeing humvees with a gasser. The 6.5 can be made to work, and certainly there’s something about an older diesel that’s just satisfying to me, but the math on a full build isn't going to work for everyone. However, pieces of this build get a whole lot more reasonable. Subtract at least 9K if you already have a well-running 6.5.
I drive a old military K30 with the 6.2 diesel. I turned the fuel screw 1/4 turn and put on a ram air intake tube. It’s got plenty of power for me. I couldn’t imagine having the numbers yours is putting down.
Nice! You can get a lot out of those 6.2s with a little tinkering.
Finally another Willomet vid !! Yessss👍nice one David , she’s a ripper truck 💪
Thanks, man!
@@WillometMotorFablook forward to the next day, with next phase of build!!! Can’t beat old trucks!
I had a 6.2 w the banks sidewinder...it was a tank. My friend had a 6.5 and it ate WVO like a champ!
love it! man that muddy trail looked like a good time!
Love the sound of the idi diesels… ford or Chevy…👍well done sir..
They have that unique diesel rattle that’s easy to identify. Certainly my fave.
Can you talk about the exhaust manifold and how the turbo is attached. Can you also talk about the crossover pipe and how it runs. I have a 1983 GMC K2500 that I'm building.
He used a banks manifold ment for a 6.2...It's way better than a stock 6.5 manifold... I have a stock square body with a 6.2 and I also am runnin the same manifold but I made my own crossover, turbo drain, and air intake but I bought the lower radiator hose from banks
@@timcanizares5240 does the crossover run in front of the engine? Is the driver side manifold replaced as well?
The build gallery has a load of photos covering the crossover. Only the passenger manifold changes.
Such a crazy amount of detail went into the engine peripherals! Lots of really good information worth a lot. On a side note, as a European it's still crazy for me that you guys put single turbos on V8 engines 😀
Thanks for watching from afar! The idea of two smaller turbos has always been appealing. I think y’all might call that “bi-turbo.”
@@WillometMotorFab biturbo can also mean quite a few different things like register turbos and other stuff but in general, yes 😂 main idea is better throttle response, much less spool up time
@@mazevx2451 I'm secretly dreaming of building a twin turbo, ported, forged crank & balanced 6.5. But not for power. Mainly for better flow and hopefully slightly better efficiency. The 6.5 is already a good platform to start with in terms of efficiency, but you can always make things better.
@@Arexodius I believe that the responsiveness and a good power/torque band is more important than max power anyway
I tend to agree, especially for anything that gets mixed use. With modern turbo options, you can do that without a super restrictive exhaust side.
just had a head gasket or heads crack on my 1994 c3500, this video was pretty good timing for me.
Bummer! It's not a bad procedure, but the timing is never ideal.
Every time you do a video on your Burb it inspires me to work harder on mine! I’m currently doing completely useless stuff like converting the serpentine system to an 8-rib belt. For no other reason than thinking it looks cool. lol
I’m all about the little details that add up to the big picture! We all do a lot of work just because it satisfies us, personally. 8 ribs sounds cool to me.
This is so cool, huge inspiration for my suburban 🤘
I have a 6.5L in a Chevy box truck(cutaway) that I purchased from the Air Force. It had low mileage, needed some work but works great with some upgrades I did. Fuel mileage is 20 mpg's but the main thing it is inexpensive to maintain. I had a 7.3L Excursion it was a great vehicle but costly. Thanks for the video and I myself want to build a 5 cylinder Mercedes and find a light duty truck for it to use as a daily driver.
I bet that 5 cylinder Merc’ would be a fun one.
Money well spent, sir. I love your channel. Please keep exploring those rabbit holes.
I’m glad you enjoy the channel! The charger offers so many rabbit holes!
@@WillometMotorFabI have a rabbit hole for you. I figured out a way to run 75/90 in the wheel bearings in my Dana 60. No grease. With that fab experience you could probably improve on my method. Would be interesting to see it, I've never seen or heard of it outside of semi axles.
Have you ever tried "solar flux" for welding stainless? It's a flux that backs the weld so you don't have to back purge, saves a lot on welding gas 😅. It has a sort of glass transition when you heat it that covers the back of the weld in a nice glassy layer, but this layer can be brittle, so you don't want to use it anywhere you can't remove it after and are worried about chunks/particulate (cooling system, etc) but it's perfect for exhaust. Argons expensive 🤣
That’s pretty interesting. I’ll have to google it. All the sanitary and exhaust welders I know keep it simple with argon. I probably used 600 cu ft (2 tanks) to make the whole exhaust.
@@WillometMotorFab can't use it on sanitary welds because of the crap it can leave in the pipe (unless you can reach the weld to grind it out after), but works awesome for exhaust in my experience! You're a much better welder than me though, if you try it I'd love to hear what you think.
Maybe I'm just cheap but 2 bottles of argon is a few hundred bucks, that adds up! (although maybe you'll only save half the gas if you aren't back-purging). Personally I also find it a lot faster than setting up backpurge, but I don't have all the different sized rubber plugs you have - better equipment probably saves both time and argon.
That is such a cool suburban, love the unique engine build.
I find it hilarious that to have a good 6.5 you have to not use a 6.5 😂
A good ol' 6.5 is pretty hard to beat... I had a '96 GMC K2500 with a 6.5l and a NV4500. Great truck, got 20mpg, did what I asked it to with little fuss. I rebuilt it at about 290k because it lost a head gasket. Sold it after buying a duramax truck. Compared to modern diesels, 6.5's are like the 12 valve Cummins; loads of idle and off idle torque and good compression braking. That low end grunt is gone with the Duramax or 6.0L and up Ford diesels. Cummins still has it, but not like an old 12 valve...
As always, awesome rig man. perfect apocalypse/play rig!
Have you heard of classic diesel designs? They sell monster pumps for these ol gals. I've had their 130cc pump on mine for about 2 years now. They rate it for 400hp. While I've never dynoed it, it has no problem hanging with modern diesels. I too run an 86 burb, with a 6.7 powerstroke air to water intercooler, charged by a 6.0 powerstroke turbo, utilizing a 9 blade turbine wheel and an 11 blade 64mm compressor wheel. She rips!
Dude, that sounds rowdy. Tag me on social. I’d love to see how you’ve got that put together.
@@WillometMotorFab I don't have any social media. Could email you some pics and vids. I know, just as bad as writing a check at the grocery store now days lol
Email away. David@willometmotorandfab.com
@@WillometMotorFab sent
Hey mate, cool video. I love my 6.5 in my 80 series LandCruiser. The question I have is where you plumb the coolant filter into....any pics or video of that? Cheers, Tim😊🙏
Did you check the photo gallery yet? Lots of photos. The filter is setup in a bypass fashion like a heater core.
Nice build! I feel you on not wanting to do another. I doubt i'll do another om617 build again. after pump upgrade, turbo, intercooler, all the fab work, etc. I've just lost the drive to do another.
That does not look like a CS130 alternator. That looks like an AD230. very different.
also from the looks of it, you could have used the AD244 (and still could).
It’s also fun to just do new things. Personally, I really want to build a Duramax.
Nice project a 7.3 Powerstroke would be a nice engine in this subby or those modern 2.8 Cummins .
The 7.3 would be rowdy!
Awesome video! Awesome burb.
Awesome that we’ve been able to do so many of these adventures together.
I love the way you built your suburban. I have a 1996 with the 6.5 (electronic injector pump). I love the truck, and want to rebuild it before I get too old (turn 55 next month). I’ve been thinking about Duramax or Cummins swap, but that always goes away whenever I drive it. I would miss that 6.5, if I did. Thank you for the build sheet. One question: did you buy the engine in parts, or as a long block? That forged crank is what it should have always had in it.
A Duramax swap will be super cool, but the 6.5 bolts in and you can also use the super duper quadstar DS4 pump. I ordered a long block, and only listed those separate parts since Quadstar now has them as individual options in case someone didn't want/need a whole darned engine.
Great walk thru on the build! I’ve been basing my plans for my 88 off your suspension, but staying to about 4”. The power plant will most likely be a 6.0 LS with a carb to start. Someone try and talk me out of it lol… I just don’t trust myself to do diesel correctly or be able to afford it.
6.0 LS is a great engine and will make the torque you want with very few modifications. You're targeting 4", which is about where my truck sits. They get tall, quick.
@@WillometMotorFab they do! Thanks for your feedback. The boomerang hanger is my favorite design. Placed correctly I should be good to stay under 5 haha.
It’s worth the work to keep it low. 👍
What’s your off-road mpg on this thing? Is it good for long backwoods trips
Crawling is as low as 7, and trails are routinely 10. Highway is 16. With 40 gallons, I don’t worry about range.
Awesome ! Love the build man.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for being here.
@@WillometMotorFab of course! Im a 6.5 guy myself. Have a great relationship with the guys over at Quadstar for years now. Ill be making some more content myself soon as i update my truck build
John’s a good dude. 👍
@ they are great over there. Good luck with your projects man. Keep it up
I have see a 6.5 on a 6.2 block and thrown in an old GM wagon with a 4L60 and where able to put down nearly 30mpg.
I know you are running 40’s and a ton of drive line but have you seen a reasonable MPG on your travels?
On the big trip in NV, I got 14.5 mpg doing backcountry roads and running an average of about 55mph. Pure highway should be 15ish. Rock crawling is usually 7-8.
Did any of the military humvees have dual alternators? They were 6.5's. Not sure when they got rid of the 24 volt 6.2 in the CUCV's and if they upcycled the 24v system to the 6.5.
A lot of them did, but they would have had their own accessory system that probably didn’t include AC. Worth digging into a bit more.
Nice, you need to make a t-shirt with the kid from the never ending story riding on top of your suburban.
I like it. Maybe it's time for a little fashion line...
You make me want to put a maximizer into my 02 express 1500. Its got a very nice 5.7 but im dying for a diesel😢
They squeezed those 6.5s into a lot of stuff, including vans like yours. I bet there’s a powertrain out there.
I have my good old 6.5 never had any issues aince rebuild only failing parts was the old stuff from the miles. Oil cooler lines hoses etc. Just doing cheap mods to keep the engine cold and low exhaust temps she been slowing rocking. Cuase one thing they aint fast 😂😂 but would.trust it to go.anywhere ohh and loaded 12k trailer all day
I really do want to see how this engine would perform in a normal K2500.
@@WillometMotorFab i love your build. I would do one eventually but want to do it on a blazer
You forgot to put brass sleeves between the valves, and you forgot to chafer the main bolt holes and file off the sharp edges on the mains.
love the unique build, do a 6.9 or 7.3 IDI build for your next square body Chevy just to see what "they" say lol
Dude, that's a great idea! 7.3 in a C10 burnout truck. I so want to build that.
@@WillometMotorFab I've watched a couple videos about IDI motors and they supposedly super strong.
And probably as easy to care for as a 6.5, don’t you think?
I keep going back and forth on 6bt or 6.5 Turbo. This adds one more tick for the 6.5. That is, if I don’t sell my truck first. lol
If you have the time to do the fab work and make it all fit and work, a Cummins or duramax is the way to go.
I'm building a burb' that had a 6.5, unfortunately low compression and a cracked main web made me switch to a 24v cummins converted to a ve pump with a nv4500 and np205 out of a bronco. And I figured a dana 60 front would also be nice just wished the 6.5 had survived. Oh well maybe later.
Sounds like a great build. No point looking back; you’ve got a great powerplant in place!
I like the Duramax, but I've always liked the 6.5 better. I dunno, it's just the way it sounds, it's got a cooler character IMO.
I just wished the aftermarket support for them was as big as the Duramax's. But hopefully that will slowly change in the future.
It's a good time to be a 6.5 nut. Parts are available, good fuel systems, turbos that are made for the platform.
Any part numbers for the engine oil cooler? I need to relocate mine to install a hidden winch so I might as well upgrade while I’m in there.
It's the medium or small cooler from Triton. They're the real deal, and handmade here in the US. There's a whole video with the detail: th-cam.com/video/EmhJ61EOEv4/w-d-xo.html
@ thanks for the info. I’ll click on this link and go with their smaller one which is 7x12.
Inline six. All day, every day.
Cool.
You spent your money on exactly what You wanted to do, and you have pleasure in the outcome.
You are obviously not a "Me Too!"
I have the one from my 99 Suburban in my 86 E350 RV.
That 460 was a gas hog! 5mpg. This motor was not made to be a powerhouse but an economical engine. It has the same torque as the 460, and the same rpm range. It comes with a 4L80E which is over drive 4 speed with converter lockup. C6, not so much...
Besides, a reman late model high output Diesel will set you back $30k in the box. And have you seen how shitty they are built? A tiny dowel pin secures the crank balancer and cam drive. Built in obsolescence.
You're exactly right, the 6.5 wasn't built to be a powerhouse, but that doesn't mean it can't be made one! So you swapped a 6.5 in a ford RV?! That’s awesome!
The only thing make it better would be speed of air pistons, but unfortunately, I don’t think they make it for this engine yet.
I’ll let someone else take the first plunge on those.
Quick question how do I order a 65 engine for my 94 diesel Silverado
Easy! quadstartuning.com/?dt_id=2085737
Yeah $14k is a chunk of coin for a motor, but a quick search for an LB7 crate motor shows I'll be about the same money into a Duramax before the swap even begins, so is $14 large really a lot of money? Not really, for a diesel
Yeah. LB7 searches just make me feel poorer. I still want to build one, but your math matches mine from when I did all this I’m 2022.
Considering dropping in a Duramax would probably have cost a lot more overall, this was way more cost effective. Even if you had just an unmodified Suburban, Blazer, K-series truck, these engines were supposed to be close to drop in ready if it had a gas engine or another diesel. I would try this on a K2500 GMT400 if I could find one. It is kind of sad that GM never did this engine the justice it deserved with what AM has been able to do. Least you shouldn't have to worry about a crank splitting, cracked cylinders, bad heads. Its been pretty much gone through and you won't have to worry about it.
The 6.5 got short-changed by GM, but the aftermarket has really come through. A Duramax would have been at least as expensive and required substantially more fabrication, which I would have entertained if I hadn’t just finished (6 months earlier) most of the fabrication work that you see in this video. It’s OK, this is a project that’s never done and this will not be the last engine that goes in it.
Not to mention a lot of the money he spent was on an entirely new engine and you could get one/rebuild one for fairly cheap but then it does depend on how much you want to build it up
You could go for a hub dyno or put normal wheels on it. But: For what? You cannot dial in a DB2 anyway very good.
The hub dyno interests me most. You can dial in a DB2 fairly well with the right fuel and timing. The old snap on timing meter can be frustrating, but that’s the worst of it.
anyone done a setup for a marine engine 500 hp ?
But how freaking loud is it!?!? My humvee is so dang loud
What? Brown cows? Sorry, I can't hear you over the cold start of my 6.5.
i would love a good build with this engine but NA, one less thing to deal with
A good NA build would be a lot of fun.
Hey went to the website and the build sheet is priced at $0.00 is that a misprint? I just wanted to make sure before putting my card information in. Thank you for the awesome video and thanks for making a build sheet available.
That is correct. You won’t have to put in any payment info. Thank you for watching, and I’m glad you’re here.
😎
really nice video. you deserve more subs. I wish my videos were that good lol :(
Thanks for subbing. I've added one more to your channel. 👍
😍
waaaaaaaaay overpriced.
250 hp out of 6.5 liters is terrible lol. I love the way these engines sound but oh man they're hot garbage lol
Knowing diesels are known more for torque, 250hp is the good starting point. The IP has quite a bit more in it, and I’m getting up the guts to mess with it.
@WillometMotorFab 250hp by modern standards is terrible. 500hp of torque is the same as the 7.3 at factory specs. Sorry, dude, a 6.5 isn't worth the expense compared to a cummins.
@WillometMotorFab I'm currently in college for engineering and I'm working on building the most reliable 6.0 powerstroke possible. Sounds like an effort in futility, but after 20 years, there's an engineering fix for everything.
That’s a fair critique, and the math is hard to justify without something else at play - in my case, that my dad and I wanted to build our “ultimate 6.5.” Of course, there are no cheap options, but some are harder to figure. Also, thank you for being respectful and constructive in your response. There’s a range of vulgarity the 6.5 videos seem to inspire, and I appreciate that your pushback didn’t have to get caught up in that filter. Thank you.
@WillometMotorFab tbh, were both trying to build a motor that most people hate. The 6.5 was a huge stepstone in designing the 6.6 duramax.
Love your stuff. Keep it coming.