DieselDaze

Weve got a 94 GMC 1500 Suburban thats puhing 215,000 miles.
Its a 2 wheel drive auto with a 5.7 (Gas burner)
Nothing fancy by any stretch of the imagination, but it fits our family needs.
However, with 215,000 miles, the number 7 and 8 cylinders are burning oil and power is noticebly dropping.

Weve looked around and come to realize that we can not afford anything new that would be of the same size.

So, I ask all of you:
1) How difficult would it be placing a 6.5 Turbo Diesel in this truck?
2) What year 6.5 should I be looking for? (I believe there were differences in block design and injection pump technology for different years of the 6.5)
3) What do I do about the stock computer components and will I need to bring over the different computer components for a 6.5?
???
I appreciate anything you guys could provide.

I sure wish Dodge would make a full size SUV or a full size 4 door Crew cab! :-

Thanks
Rich

Bodey

I would imagine another obstacle to look at is a major suspension upgrade. I had a friend swap gas for diesel years ago...I'll try to track him down tomorrow.

DieselDaze

Thanks.
I appreciate anything you can provide.

Rich

JKE

Daze - why not put another 350 motor in it? Looks like it will hold up well for you like the current one. This is cheap and easy and you would get the warranty on the crate motor. Straight swap. :-

My $0.02

John

BAD HABIT

I cannot recall why, but I understand that the 95 and up 6.5 is a lot better engin than 94 and down. Then again, for around $650 to $800 and 1 weekend, I would go with a rebuilt 350 longblock. Thats just me. Good luck.

DieselDaze

You are both correct and replacing the current engine with a 5.7 crate engine is our probable path.
A crate engine from the local GM dealer is $1395 with $100 core.

Im just exploring my options and seeing if replacing the current gasser with a diesel is a viable solution.

Rich.

JKE

Daze - have one shipped from Skoggins-Dickie or something like that. They had killer deals on crate 350's not too long ago.

do a search for their web site. If you go that route, it may save you some wedge (cash).

John

westcoaster

one thing you may want to check into, is your local regulations regarding engine swaps. Around here it is "illegal" to place an older engine in a newer vehicle. Another one of those emmissions things...

DieselDaze

Yes, we have many of the same kind of regulations.
I did not check to see if a gasser can/cannot be replaced by a diesel.
Something to check into.

Thanks
Rich.

Suburbanite

[quote author=DieselDaze link=board=8;threadid=21894;start=0#msg204757 date=1067823165]
... 94 GMC 1500 Suburban ...
So, I ask all of you:
1) How difficult would it be placing a 6.5 Turbo Diesel in this truck?[/quote]
Sounds like a lot of work to me but then I'm not that mechanically inclined. I think you'd better off trading for or buying outright a diesel Sub. If you do decide to do a swap I'd opt for the mechanical FIP instead of the electrical (total POS) version that was installed from '95 on (& eventually was given a 7yr/120K mile extended warranty bc it was/is such a POS). Conversion a bit easier since you wouldn't have to worry about obtaining a new ECM (at least for the FIP). You would still have to figure out how to handle vacuum & ...(anyone else care to add, feel free).

I believe '94 was the 1st year for the 6.5 (but my Chilton's shows '92) & it also happened to be the only year in which the 6.5 was equipped with a mechanical FIP. In '97 higher output WP & xover were added to address cooling problems (can be retrofitted to older engines for ~$300+ [new]. Used ~$...?). I believe that was also the 1st year for piston oil cooling which happened to weaken the block & wasn't fixed until '99 when another company took over production of the 6.5. '00 was the last year for the 6.5. Other issues with the 6.5: Almost universally cracked cylinder heads (may not affect performance/durability), cracking in #8 cylinder wall (cooling upgrade addresses?). Also, none of the 6.5's had intercoolers so stock boost is ~7 psi (yeah, that's no typo ... S E V E N !!!)

So, to answer your question: '99-'00 6.5's would be the best engines.

Don't know but I suspect so.

Something else to think about upgrading is the tranny & the rest of the drivetrain. With the SB & .5T rating your Sub probably has the 4L60E auto & .5T running gear. Diesel-equipped 1500's came equipped with the 4L80E (or equivalent) & .75T running gear (8 lug/stud wheels).

You might want to do further research on the 6.5 on the thedieselpage & gm-diesel websites.

I'd have to agree with the others & would also recommend just, either, refreshing the current block or replacing it with a 'new' engine. Either way, I'd look for something designed with torque in mind. A stroked 350SBC is one popular example. 250+HP & 400+TQ shouldn't be too hard to reach. David Vizard in his "How to Build Max Performance Chevy Small Blocks On A Budget" book has an example listed as "Engine No. 8: Truck Torque, Sports Car Power" which dynoed over 450 HP AND TQ! If my engine building simulation software is any guide even higher TQ #'s are achievable if a little HP is sacrificed. I've got one 'build' that theoretically produces over 500TQ from 2000 rpm thru ~2750 rpm! But 'only' produces ~325HP.

Good luck.

Suburbanite

[quote author=DieselDaze link=board=8;threadid=21894;start=0#msg205301 date=1067916091]
Yes, we have many of the same kind of regulations.
I did not check to see if a gasser can/cannot be replaced by a diesel.
Something to check into.

Thanks
Rich.
[/quote]

AFAIK, the only requirement is that the replacement engine be of the same year or newer.

Good luck.

DieselDaze

Thanks Suburbanite and to all.
I think we will be sticking with another stock gasser. :

The $$$ involved in converting it over to a 6.5 would equate to just buying a newer one.
Money that cant be justified on such a plain half ton suburban.

We'll just stick another stock gasser in there and see if we can trade it in. Hopefully, with a new gasser engine, we can get a little more for trade in.

Thanks again for everyones reply.

Rich.

MCummings

6.5's did come in 1500 trucks, and 1500 Suburbans.

Saw a guy named Tim but down nearly 200RWHP with one at our Big Dawg Diesel Competition in Dallas Oct. 25th. (bolt-ons only) (In a nice 1500 pickup)

Merrick Cummings Jr

redramnc

Talked to a guy recently that has a 6.5 from the factory in a Blazer. Never seen one before. He said it took him almost a year to get it after he ordered it and that he paid a premium for it. The guy was a dweeb but the Blazer was interesting. He saw my gauges on pillar and wanted to know where to install a pyro on his. I looked under the hood at his turbo (in middle on right side) and pointed out a good pre-turbo spot for him to install one. No intercooler so I imagine that it was a dog.

I'll have to ask a friend who was a Chevy dealer mechanic about that time if he ever ran across any.

HOHN

DD:
-- I would recommend dropping in a new short block or having the existing engine rebuilt. A TD conversion is going to cost you big $$ and lots of headaches.

Do NOT go with a 383 stroker in your Sub. The 383 stroker engines have VERY short rods (from a 400). When used with the longer stroke crank, this puts a LOT of load on the cylinder walls. Ask the guys who build the 383s, and they'll tell you-- they make a decent amount of HP, but they don't last. They chew through the bores pretty quick. 50k Miles is quite good before it needs another build.

I would recommend you rebuild the engine that in there, and use 6" rods. When used with the stock SBC 350 stroke of 3.48, this gives you a r/s ratio of 1.72, close to the ideal of 1.75.

There are a lot of good heads out there for the 350 too. You don't want the AL heads in a truck, so stick with a performance Iron head, like the Dart castings. They are cheap and make HP.

You should pretty easily be able to put together a 350hp small block Chebby for less than $1800.

The GM long blocks are a cheap way to go, but you can get a lot more for not much more money...

the Mopar guy,
Justin