In doing my overhaul my 6.2 is getting some upgrades over stock. Ditching the torque to yield head studs. Putting in a machined crank, hardened anodized pistons, stud girdle, and DSG dual idler gears. I know Banks recomends max 10 psi boost for a stock 6.2 but I should be able to run a little more safely with the upgrades as long as I keep the egt's down. Does anyone know what the safe limit is with a setup like this? BTW I will be using a 91 block(has had under 150,000 km total put on it but one cracked head) with my 85 J code heads.

:chevy::grd:

Well, I know the pistons are the weak link. Since you are running improved pistons I would guess you would be able to run at least 15 psi safely.

Are you lowering the compression ratio? That's what really allows you to run a lot of boost. Something to think about...

They're 30 over mahle pistons. I was thinking I would run the thicker head gaskets. That should lower the compression ratio some though I don't think it would be by much.

That should lower the compression ratio some though I don't think it would be by much

Maybe not much, but every little bit helps.

If you haven't already bought your pistons you might want to look for some marine pistons... If you want maximum power and lots of boost, anyway... They drop compression to like 18:1.

Already have the pistons at the machine shop waiting to be matched to the block. I'm not too concerned with high horsepower I just want to kick it up enough to have some passing power on the highway. The rated Banks gain of 60hp and 115ft-lbs at the rear wheels would be enough. Mostly I just wanted to know what I could run safely for those few times I tow a trailer and could use the extra ponies. Any idea what running 15psi would give?

mine has plenty of power at 10psi, with 6.5 turbo setup. i've run it up to 15, but mostly it just sounded like the turbo was going to fly off. so I left it at 10.

They run pretty good at 10 PSI.

How much of a task is it to use a turbo off of a 6.5? I got a real case of sticker-shock when I priced out the Banks setup. I would think I could just use the 6.5 headers and fab some appropriate brackets for the rest of it

Does you're truck have A/C?

No. It doesn't even have a tack yet. It started out life as my Grandpas trapline truck.

The 6.5 will fit with a little creation but I would use the setup & burn the factory turbo at the stake & put on something good. The banks turbo itself is actually better than the 6.5 factory unit. Somebody on this forum had a banks turbo kit for sale a couple of months ago & for a good price to but I don't remeber who. You may want to post on the forum & see if anybody has one that wants to move it.

I think I'll just run it NA for the time being and spring for the Banks in 6 months or so. Unless of course I find a good deal on the Banks sooner than that.

:chevy::grd:

I run a Banks on mine and the power gain is more than a little. My wife drives a 99GTP and honestly my truck feels like that when I pass with it. I recently seen someone on ebay selling just the right hand manifold and turbo and other smaller parts (all new) and you just fab your own exhaust etc. The buy it now price was about $900 US. I will watch for it and add a reply if it comes back.

PS Banks does have discounts around Christmas. You may want to ask about that.
Gerald

I have no idea what is inside of my 6.2, but under load, I am showing 13.5 lbs boost with my Banks setup and an egt of 950 degrees. This truck is new to me.

I Agree with Yelland. When I first put the banks on my '87 I raced a '01 cummins Dually with a 75HP Banks program & wipped him on Acceleration & on top end!!!!!!!!

15 psi will give you a lot of horsepower if you can get enough fuel to it, but you will really have to crank up your injection pump to get enough fuel...

Someday I am going to have to have a turbo. Could be a while considering what most turbo setups cost :eek:, but someday I will have to get one.

"I run a Banks on mine and the power gain is more than a little. My wife drives a 99GTP and honestly my truck feels like that when I pass with it. I recently seen someone on ebay selling just the right hand manifold and turbo and other smaller parts (all new) and you just fab your own exhaust etc. The buy it now price was about $900 US. I will watch for it and add a reply if it comes back.

PS Banks does have discounts around Christmas. You may want to ask about that.
Gerald"


If I could get all the small parts minus the exhaust that would be allright. I know for a fact that I could get a trick exhaust fabbed for less than the cost of the banks. Might even be able to forgo the muffler because diesel emissions are fairly lax in Canada.

We'll have to see how much work I get before christmas out on the Alberta oilpatch before I buy much of anything. I'm a little tapped at the moment from buying all my rebuild parts.

The 6.5 Diesel setup is the cheapest way to do it. Doing it right should run you around 800...if you dont mess up anything.

I wouldnt say its the easiest, but if your concerned about $$$ you might want to concider it. There is a little modification(like installing one short injector), and putting a return line in, but all in all its not too bad. Sounds like your mechanically inclined enought to pull it off no problem. It produces about the same power as the banks as well.

Here is a thread when I was going through the same thing, with me learning a ton along the way.
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65660

guipo

I found the old listing number 120035318151. If you type this into an ebay search it will come up and you can ask seller a question. Doesnt appear to have a pressure chamber for the intake, so more fab work. Hope this helps and keep us posted!!!!!

Gerald:grd:

yup, thats basically a stock 6.5 setup.

The 6.5 turbo setup is good but the turbo itself-:t!!!!!!!!!!

I think I'll save up for the Banks. Partially because I trust the name and partially because after hunting for all the other parts I need I'm sick of hunting for parts. The Banks is complete and only takes the install time. My time off is going to be valuable this winter as I'll be working 3 weeks in and 1 week out through most of the winter. Also I'm back on the hunt for a block. I went 100 km out of my way to pick up the 91 block yesterday and theCensored Censored Censored Censored I was picking it up from couldn't find the thing in his mess of a shop. I called the Censored several times before I showed up. If he couldn't find it he could have had the courtesy to call me before I showed up. There is a 86 3/4 tonne 6.2 locally with a cracked frame I might be able to pick up for cheap. Could work out better since I can steal the perfect rust free doors and front fenders off of it for my truck. It's even the same color so I wouldn't have to paint them.

:chevy::grd:

You will be happy. When I got my kit it had every piece needed. I mean everything, all I had to get was beer.

Gerald

hey, I just sold a setup for the 6.5 for around 600. And it was everthign, including the manifolds, a custom crossover, etc, etc, etc.

The banks is waaaay easier to install though, I'll give it that.

also, a word of caution, I've heard of some problems people have had with banks, getting all the parts. Do a search for Tahoe Joe.

does the banks really only run on 4 cylinders worth of exhaust?? why not both sides???

it has a crossover pipe that goes around to the other manifold. The pipe runs along the front of the engine.

The crossover pipe should eliminate the need for a second different exhaust manifold The one that comes with the banks kit is to change the flow direction on the one side to feed into the turbo without having to put a total redirect pipe on that sides manifold. The redirect on the turbo side would really rob a significant amount of power by increasing backpressure on that side (would have route the exhaust a full 180).

:chevy::grd:

rock shoes, check your pm's. Fred

I read the post referred to earlier of the bad Banks experience and it was not good. My experience was good though. My kit came with everything including exhaust, chrome tip, even teflon tape, and a little loktite tube. The only thing I bought was a boost gauge and 2 gauge piller mount. All the parts, exhaust and everything fit perfectly. When I take my truck to a gas station the guy that checks the oil ( I keep close tabs on it but I never pass up an opportunity to show it off ) can't believe how good it looks. Me and a friend put the kit on in a weekend. Just don't put the turbo on before you put the down pipe in or like us you will be taking the turbo off. The Banks exhaust manifold for the turbo has a much larger path from the drivers side exhaust tie in to the turbo to overcome any backpressure issues.

The people at Banks know thier S&^t. You will be happy.

Gerald:ro) :grd:

Yea, dont get me wrong, I think the Banks setup is the best way to go for a 6.2. IF you have the $$$$.

That's exactly it. I've run it this long without a turbo and If I hold out for another few months I will have the coin to go with the banks. Don't get me wrong I think what some of you guys have done to adapt the 6.5 setup is awsome. Props to all of you who have taken the time and effort to do this.
:chevy::grd:

If your truck is non ac the 6.5 set up is real easy to do. My truck has the 6.5 set up and my buddy has the Banks I have driven his and mine seems to pull harder with the 6.5 stuff. I know the banks is a direct bolt on but the 6.5 only needs a couple of spacers for the turbo side exhaust manifold and it is a direct bolt on as well. As far as exhaust the cross over will need to be bent up at an exhaust shop I paid $120 for mine and the down pipe can be built at home if you have a welder I can supply you with the part numbers for the pieces to build the down pipe if you want. I bought the engine in my truck with the turbo on it already for $750 it was a steal and the exhaust cost me about $250 it already had the 3'' muffler and tail pipe. In my opinion you could do the 6.5 set up for way less than the banks and I feel out perform it as well. Once you have the down pipe figured out the install time would be close between the two. This is just my two cents worth of course. I have lots of pictures of mine if your interested.

The Banks unit is nice, but the T04B turbo that's used in the kit is a little lacking IMHO, it will make ~9psi on a 6.2 fuel system.

But, should you desire more boost, you can crank the fuel a little more, or add a 6.5 IP, or another turbo that will fit the manifold (standard T3), like a TE06H unit, which Banks also makes.

Could I order the Banks kit with the TE06H unit instead of the stock banks unit? Might be a good option for a mostly bolt in install with a better turbo unit. As for the IP weren't the early 6.5 IP's the same mechanical pump found on the later J code 6.2's? Also I know Banks recomends turning up the IP when you install the kit untill you get 10 PSI boost without upping your egt's over 1100(I think it's 1100 not 100% on that). Would the TE06H give lower egt's relative to the boost produced?

BTW. Trevor I'd be more than happy to get measurements and part numbers off of you. If I can get equal or perhaps better results for lower cost it's always worth looking in to.

:chevy::grd: