Cat Turbo Swap [Archive] - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums

: Cat Turbo Swap


ArmyMechanic
01-19-2007, 10:29 AM
Alright.. WARNING: Im not very well versed in the knowledge of turbochargers.

Ive got my hands on a brand new turbo off of a cat engine. I believe its a Cat 3116 engine. The flange on the turbo looks very similar in size to that of the turbo on my 6.5L. The wastegate appears to be spring actuated. It is a bit bigger (not huge) in comparison to my GM turbo. It also looks as if the openings for the intake air are larger. But I know that those aren't an issue.

Swap with the GM turbo on my 6.5L


Could it be made to fit?
Would the 6.5L have enough exhaust pressure to power it?
Would the benefits of the job be worth the effort? (Faster spool up for on demand boost?)I know that the GM provided turbo is capable of giving more than enough boost for what our engine can handle. So would this train of though even be worth the time?

Thanks.

joispoi
01-19-2007, 11:50 AM
You'll have to figure out what turbo it is that you have.

Chicago TDP
01-19-2007, 12:01 PM
post some pics of it, meaure the flange, if it is a T3 style flange, it will bolt right on the truck

FastCR
01-19-2007, 12:20 PM
i'd do it even if it doesn't help. You'd have a cat turbo :eek:

Veg_Out
01-19-2007, 12:22 PM
Sell that thing on ebay, buy a turbo master and a can of "cat yellow" spraypaint, and thank your lucky stars you didn't bolt a turbo to your motor that wouldn't do much to help.

JMHO.

ArmyMechanic
01-19-2007, 01:25 PM
Veg - you dont think it would be worth it? Spool up etc??


post some pics of it, meaure the flange, if it is a T3 style flange, it will bolt right on the truck

Yah cant measure the flange now unfortunately. But will do as soon as I can. Do you by chance have the measurements for the flange on the GM turbo? Do you think that it would be worth it?

gmctd
01-19-2007, 01:30 PM
1. if you're handy with a fire wrench and a arc wrench

2. the turbine is driven by exhaust energy - heat, volume, pressure - all low at off-idle rpm, increasing at higher rpm

3. the GM-X series turbos are small-turbine with a wastegate to take advantage of the 6.5's low exhaust energy at low rpm for quick off-idle spool-up to make quick power - that's a problem at highway towing rpm, where the increased exhaust energy is sufficient to drive a larger turbine

You want quick spool for off-idle power - small turbine or low A/R - but you need the exhaust to open up for free flow in the highway rpm ranges - larger turbine or greater A/R .

Depending on the A/R of that larger turbo, you'll probably get good highway rpm power, but little-to-no off-idle low rpm power, just like the Holset for the Cummins 5.9.

If you have the facilities, adapt and try it, post your results

ArmyMechanic
01-19-2007, 02:31 PM
If you have the facilities, adapt and try it, post your results

Ill see what I can do. t will be another 6 or 7 months before I am back home for good and can take the time to fool with it. I dont want to go tearing around under the hood if it's not even worth it you know?

The good highway rpm sounds very appealing. I have driven trucks powered by this CAT turbo and once they get off the line they have amazing power. If I could translate that to my 6.5L Id be tickled.