http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gifHi, I'm new to the site. I have a 83 K10 with a replacement 6.5 and a Banks sidewinder kit. The truck runs good but I would like more power, especially at low RPM. My Garrett Turbo is non-wastegated and only gives me good boost at high RPM. I am looking for some information on replacement turbos, preferably wategated. I can get a good HX35 off of a cummins for free but want to make sure it will perform on my 6.5 before going through all the mods to make it fit. I was thinking about trying this, setting the wastegate for 10-12 pounds and see what happens. Any one have any thoughts about this? Compared to my Banks turbo it has a huge compressor. I could run either a 14 cm exhaust housing or get a 9 cm housing. Which would be best? My injector pump is set at 70 right now.

probably go with the GM-3 mech. wastegate. The HX-35 will be to much turbo for the engine. The engine will not like anything over about 12 psi for long.

Stock 6.5L has 21.3:1 compression and used a wastegated turbo to build low RPM spool-up. With a big non-wastegated turbo overspooling/wategating is not a problem. It would be a comprimise to get a gm-8 turbo with a turbo master or homemade adjustable springWG arm. You would get lower RPM boost to build faster but loose your power in the 2500+ RPM range. The GM-3 from the '93 mechanically controlled 6.5L TD has an even smaller turbine wheel/housing diameter. I have one on my '93 but It would run better with the non wastgated model and balanced headers to center the heat energy over all 8 cylinders and of course, an intercooler.

Thanks for the info. It sounds like maybe I should hold-out for a GM-3 turbo. Will this be much of an inprovement over the Banks turbo? Maybe It's not worth the trouble.