I've got a '96 6.5L and am pulling a 7000 lbs camper trailer, my truck pulls it but i'd like a little more power, 90 kph is max on a calm straight road. I was looking at new pcm's, but don't know too much about them. I wanted one that would provide me with the most hp/torque on the market. Does anyone know what the best one would be to get or have any other ideas?

Welcome to The 'Place. Why not take some time to fill out your signature so we know details about your truck. And take some time in the stickies at the top of this forum.

I'd suggest starting with gauges. These are crucial to the survival of your engine, knowing what's going on. Then move up to a 3" down pipe with 3-4" exhaust. Then and only then do you want a reflash. If you have overheating problems, you may want to look into upgrading your cooling system as well, if you don't already have the new cooling system. I'd also suugesting looking into Heath's PMD relocation kit.

Welcome to The 'Place. Why not take some time to fill out your signature so we know details about your truck. And take some time in the stickies at the top of this forum.

I'd suggest starting with gauges. These are crucial to the survival of your engine, knowing what's going on. Then move up to a 3" down pipe with 3-4" exhaust. Then and only then do you want a reflash. If you have overheating problems, you may want to look into upgrading your cooling system as well, if you don't already have the new cooling system. I'd also suugesting looking into Heath's PMD relocation kit.

I concur, that about covers it, more info can be found by using the search function. there are many threads about methods for upgrading as well as suggested sequences for upgrading. sit down have a rye n coke and read, read and read some more. as far as 6.5 sites go there are many and this is one is about the best so far but there is another good one, try googling diesel, towing, resource.com the site owners here kinda block me anyone from posting a direct link. Ed

Welcome to The 'Place. Why not take some time to fill out your signature so we know details about your truck. And take some time in the stickies at the top of this forum.

I'd suggest starting with gauges. These are crucial to the survival of your engine, knowing what's going on. Then move up to a 3" down pipe with 3-4" exhaust. Then and only then do you want a reflash. If you have overheating problems, you may want to look into upgrading your cooling system as well, if you don't already have the new cooling system. I'd also suugesting looking into Heath's PMD relocation kit.


x2 on everything he said. It kind of sounds to me like you have a problem with your truck tho . I dont know what 70 kph translates to in MPH but i think its less than 70 mph. My truck pulling 6,000 would bury the speedo if i opened it up and gave it a mile or so. I can pull that weight atlease 80-85 no problem on level ground. Wont do that on a hill with that weight but i dont think ive ever made it down below 55. 6k is the most ive ever pulled with this. I tihnk you have boost problems, but i could be wrong.

90 kph ~ 56 mph. I believe that it should do better than that... I too don't believe a chip is where you want to start.
OTOH - We don't know what you're driving. Please fill out your signature with stuff like the model, trans, rear ratio, mods, repairs, etc. This really helps everyone, including you.

Go over the checklist and fill it out when you can. Might be something really simple and you're hitting 120 on the straight flats tomorrow... Then again could be the way your trucks geared -- which isn't so simple. Or maybe even something else. Hard to tell at this point.
Get it running as best it can with what you have now, then make repairs, then upgrades (starting with gauges) - At least that's the sequence I use.

From personal experience, I can tell you to buy gauges first! before you mod anything. Then, fill out your signature by clicking on 'user cp' (upper right hand corner of this page then 'edit signature', put on a pot of coffee and start searching and reading. There is tons of good info on this sight.
Welcome aboard!.

Just a note; when I bought my 6.5 in 2006 my plan was to fix it and sell it...then I found this place. There is no way I would sell this truck now. Fixed it just to use as a farm truck but now it's my daily driver....while my perfect 01 Z71 sits in the yard. heh heh

I have added a k+n air filter, cut out cat conv., disconected egr, relocated pmd, changed resistor to #9, and have just ordered gauges, (haven't installed yet) still has factory gears, I think 3.73's, '96 K1500 6.5L turbo with 250,000 kms. Got our diesel guy to check boost and fuel pressures says that there good, has no codes stored. Tried pulling trailer again the other day and after a few kms got it up to 100km/h, absoulty the max, think I had a little wind to my back. Should my truck be pulling better then this or does this sound right.

Tried pulling trailer again the other day and after a few kms got it up to 100km/h, absoulty the max, think I had a little wind to my back. Should my truck be pulling better then this or does this sound right.

Not sure what 100 km/h translates to in english :D but you will be amazed at what a few mods can do for these trucks. Get those gauges installed...then you can go from there. By installing a mechanical waste gate controller you'll be able to actually have sustained boost compared to the normal "watch the boost fade as the inadequate factory unit bleeds your much needed boost out the exhaust". After gauges, you'll want to do exhaust and Heath Turbo Master( or you can build your own - just search these forums..I have a couple of pix in my garage).

Also, fill out your signature....Not sure if you said you had a auto tranny or manual but there are some mods you can do to the auto to change when it locks up. I don't have one so I can't really say what the benefits are.

Nope, that's weak. My 2500, stock, with same gears, pulled my 9800# trailer at highway speeds in Sask when I first got it. Wasn't until I tried going into BC that it turned into a pig.

Nope, that's weak. My 2500, stock, with same gears, pulled my 9800# trailer at highway speeds in Sask when I first got it. Wasn't until I tried going into BC that it turned into a pig.

that's just to slow you down enough to appreciate our mountain views.:D i always liked that view of the rockies from golden to just over the alberta border. Ed

I have added a k+n air filter, cut out cat conv., disconected egr, relocated pmd, changed resistor to #9, and have just ordered gauges, (haven't installed yet) still has factory gears, I think 3.73's, '96 K1500 6.5L turbo with 250,000 kms. Got our diesel guy to check boost and fuel pressures says that there good, has no codes stored. Tried pulling trailer again the other day and after a few kms got it up to 100km/h, absoulty the max, think I had a little wind to my back. Should my truck be pulling better then this or does this sound right.


I say its very weak too. Ive pulled 6,000 on a hill that fast or faster than that with my 3.42 gears.

Are you using overdrive when pulling?

I have added a k+n air filter, cut out cat conv., disconected egr, relocated pmd, changed resistor to #9, and have just ordered gauges, (haven't installed yet) still has factory gears, I think 3.73's, '96 K1500 6.5L turbo with 250,000 kms. Got our diesel guy to check boost and fuel pressures says that there good, has no codes stored. Tried pulling trailer again the other day and after a few kms got it up to 100km/h, absoulty the max, think I had a little wind to my back. Should my truck be pulling better then this or does this sound right.

These upgrades are for reliability. May be the cat and the air filter can increase power but not much. The best upgrade I have done is the bigger exhaust upgrade. Also, make sure that all your electrical connectors, cables and components are good.

From my experiance I will say that a exhaust upgrade makes the most differance in power and tourque. When I had my 454 the exhaust made the most power change from the three mods I changed. On my dodge cummins it was the chip but exhaust made it sound good. I do not know about the 6.5TD yet since I still have the same cheasey duel exhaust on it. I will see once the boss lets me upgrade the junk I have on the truck know.

I've tried pulling in 3rd and in overdrive, doesn't make much difference. Have also had torque convertor locked up in od a few times, if that means much. I just got my gauges on tonight and went for a drive. Highest boost reading was 4 most reads at 3psi. Going to check for problems tommorow, thinking boost should be higher then that.

I'd check compression and oil pressure to get an idea what kind of condition the engine is in. If you are low on compression &/or oil pressure all the mods are not going to help for long & the engine might not be worth dumping the money into.
Has your timing chain ever been changed? At that milage you are do. I've been going through all my 6.5's and doing timing chain gears & fluidamper. It's made quite an improvement in starting & running in every vehicle. I have only the 95 Tahoe & 95 xtra cab left to do.

Highest boost reading was 4 most reads at 3psi. Going to check for problems tomorrow, thinking boost should be higher then that.

Are those boost readings at WOT or cruising? - if cruising, those are perfectly normal......if that's when the hammer is down then they suck. With a mechanical WG controller you should be able to sustain 10 psi....with a big bore exhaust of course.

X2...

3 psi boost? Are you towing anything? Sounds low to me..

I typically have 6-10 psi boost when I tow my trailer at 100 kph (~63 mph). I've seen mine reach 12-13 psi when passing. (while towing!)

Install your gauges and keep us posted.

Thats the readings at wot without the truck loaded. Got looking at it today and found that there is 1 in vac. at idle going into waste gate sol. also hooked up tech2 and found that boost pressure on scan tool is at 13psi not running and at wot changes to 13-15psi. this isn't right is it? Also inspected turbine and compressor wheels when turbo was off to do gauges, looks like new. Waste gate also working properly when tested with hand held vac. pump.

13psi with the engine not running is the atmospheric pressure. So - you're reading from 0 to 2 psi boost.
Check the entire vacuum system... Something in that system isn't doing its thing.
Pump, lines, solenoids, one or more isn't playing anymore.

vaccum pump should be putting out vac. all the time when its running shouldn't it?

How is the boost sol. and map sensor run if the vac. pump is removed?

If you remove the vac pump, you need to put on a spring WG controller.

Check your vacuum, with the truck running, using a vac gauge, between the vac pump and the solenoid. Should be at least 20"

--If it isn't, you have a leak between the vac pump and the solenoid, or your vac pump is toast.

Then check it between the solenoid and the wastegate. Should be 15-20"

--If it isn't, you have a leak between the solenoid and the wastegate, or your solenoid is toast.

--If you have vacuum to the wastegate control, and STILL no boost, your possibilities are:
-wastegate controller is toast
-wastegate is toast
-turbo is toast.

Figure out what's wrong, then narrow in and fix. Just randomly buying parts is too expensive.

Yes, the pump should be pulling a vacuum whenever it's turning.
The vacuum is only for the waste gate and egr.
Read the Stickys and learn about this system. They will help you get it back in shape.

3-4 psi wide open is not enough you need about 7psi. Did you say you blocked off the egr? You would need vacuum for that too. If it isnt causing the SES light to come on then you could probably get by with removing all the vacuum lines and the pump and installing a Turbo Master (set at 7 psi) and being done with it.