i was thinking of getting an exhaust brake for my 6.5. i seen this one on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7976160662&category=42610&sspagename=WDVW

can i make something like this work on my ride, or is it too much trouble?

any ideas good or bad, lets hear them!

I see the auction has ended but I will let you in on what I know. First, you would need a brake that goes into the exhaust pipe and you need room to fit it. My brake is attached to the rear of my turbo. Next you will need some sort of controller to lock up your torque converter when using the brake or it will not do you much good. In all honesty my old 6.5 handled hills very well without a brake as long as I payed attention. My cummins on the other hand needs the brake or it will take off going down hill. With the brake, it is awesome, with a heavy load I rarely touch the brakes.:grd:

Check for member Howie E he has a engine brake here is the link to his site http://mysite.verizon.net/vze54tx9/

Guys, I have heard that an engine brake was hard on trannys. Is this true or crap?

I think the weak link in the tranny dept is for the torque converter. If it's not locked up, the temps will skyrocket.

is there a mod you need to do to your chip to make the converter lock up, or something else? i really dont need it for 80% of my driving. but the other 20% driving i pull trailors through the mountains and could use the extra brakes.

Mr. T, did you notice a significant drop in EGT after the intercooler installation? The more you guys teach me here, the more it becomes painfully obvious that for any worthwhile engine power increase WITH longevity, an intercooler is MANDATORY ):h

If you wanna tow or make it grunt; IC or WMI is the ticket; yes EGT goes lower when post turbo charge air cooling is applied.

is there a mod you need to do to your chip to make the converter lock up, or something else? i really dont need it for 80% of my driving. but the other 20% driving i pull trailors through the mountains and could use the extra brakes.

There is a post here somewhere provided by the venerable GMCTD that describes where the weak link in 4L80 trans is the hollow input shaft which is why GM went with PWM lockup control, several have tried to use lockup modules with limited success, most successful applications so far have been shift bodies that apply firmer shifts, and rechip/flash that mods the shift routine, but only thing that truly locks up a converter is a T2 or MT2500 but that is for dignostic test, and sometimes dyno runs. I think for OBDI trans there is a controller, Ronnie Joe has a setup for his lockup control.

MTL you might PM Ronnie or Howie E as indicated in previous post, I think they have limited lock up control that works above 35 mph towing mode but they have to disable it for city stop & go type driving. Somehow in non tow < 35 or so city drive PCM/trans ain't happy.

You might also check with Heath Diesel they have some sort of engine brake setup I think for 6.5, I'm not sure how that works.

Heath also has a 5 setting tranny controler. I don't know if it goes to a 100% lock up, but if I was thinking about an exhaust brake, I'd be looking at this tranny controller as well.