hey guys, i am looking for 500 to 600 HP motor in the end, about 4K to spend on this project.

this is what i have now:

F code motor with 210K mikes on it (starting to get loud)
turbo does need rebuilt (leakes oil, and is loud)
rear main started leaking this week

all the other upgrades are in my signature.

on the to get list:
high volume cross over pipe
upgraded cooling system

this suburban is used as a daily driver, and used hard when pulling a loaded trailor over the states durning the summer months for truck shows we set up at.

i was thinking of just starting with another motor and building it VS pulling the motor out of my ride now and having the suburban down for a few weeks.

what would you do.............?

You will never see that kind of power out of a 6.5. No way no how. I think 250 is reaching on one.
If you need that kind of power, or want it, look for another truck or swap out your motor. Your budget is low for what you want. If you do all your own wrenching a Cummins swap is possible to keep under your target $ if you find a good deal on one thats in good condition.

i thought of a cummins swap, but man is that alot of work, but great outcome!

im getting about 200 HP now, and i know i have more in there, just what formula i need to get it out....?

Concerning pulling the engine verses finding another engine, I vote for finding another engine. At least your engine runs currently, you don't want to be without it when you need it.

I'm doing the same rebuild. But I'm sure it's going to cost 6k in the end. I opted to find a crack free 599 cast block (good luck there too) to start with. Then it was sent off to be splayed an assembled. SIX MONTHS later, it's still at the machine shop! So, you'll surely want to find another engine in case you run into what I've run into.

Vehicle 1995 K2500 Burb
Engine will be: 18:1, Splayed, GM8, IC, Gear Drive, Matched, Balanced, Coated, etc.

I think you can get about 300HP at the rear wheels, that means about 350 at the flywheel. Thats about the MAX a 6.5 is going to take and stay alive. But It MUST BE SPLAYED to live.

Mr Taillight - that's a tall order.

I think that to get this kind of HP, you need to change the entire drive train. Even if you did get a 600HP engine in the bay, you would shred your tranny and diff.

Here's a thread that talks about something similar.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40096

I think that will cost a lot more than $4K.

Others may prove me wrong, but I think that the most cost-effective thing to do is to buy a used DMax/Allison IF you need that kind of HP.

Sincerely,

Rob :)

ok, this is the info i have been looking for.

lets keep the 4K limit (or close to) and what can we build for a nice strong motor, keep the stock trans/axels.

now what should we look at?

Splayed mains, steel crank, or maybe a stock crank nitrided for hardness, gears vs chain, HD clutch pack for the trans, Hi capacity diff pan & maybe a locker but the $$$ start adding up for that kind of beefing up, so you are relegated to making most of what you have or changing engine if you want to go on the cheap, no inexpensive ways on these I'm afraid, you are starting with bare bones LD engine as the foundation of your efforts.

I was considering all the same things for my suburban, but when I sat down and started adding it all up I came to the conclusion that why not just leave it stock. If I was going to do anything I would get an 18:1 new foundation(new blocks are superior I have not heard a single person say different), intercooler, gm-8 turbo and boost adjuster on the firewall mounted baro. Would probably not make much more power but should more durability. It's like turbine doc stated the $$$ add up quick, and this is a light duty foundation. But hey I'll just wait for GM to get back on track and put the duramax in the suburban:ro) .

From what I understand to get 300 HP out of a 6.5 you need several things. 1. 18-1 compression, 2. New Turbo as the stock GM Turbo's are a limiting factor. 3. Injection Pump. Stock injection pump fuel
Capacities to 25 BHP (19kW) cylinder. That's only 200hp now you can increase that some by "tweeking" but not not 150% of rated capacities. To get 300 HP Peninsular uses a Mechanical High output pump. 4. Intercooler which you all ready have.

The Turbo is $1,000 and the pump is $980 so there is half your budget. They sell the whole set up for 1994 and up for....$7800.

So you want: " hey guys, i am looking for 500 to 600 HP motor in the end, about 4K to spend on this project"
:lol2:

Yupp I want a NEW DuraBux truck for $10,000, but ..........it ain't gonna happen!!! :damnit1:

From what I understand to get 300 HP out of a 6.5 you need several things. 1. 18-1 compression, 2. New Turbo as the stock GM Turbo's are a limiting factor. 3. Injection Pump. Stock injection pump fuel
Capacities to 25 BHP (19kW) cylinder. That's only 200hp now you can increase that some by "tweeking" but not not 150% of rated capacities. To get 300 HP Peninsular uses a Mechanical High output pump. 4. Intercooler which you all ready have.

The Turbo is $1,000 and the pump is $980 so there is half your budget. They sell the whole set up for 1994 and up for....$7800.

So you want: " hey guys, i am looking for 500 to 600 HP motor in the end, about 4K to spend on this project"
:lol2:

Yupp I want a NEW DuraBux truck for $10,000, but ..........it ain't gonna happen!!! :damnit1:
About as true as it gets, except I want the durabux for $9,999.99:lol:

About as true as it gets, except I want the durabux for $9,999.99:lol:

I have seen DMax crate engines (or ones out of wreckers) for around $6K on that auction site.

-Rob :)

I have seen DMax crate engines (or ones out of wreckers) for around $6K on that auction site.

-Rob :)
Except I want a new suburban wrapped around it, I like pickups but I've gotten atatched to keepin things inside out of the elements(totin the whole family is a plus to:lol: ).

Except I want a new suburban wrapped around it, I like pickups but I've gotten atatched to keepin things inside out of the elements(totin the whole family is a plus to:lol: ).
Yeah, what he said :ro)

500 to 600 out of a 6.5? hahahaha and for 4K funnier....
get a dmax and be done with it.
unless you are willing to live with 300-400hp and a lot of time and money and unreliablity issues...IMO:funnypost :funnypost

Here Mr TL see if this helps you

http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=664642&convertTo=USD

I doubt even 300 rwhp is possible and to get as close to that as possible 4 g'swill not cut it.
If you need that kind of power, then go with the cummins. I bet you could find one for 3-4 grand in great shape and then the mounts and adapter will cost you 800 or so , intercooler, regardless of which motor you install fuel plate, injectors and the turbo and your there 500hp at the wheels.

IIRC Bill Heath was pushing some serious HP out of a 6.2 years back. It required a lot of modification and those older trucks had alot more room to work with... If you want 500-600 HP (big difference there even) you had better find a 5.9 cummins, twins, modded P-pump, and a beefed up tranny/drivetrain combo. Add a body lift, better intercooler, and a lot of labor to that and it might work for ya. I think even if it can be done with a 6.5 it won't hold up for long.

I have serious doubts that a 6.5 engine is even capable, let alone able to stand, power outputs of that magnitude. Indirect injected 6.5 and 500HP??? Not gonna happen.

Peninsulars highest output engine is only 400 at the flywheel, and thats twin turbos and seriously worked over fuel and induction. It might be possible, for a minute:eek: .

I was looking thru the old car auto trader the other day and was struck by how many people stick a cam in a small block nova and say it's got 450 horsepower. I'm increasingly convinced people don't understand what it takes to create serious horsepower.

In terms of diesel engine horsepower my uncle hauled brick for a living and his Kenworth was fixed with a flatbed, it's own crane and hauled a trailer loaded with brick as well as brick on the flat deck. This was a big heavy truck. 350 horsepower engine.

I think you'd be lucky to get a good stock rebuild out of 4k.

I have serious doubts that a 6.5 engine is even capable, let alone able to stand, power outputs of that magnitude. Indirect injected 6.5 and 500HP??? Not gonna happen.

TDG, I bet it could be done with enough MONEY..........maybe it would cost $100-150,000 but I bet it could be done until the damn thing blows but it would a be a :frankenst of an engine.

Heck and for $10,000 I want the truck new with the DuraBux in it, if your gonna dream, dream big!!!! :smoke2:

Budget carefully if under taking. Spend only $3900.00. The remaining $100 can be invested in the tow truck and bushel basket for parts strune behind you. ;) This undertaking will require an undertaker in the end.

For that amount of money, you could couple two 6.5's together and safely be at 400 hp.

Will a detriot 8V72 fit in there?

http://peninsulardiesel.com/index.html

here is what i have found

thanks for all the input fellas. you never know unless you ask. i just dont have the time to set on hear and read every thread, so i kinda feel a bit behind with some of the comments made, again this is how i learn more about my diesel addiction.

i think for 4-5K i could have a nice motor that would last me a good 300K miles more on this ole ride.

the good things i have for me now in the truck at this time:
heads are good
crank is good
rest of drive train is fine at the moment

with another motor on the stand to tear down and rebuild, i think would be the best way to go about it. keeping it realistic and in the right frame of mind and budget.

i guess if i was to play around and build a 500HP - 600HP motor for fun, with a winning lotto ticket setting in the bank for budget control (i mean millions, why not right?), you bet i would have one....and another for a back up! LOL

thanks again for the input fellas

In general terms...I don't think you can buy 400 reliable horsepower, in any engine, for less than $10,000.

Lots of engines can be tweaked to put out big horsepower but making them last more than a 100,000 miles as well is questionable.

When I was a apprenticing in the 80s I used to work at a performance car shop and we would do this cam-carb-intake-header package for small block engines, lots of 305 gms because they were wiping cams out all the time anyway. All these engines probably got an extra 100 horsepower but they didn't last another 100,000 miles.