6.5 ltr chev Desiel? realy worth it?

[tuff4runner]

hi my mate is looking at puting a 6,5 trubo chevy desiel in his 80 series his only option is desiel as thats what he likes lol!! is it worth the money to put one in!! and are thay realy that good any advice is good!! bad or good reports as well cheers

[6.5 rangie]

awsome motor, reall reliable, heaps of power for there size, great economy (sarcasm)
tel him not to bother, have a search on here first, very dissapointing motor, better off working the diesel in his 80

[dave_str]

As Rangie said put a better motor in.

Being a Toyota Id go the 1HDT.

Dave.

[rockcrawler31]

Those motors are designed for a vehicle that had twice the frontal area for cooling and three times the radiator coolant capacity, they were also designed to go all day long while being shot at and abused mercilessly by uncaring soldiers, hence bugger all horsepower for their size.

For the kind of coin you'd be talking to iron out ALL the bugs i'd be going a 1HD-FTE or perhaps even looking for a wrecked 1VD-FTE V8

Theres more cost to the conversion than just the kit and donk. He'll forever be throwing money at cooling, parts, suspension, parts, cooling, cooling, cooling, cooling.

getting the idea?

[KiwiBacon]

Those motors are designed for a vehicle that had twice the frontal area for cooling and three times the radiator coolant capacity, they were also designed to go all day long while being shot at and abused mercilessly by uncaring soldiers, hence bugger all horsepower for their size.

It appears the military Hummers get their engines changed more often than the oil.

[guchev]

He'll forever be throwing money at cooling, parts, suspension, parts, cooling, cooling, cooling, cooling.

getting the idea?

Rubbish. I've had one in my Patrol for 3 years and 60000km and towing 2 ton of van. If it's done properly it's not an issue. Cooling no problem IF you put right rad in. IMO most of the problems with these engines are because they are installed in a half arsed manner.

[craz3d]

He'll forever be throwing money at cooling, parts, suspension, parts, cooling, cooling, cooling, cooling.

getting the idea?

Rubbish. I've had one in my Patrol for 3 years and 60000km and towing 2 ton of van. If it's done properly it's not an issue. Cooling no problem IF you put right rad in. IMO most of the problems with these engines are because they are installed in a half arsed manner.

How's your fuel economy looking?

[6.5 rangie]

He'll forever be throwing money at cooling, parts, suspension, parts, cooling, cooling, cooling, cooling.

getting the idea?

Rubbish. I've had one in my Patrol for 3 years and 60000km and towing 2 ton of van. If it's done properly it's not an issue. Cooling no problem IF you put right rad in. IMO most of the problems with these engines are because they are installed in a half arsed manner.

And what did you pay 'to do it properly', i'm guessing around $15k+ (i know what it cost me to do mine), for that money you could work a 1hd-fte and get more power, better economy, and much better relaibility, and a much more driveable vehicle.

[Wozza244]

Yep X2 on the dont bother!! Bragging rights are the best thing about the 6.5, nothing but problems with them and for the $$$ and effort spent definately not worth it!

[sierrajim]

He'll forever be throwing money at cooling, parts, suspension, parts, cooling, cooling, cooling, cooling.

getting the idea?

Rubbish. I've had one in my Patrol for 3 years and 60000km and towing 2 ton of van. If it's done properly it's not an issue. Cooling no problem IF you put right rad in. IMO most of the problems with these engines are because they are installed in a half arsed manner.

Going out on a limb here, can you possibly explain all of the issues that they have when fitted in a Chev Silverado then? Is this because GM installed them incorrectly?

The 6.5 turbo diesel is a diesel engine for the sake of having a diesel. They don't develop much torque or horsepower, there aren't many aftermarket upgrades due to their reliability issues and their bulky.

As said above you'd be better throwing a couple of dollars at a 1HDT which would be the cheaper option, most likely more powerful, efficient and reliable. It also wouldn't require engineering AFIK.

[lump_a_charcoal]

My 1HD-FTE goes like a scalded cat, in stock form.
With a chip it would absolutely haul ass!

[toughnut]

What about a duramax 6.6?

http://www.youtube.com/user/heathls1

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26125

Droooooooooooollllll

[Chucky]

I have a 6.5 N/a in my 60.

I wouldn't spend the money to put it in if I was paying for the conversion.
Down low the thing is awesome. Off road she will idle up just about anything and is quite responsive.
One road, again, down low it's great. But get it about 80 and theres not much there. You'll still be shuffling gears when going up the big hills.
I haven't had any issues with cooling personally, but I do run two thermos and the engine fan, in a very big after market rad.

As said, I wouldn't buy the engine and fit it personaly, but now that I have the engine, I would consider putting it into another body when the rusts away....which it slowly is :(

Gotta admit thou, nothing sounds better than the 6.5L through twin 3" pipes. And when it's echoing around a valley while off road it always brings a smile to my face.

[KiwiBacon]

How's your fuel economy looking?

You mean "fuel consumption". All that heat they have problems shedding, well that's all your expensive diesel not going to crank power.

[Chucky]

How's your fuel economy looking?

You mean "fuel consumption". All that heat they have problems shedding, well that's all your expensive diesel not going to crank power.

My 60 uses about 14.5l/100km.
Thats with going from Brisbane eastern suburbs to the CBD each day during peak hour.

On the highway it depends on how fast you want to go.
But I have had it down to 11l/100km just cruising at 95km/hr with camper on the back.

[jaztaz]

I have 2 mates up here that spent between 20-25K each on 6.5 conversions (done by a WA mob south of Perth) & they both reckon it was a complete waste of money.

Use way too much fuel, one dropped a valve (supposedly rebuilt engine before conversion by said WA mob) after 8000ks, starter motor rubbing on diff centre, etc.

The only upside was one of the guys effortlessly tows his 6mt boat 540ks each way to Exmouth & back on 100kmhr. Oh forgot, his supposed rebuilt 5 speed gbox only lasted 14000ks.

Personally I wouldn't do it, go a 1HDFT or 1HDFTE. Probably get it done for around the same price as the Chev.

[vanbox]

What about a duramax 6.6?

http://www.youtube.com/user/heathls1

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26125

Droooooooooooollllll

Costs a little more than the 6.5

[Tiny]

I love my 6.2 but wouldn't spend the coin dropping one in myself

[ISUZUROVER]

An isuzu 6BD1-T (5.8L) or 6HE1-T (7.1L) would be a great conversion in a cruiser or patrol. I am surprised nobody has done it - surely it would fit?

6.2 Na - best power and torque specs:
107 kW @ 3,600 rpm
348 N·m @ 2,000 rpm

6.5 Turbo - best power and torque specs:
160 kW @ 3,200 rpm
597 N·m @ 1,800 rpm

6HE1-T
170kW @ 2800
670 N.m @ 1700

6BD1-T (no intercooler)
130 kW @ 2800
470 N.m @ 1800

Both the Isuzu engines can be tuned for a LOT more without any loss of reliability.

[KiwiBacon]

An isuzu 6BD1-T (5.8L) or 6HE1-T (7.1L) would be a great conversion in a cruiser or patrol. I am surprised nobody has done it - surely it would fit?

It has been done. The guy who fitted the Isuzu to my rangie did at least 2 landcruisers with 6BD1T's in the early 90's.
Enough torque to break everything apparently and very smooth doing it.

[Nat84]

Yep X2 on the dont bother!! Bragging rights are the best thing about the 6.5, nothing but problems with them and for the $$$ and effort spent definately not worth it!

X3 old man has one in this 60 spent 4500 geting the fuel injectors and injector pump rebuilt and cleaned for it to crack the heads 2500 later good as new but know the bottom end has gone...engine was rebuilt befor old man got it due to block cracking... got it 5 yrs ago.....

[THE-Burger-Ring]

hahaha i always smile when i hear of people wanting those shit heap 6.5's

[rockcrawler31]

What about a duramax 6.6?

http://www.youtube.com/user/heathls1

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26125

Droooooooooooollllll

Costs a little more than the 6.5

16 grand for a donk and allison box combo second hand from the states. 2 grand for killalux to do a loom, leaves another 2 or 3 grand for random bits and bobs. You end up with a way better engine, way more HP and torque, tuneability, lighter and a gearbox built for the job.

[vanbox]

What about a duramax 6.6?

http://www.youtube.com/user/heathls1

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26125

Droooooooooooollllll

Costs a little more than the 6.5

16 grand for a donk and allison box combo second hand from the states. 2 grand for killalux to do a loom, leaves another 2 or 3 grand for random bits and bobs. You end up with a way better engine, way more HP and torque, tuneability, lighter and a gearbox built for the job.

I wish it was that easy! Its definitely not that cheap! And I even got my motor and box landed for 11k

[bj on roids]

Toyota V8!!!

[BryanGUIV]

x 50 on the 6.5s being g@y

[killalux]

What about a duramax 6.6?

http://www.youtube.com/user/heathls1

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26125

Droooooooooooollllll

Costs a little more than the 6.5

16 grand for a donk and allison box combo second hand from the states. 2 grand for killalux to do a loom, leaves another 2 or 3 grand for random bits and bobs. You end up with a way better engine, way more HP and torque, tuneability, lighter and a gearbox built for the job.

whole lot more than 2-3 grand in bits and bobs to fit it in there, but they are deffinatly worth doing.
Steve

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

The figures above for power and torque arent much more then a 1HDFT??
especially if you fit a 3" exhaust, intercooler and snorkel.