How much do you like your 6.5

[winemaker]

I just turned 350,000 km last week on a 1000 km trip. Anyone else feel like they know the truck by feel? This truck feels like it's got a lot of life left. She fires right up, runs strong and smooth.
My buddy Grant, who was a member a couple years ago and told me of the value of TDP, had a 94 3500 dually extracab 5 spd when I had a Dodge cummins with no proper hitch. His truck had the Heath TurboMaster, MaxE Tork and 3.5" exhaust when I borrowed it to haul my 1979 27' Travel Trailer 500 kms up the Coquihalla. That sucker ran like a hotrod!
A couple years later I sold the low-mile Dodge in favour of my high-mile Chev and I couldn't be happier.
This is a truck that I could grow old with.....unless I can talk my wife into a crewcab down the road!
Brett

[More Power]

I like Robyn's idea for a thread like this. All too often, the problems people have overshadow the good stories we know are out there. I received the following email message today from a fellow 6.5 owner that I'd like to share. Jim

I was reading a few things on your page about your 6.5TD power project, and I read that you put 200,000 miles on it in seven years. I love my 6.5, it’s a 97 3500 dually, and in 10 years I have put 425,000 miles on mine. I've only replaced glow plugs, filters, one starter, batteries, fuel pump (not the injector pump) and the radiator (took a hit from a rock one day). It still runs like a champ and I'll run it until it hits the ground.

Sincerely,
Rob from NC

Rob might send a few photos. If he does, I'll post them...

[KallyI]

I wrote this about my truck last September, here in TDP:

I made a few changes to my truck this year, I completed the intercooler and gauge installation, put a 3" crossover pipe in, a 3" turbo downpipe, and Kennedy's boost controller.
Wow!!!, what a difference pulling a load. Places where the PCM pulled fuel, The engine temp went up, and Lord knows what my EGT was, plus I lost about 25-35 mph, (belching black smoke), I can now go up, and maintain my speed, or possibly lose 3-5 mph,, with no smoke. Some hills I can even gain speed if I want or need to. I've put about 4,000 miles on in this configuration, and I am very pleased. I haven't seen an EGT temperature over 1000

I still feel that way about it!

[Robyn]

Maybe we can make this thread STICKY (Hint Hint)

This thread so far is doing just what I thought it might.

So many happy people out there that own 6.5 powered rigs and drive the wheels off of them.

If GM offered them again as an option I'll bet there would be folks standing in line to get one. Me

Robyn

[moondoggie]

Good Day!

"If GM offered them again as an option I'll bet there would be folks standing in line to get one." In a Sub - yessir. Well, after someone else had put ~ 150K miles on it, so I could afford it.


Blessings!

(signature in previous post)

[Turbine Doc]

Love it so much bought a second 6.5 so now I have 2 C1500 Burb & K1500 truck

[ercaduceus]

Love it so much bought a second 6.5 so now I have 2 C1500 Burb & K1500 truck

I agree. I like my truck so much that I'm thinking about getting a short wheelbase SUV (Blazer/Yukon/Tahoe) with a 6.5 for my wife. If the 6.5 is such a horrible engine, why are there so many around?