6.5TD Project Ideas

I ran across the following image recently while searching the archive for images I need for another video project. The following image was sent to me by member Russ Newton some years ago of his late 1990s (I think 1996) 6.5 Suburban. As I recall, Russ had restored/rebuilt his favorite vehicle... It's beautiful! It's the GM red I like and it has a gray interior.

https://www.thedieselpageforums.com/...1&d=1732908931

I can't help thinking what I would do if I found a Suburban as nice as this one - and it became a new project for The Diesel Page... A couple of ideas...

1- I think that if I could locate a nice "599" block, another set of small port cylinder heads and a DB2-4911... and many other items, I'd be inclined to build a fuel economy 6.5 powered family cruiser. Maybe install a TH700R4 (it's a little better fuel economy automatic than the 4L80-E, and it wouldn't require a TCM). Maybe 3.42 differential gearing to get the engine RPM at the right speed for max fuel economy. A DB equipped 6.5 would be able to deal with home brewed bio-diesel (or alternative fuels) better than a new DS pump.

2- Or, put together another Duramax 6600 project, but this one would run a 4L80-E or 4L85-E. The engine would be an L5P (latest gen) but modified to use 2006 LBZ fuel injection (if that's possible). I recently ran across a bunch of info about GM Powertrain's initial testing of the Duramax in GMT-400 trucks using the 4L80-E back in year 1998.

What do you think? I'll contact Russ, and see what he thinks, and ask him to bring us up to date on his Suburban... ;)

Jim