18 to 1 6.5 crate engine vs lb7 duramax

[Vin82k3500]

I have been pondering a serious thought on a swap I built my dream truck 6 years ago and tossed a 4.3 v6 in it to get it on the road so i could enjoy it well I got 300k miles of great service out of it before the ol girl swallowed an intake valve on the way home one night so I have recently pulled a 6.2 from a half ton I drove daily will be back on the road soon been doing some other upgrades so my serious question is in a couple years I am considerring retireing to hot shotting and I plan to do so with this truck and maybey for the sake of all the other poeple who cant stand a slow poke especially a slow poke hauling a trailer I really like the simplicity of the 6.2/6.5 I have put serious thought into investing in a peninsular crate or amg/gep optimizer 6.5 engine my goal 300 hp/550lbft torque running nv4500 and want to keep it that way autos are for the wifes truck. but anyway have you priced these engines lately im looking at anywere from 8 to 13 grand then still need to buy an intercooler looking at some serious dough for that power dont say 12 valve cummins I did that before the v6 gas the noise was to much dont get me wrong the engine was great just not on the interstate everyday unles you drove with ear pulgs my serios consideration is a duramax ive seen 3 swaps very nice clean most everything working with both new and original clusters its least powerful form it has all the power i want its gonna get exhaust and intake modes when it goes in from the start along with gages so if i wanted more power a programer would more then suit my needs if any and I can get donors for far less then a 300 hp 6.5dont get me wrong I like the simplicity of the 6.5 but im thinking wich swap is more practical im talking maybey 4 grand for engine and fuel tank pcm intecooler and all assescories vs 8 to 13 for just engine

[Edahall]

I'm surprised that you found the Cummins loud. Was it a 24 valve Cummins and was the muffler removed? I have 2 Suburbans. The 1982 Suburban has the 6.2 diesel and the 1990 Suburban has a VE pump Cummins. The Suburban with the Cummins is definitely quieter than the 6.2L especially in the cabin. I have never driven a P pump Cummins so I can't comment but they're definitely louder.

[Vin82k3500]

the cummins was a 12 valve its clatter was very loud and as was the exhaust I have 5 inch stacks no mufflers it was bone jaring at highway speeds after an hour of highway driving my ears would be ringing my 6.2 liter is very quiet almost as quiet as a small block it has very little clatter that is almost un noticable with the hood shut and as for the exhaust it sounds like a small block and in the cabing at highway speeds nothing in the cabin but wind noise no engine sounds can hear a little exhaust but very minor I am not sure if there is something wrong with my 6.2 that makes it this quiet but it sounds like a duramax at idle thats how quiet it is and I have not seen a 12 valve cummins that quiet at an idle I did later swap on a streight trough muffler a dynomax ultraflow it only made the cummins make more bass and it eats almost all of the 6.2 n/a s bark leaving only a nice smooth powerfull and soft tone no one believes its a diesel till i open the hood and well its stock and my cummins had a list of modds a mile long p 7100 ip #22 delivery valves 150 hp injectors holset hx 50 dont remember the number torquplate or the exact specs on my banks intercooler but i really didnt like this truck and it was a 98 and if it was that much of an obnoxious ride in a 98 dodge that was built to acommodate this engine I coulnt ever imagine running on the interstate 130 miles a day in an 82 but the 6.2 was very pleasent in the 82 as I said like a small block chevy as far as cabin noise if I had to drive more than an hour it didnt matter what i was towing if it meant id have to beat the snot out of it to keep it pulling 70mph id take my old 3500 with the v6 because it was worth it for the nicer ride and creature comforts that the dodge work truck didnt have at least mine didnt

[Vin82k3500]

I know I will have to check the forums on towing with all the engines I may not really need a 300 hp engine I will see how the 6.2 does and goe from there it runs good just need to fix a few more of mother natures abuse on it before i put her back on the road

[Edahall]

I don't think you'll be very happy with a 6.2 diesel in the engine compartment of a hot shot truck. It would really limit you on what you could tow efficiently. The 6.2 is an excellent engine but trying to get lots of power out of it is a recipe for disaster. It's also very fatiguing to drive all day with an engine that's constantly struggling and running at its max.

The AMG 6.5 can handle a lot more boost and make better power but it's expensive.

Before discounting Cummins due to noise, go try out a 88-93 Dodge with a Cummins and original exhaust. The VE pump that was used in those years keeps the engine real quiet. Also, like any other engine, they need a good muffler to keep the interior noise down and eliminate annoying exhaust drone. I have two Chevy's that have be retrofitted with VE pump Cummins. Both definitely have less diesel clatter than the 6.2. Noise is definitely not an issue. The reason people like the newer Cummins P7100 is because the potential for it making a lot more power. However, the VE pump is still very capable of developing 400 hp and breaking every component that's behind it.

[Vin82k3500]

I wasnt planning to use the 6.2 for hot shotting in the future I agree I think id cause some angry poeple in baltimore it is nice I will have to look into the ve pump and you couldnt be more right about that p7100 breaking stuff i recently broke the rear end and the frame at the truck pulls I really like the v8 sound and yes the gep 6.5 is rediculessly priced when i can buy donor trucks with duramax from 2500 to 4500 in my local area depending on code and oe hp rating I have seen the cummins swaps in a few here and i was not really impressed they looked like red neck jobs with hacked frames and jury rigged acessories I have recently swapped an lly in a pickup for a buddy of mine that is a toy I made plates to bolt to oe motor mounts put a small dent in the down pipe where it clears the frame used pedals and fuel tank and some assecories from the donor but the end result was impressive and I really like the v8 sound alkthough I really like the simplicity of the 6.2/6.5 I will look at a few more cummins swaps I like what i see in your photo thats junk ram really has left a bad taste in my mouth for anything to do with them