Feature Worthy?

GM's forgotten diesel SUVs

Posted January 10 2011 10:24 AM by Jason Sands
Filed under: Features, Editor's Blog

Ok, so who wants to see more info about GM's old 6.2/6.5 trucks? We ran into this cool old army Blazer recently, complete with a hopped-up Banks engine.

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The owner (pictured) runs it on veggie oil, and has for years with almost no issues. We have a feeling it could do pretty well off-road also. Well, what do you say? Any 6.2/6.5L fans out there?

Reader Comments:

1. Very cool. I've been thinking about 6.2L's all morning actually. I'll blog about it in a little while.

Mike McGlothlin - Posted January 10 2011 10:45 AM

2. That's perfect for Diesel Power.

jason.thompson - Posted January 10 2011 08:21 PM

3. yah I'd like to see it too.

444getsitdone - Posted January 10 2011 09:32 PM

4. Im trying not to be a (***edit)...but I think its my lot in life, haha...ha.

You lost me at Banks Jason......sorry.

Seriously Banks= Over priced red trash. High prices for mediocre parts at best for stuff you could get cheaper AND better from somewhere else (or just make yourself, lol). THEE most errogant and annoying ads EVER created!! Ever... They stay in business buy putting more money in there puff piece ads than they do in there actual products and hook the newbies with there flashyness (its a word now).

But hey, you guys get a TON of money from there ads in your mag dont you??

6.2L/6.5L GM's....ehhh.. Tons of problems and they barely have the power to turn there own tires... But they are simple as rocks and run longish I guess.

Sure why not, good filler for a slow month.

SmokenGun - Posted January 10 2011 09:47 PM

5. No, ya know what Jason, dont waste the pages.

I really really liked the preventative maintence/ wear and tear repair aritcle Mike did on his 7.3L Powerstroke. You should do some article like that for 94-98 12-valve Cummins :)!!

Some preliminary ideas:

-Replacing block heater elements or just the cord (my '97's doesnt work, lol).
-testing grid heater operation
-replacing fuel shut-off (down) solenoids-complete unit. Or just the boot or relay.
-rebuilding vaccum pumps
-rebuilding starters
-removing the fuel heater, etc.
-replacing the junk factory fuel hose/ steel lines from tank to filter/engine. The factory stuff isnt even diesel rated from what I heard.
-replacing alternators
-replacing OFV's (maybe try some of Tork Teknologies custom OFV's- check em out Jason!)
-installing a fuel pressure gauge, snubber, and maybe the Isspro isolator
-diagnosing air leaks (everyone has them at some point).
-making your own torque-converter lock-up switch (I think TST has instructions). Mention stock trans. shafts could be at risk with a TC lock-up switch.
-belt replacement
-brakes, etc.

Im sure im forgetting something. These trucks (12-valve trucks) have tons of random small problems. These things were hacked together with what ever was lying around the factory it seems. There are tons of variations in specific things (parts) that should be uniform for a specific year range. Its baffaling sometimes...

SmokenGun - Posted January 10 2011 10:16 PM

6. I'd love to see more on those 6.2's. I want to get a couple scrap HMMWV's for test rigs for some ideas I have, and they're running 6.2's.

Also, military surplus has a ton of 6.2's available; I often see 6 for auction for less than $1000 total.

ScarredIntellect - Posted January 10 2011 11:11 PM

7. Sheesh SmokenGun, tell us what you really think about Banks! You gotta remember though, this rig has been this way for years, at the time of the turbo kit, there may have been nothing else on the market, and most people can't just fab stuff up like that. As for the 12v article, I like it!! A lot of the stuff you mentioned does need replacing; oh well at least it doesn't blow head gaskets lke 6.0L trucks. Oh wait....mine just did LOL.

Now let's get back on topic about 6.2L/6.5L stuff.

Jason Sands - Posted January 11 2011 10:26 AM

8. Ya okay. I suppose for an IDI Banks is tops! :). Dynomite Diesel injectors are my next target (among many more), haha. For 12-valves at least. Who doesn’t love re-boxed marine 370's that aren’t set-up AT ALL for high prices!! Woo! Sarcasm… DDP does have some nice DV’s I hear.

A series of 12-valve preventative maintenance articles would be great!! No shortage there, especially since the youngest 12-valve truck is 13 years old!! CumminsForum.com has all the "problem article" ideas you could even dream of (or have nightmares about).

You blew you HG Jason, sorry to hear that man. That sucks! I’m going to need a LOT more info. HG's, head bolts, head studs, O-rings, fire rings, etc are BIG talk among the CF.com heavy weights. Just studs, O-rings and bolts, O-rings and studs, fire rings on daily drivers, different bolt and stud strengths, etc, etc, etc. It gets heavy quick. Lots of great technical threads on CF.com. An article or two on this subject would be great. Maybe you could talk to all the high quality diesel shops and see what they all say for the article. Like Scheid, J&H, Left Coast Diesel, Browns Diesel, Fleece, etc.

So what was your head set-up at the time of blowing?? Boost? Studs or bolts, O-ringed or no? Gasket used? Thoughts on the Marine application 0.020 gasket (think I have the size right, but not sure)??

It’s funny how one 12-valve can see numbers (boost psi, egts, etc.) that are thought to be CRAZY and be fine. While an other truck can see normal numbers and fail. These things are such individuals it’s almost creepy, lol.

Something else that needs a good spot lighting in the 12-valve world: INJECTORS!! The customers are finally waking up to the crap most companies sell. It’s a HUGE taboo subject on CumminsForum.com. The truly knowledgeable people are exposing the junk most 12-valve injector companies sell and those companies don’t like the truth. People are getting banned on CF.com because of it.

An article to educate people on the basics of 12-valve injectors would be a good thing I think. This article is a great start: http://www.competitiondiesel.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88662. Thank you Weston!

Proper injector talk please. NO more 90hp injector BS LOL. When companies advertise horsepower gain ratings for 12-valve it’s truly hilarious. They are always BS, since tuning and overall set-up makes the difference. Injector hole count and size. 5x0.09’s (I think stock 180 pump injector size), 5x0.10’s, 5x0.012’s, 5x0.014’s, etc. 7x0.10’s, 7x0.12’s, etc. VCO or SAC nozzles. Pop off pressure (BAR), spray angle, springs, etc, etc, etc.

The actual GOOD injectors companies I would ever recommend are: Scheid, SDX, New Era, or Contagious Diesel injectors made (set-up) by Lee (all the rave on CF.com, but since he is not a site sponsor talk about them is all but banned). I can give you his email, Jason, if you would like.

SO many people run junk injectors that don’t pop at the same pressure, have the wrong spray pattern, have chitty springs, etc. But their new injectors make a little more power so they think there “pretty good”. Chitty injectors make more smoke, less power, poor fuel mileage, a non-smooth engine, a lope idle, etc. Some of the idiots just want more smoke….AHHHH!!!!

If they only knew what a good injector set was…

I’ve don’t quite a bit of research.

Just a ran for consideration :)

SmokenGun - Posted January 11 2011 02:43 PM

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