1996 Chevy 6.5

Walter Buller · Aug 6, 2013

I know a man who owns a 1996 Silverado 4D Club Cab 4WD w 250K on the 6.5 diesel, automatic w OD. Straight body. Clean interior. Gooseneck hitch in bed. Used it to haul around his 33" camper. Says he got 14mpg. He parked it 4 years ago when he moved. Been in same spot ever since. Rats built a nest on top of motor & chewed some of the wiring. I"m considering using it as a backup for hauling tractors if and when my "93 Dodge w a 5.9 Cummins w 400K on it ever quits. I"m thinking the Dodge body will fall apart before the motor quits. Maybe I could transfer the Cummins motor to the Chevy, and put .355 gears in the rear end to improve fuel mileage. What do you guys think about this, and what do you think would be a fair offering price?

Bob · Aug 7, 2013

I'm a Chevy guy and own/have owned quite a few 6.2's and 6.5's, but a rat-eaten 6.5 would NOT be a good backup unit for your mech-injected Cummins-powered Dodge.

Unless you are familiar with the Stanadyne DS-2 fuel system they used, or want to take a LOT of time to learn, you CANNOT afford to own one, ESPECIALLY with chewed wiring 'cuz having a "pro" fumble with it will BREAK you!!!

Walter Buller · Aug 7, 2013

Thanks Bob. I do have a couple of excellent mechanic friends who would help me real cheap. But even so, what do you think about my idea of putting a 5.9 Cummins into this Chevy? I know nothing about the Stanadyne DS-2 fuel system. What is so complicated about it?

FC Andy · Aug 7, 2013

I have my doubts about him pulling a 33 foot camper and getting 14 mpg... Although, I have been getting around 12 with my gooseneck and a 5,000 tractor on the deck (total trailer weight of about 10,500 lbs.)

I think I'd look into a wiring harness for the truck first, unless the wiring damage is limited to only a FEW wires. You're looking at a money pit no matter which way you go. The Cummins Conversion is popular, I think everything you need can be bought, but won't be cheap. Then you're putting a 400,000+ mile motor in a truck...
Of course, we all know what a new truck costs. -Andy

farmer boy · Aug 8, 2013

I don't think a 6.5 is much of a backup for a 5.9. It would be expensive to mate the engine to the 4L80E, though not impossible, and if the engine is stock, it shouldn't overpower the transmission. Your best bet is to get an NV4500 and put that in. The only gears that are much good for a (that) diesel are 3.73 and 4.10. Go higher than 3.73 and you'll run out of power, lower than 4.10 and you'll run out of rpm's. Different rear gears won't do much for mileage while towing, but it would make a difference at higher speeds when not towing.

JDemaris · Aug 8, 2013

There's no such thing as a "DS2" injection pump (as far as I know). Someone is getting numbers and letters confused. 6.2s and mechanically injected 6.5s use DB2 pumps. Civilian 6.5s from 1994 and up use electronic DS4 injection pumps. The new military 6.5s are still mechanically injected.

It took Stanadyne and GM many years to work the "failure" bugs out of the DS4 electronic system. Thus the bad rep. It finally became fairly reliable but expensive. I"ll take a mechanical pump anytime.

I do not believe that 6.5 got 14 MPG pulling that camper. I"ve had several 6.5s and over twenty 6.2s. Just pulling a 21 foot camper I tended to get around 13 MPG. My Ford 7.3s about the same and my 5.9 Cummins 2-4 MPG better.

I know of several Cummins 3.9s and 5.9s that got attached to GM 4L80E tranmissions. Took some work and I'm not sure it was worth the bother - but it certainly can be done.

Walter Buller · Aug 9, 2013

Thanks jdemaris.

Walter Buller · Aug 9, 2013

Thanks farmer boy. I think I'll offer the seller scrap price, maybe $500, take it or leave it, and plan to leave it like it is, with no conversion. If I manage to get a little use out of it before scrapping it I'll be ahead of the game. It's a shame though. It's a real clean, good looking truck.

T in NE · Aug 9, 2013

Roll fresh mains in her, new oil pump, tab the KDP, and it'll be good for another 400,000. 366 governor spring and timing spacer from H&S for drivability. The rest of the truck is a whole nother matter.

Bob · Aug 31, 2013

You are CORRECT, JD, (of course, as ALWAYS), I got the model designation WRONG, which is UNIMPORTANT in this scenario, 'cuz I told him the EXACT truth, in that there's a WHOLE LOT of $$$$ and heartbreak ahead for him if he buys it and has to pay someone else to make it "run".

Which is the WHOLE point of this thread.

1996 Chevy 6.5

Walter Buller

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Bob

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Walter Buller

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FC Andy

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farmer boy

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JDemaris

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Walter Buller

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Walter Buller

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T in NE

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Bob

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