New engine for the family truckster!

[njsteve]

I just splurged $8 grand+ and bought a brand new engine from the military HUMVEE assembly line at AM/GEP (via Peninsular Diesel, who have a contract with them).

It's the upgraded 6.5. Not the Optimizer that GM sells over the counter...or used to as they recently discontinued the exact engine for my 1995 model but still offer the other years. This is the 2017 higher-er output military version with super heavy duty block, forged crank, rods, low compression (18 to 1 anodized, instead of 22 to 1 standard pistons) and upgraded cylinder heads. The lower compression pistons allow for much higher boost without causing much higher internal heat and strain.

I bought this 1995 GMC K2500 diesel Suburban brand new back in the Spring of '95. You may recall the fun I had when the headgaskets blew during the MCACN trip in 2013. The headgasket replacement lasted another three years and 15,000 miles but the recent oil analysis was showing some major lead and tin values in the oil - to the tune of 17 times the maximum recommended standard. Every time I'd talk to the oil analysis techs, they kept asking if this was from a running engine or an autopsy? When I told them it was running fine they asked if it had any oil pressure and whether it was making angry, loud, unnatural noises? In fact it has been sounding the same way for the past 22 years and has never been stronger!

And you know as well as I do that a great running engine is always a bad sign that catastrophe is just around the corner. I even towed the SD455 and 24' trailer with it last weekend and it ran flawlessly.

So obviously it was time to go big or stay home.



Here's the oil analysis: