“The 6.9” project thread

[Laine D]

Well I figured I would kinda use this as a way to compile all my work and really just a way to look back at some good memories of my truck. So here is my truck.

it started out as a high mileage 6.9 with an ats 088 turbo and a c6 automatic. It wasnt running at all when I got it. The first thing we did was put new glow plugs in it, and new batteries. After a couple minutes of cranking and bleeding air we were able to get it running and it wasn’t running terrible. I drove it like this for probably a year. All I did during that time is put some used tires on it, change the oil, injectors and IP from Napa, and a new radio with some nice speakers.

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[Laine D]

After about a year of driving it how it was, I had discovered that it really liked to use oil. About a gallon every week. The transmission was also it bad shape. My grandpa and I started to make plans to rebuild it. We pulled the engine, I tore it down and sent the heads and block to be machined.
It got bored .020 over and then studded. The heads were completely gone through. Then the turbo was rebuilt by Russ. It was just a full overhaul on everything. Then I found a zf5 from a service truck in one of our family friends’ barn and managed to get it for free. I had it checked out and got new synchros for it.

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[Laine D]

After that I drove it for a while. Took it to homecoming, saved up some money. Then I found a guy parting out a wrecked truck that had the same Dana 50 ttb in the front but everything had been replaced within 5 thousand miles. So I was able to scoop that up for about 200$. Came with new springs, shocks, all the tie rods and even a drop pitman arm. At about the same time I was dealing with a lot of air intrusion issues and decided to pull the bed off and do all the pickup tubes.

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[Laine D]

After that, I found a 2 inch leveling kit for the front end and an add a leaf for the rear end. I also found a really good deal on some wheels and tires so me and my friend made the trip and picked those up. This is how it looked afterwards.

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[Laine D]

For Christmas my grandma got me a new headliner and my parents got me door panels and a dash pad. I am not going to say that I could do any of this without my family. My grandpa always lets me to use his shop, my parents have helped me buy things that have broken, and my friends have helped me fix stuff. It is definitely not a one man show. I am very blessed to have a loving group of people.

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[Laine D]

This summer I finally decided to make some bigger changes. I got a factory turbo kit and a gtx3582r drop on from @Thewespaul along with a bigger pump. I also pulled the engine and fixed some leaks I created when I rebuilt it.

And that’s about it so far. I’m driving it every day. It runs great. It’s to the point where I would take it anywhere and not trip about it being as old as it is.

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[frankenwrench]

Damn good looking bullnose! Your friends, and your family are a blessings to be willing to help like that. You all did a wonderful job on that truck and I'm willing to bet with all that work it will last you a very long time. It should serve you well. I'm willing to bet you all have learned alot along the way. Also willing to bet your no longer the slowest 6.9 in the 916 anymore with the bigger pump and turbo and the extra gear from the zf5!

 

[The_Josh_Bear]

Damn good looking bullnose! Your friends, and your family are a blessings to be willing to help like that. You all did a wonderful job on that truck and I'm willing to bet with all that work it will last you a very long time. It should serve you well. I'm willing to bet you all have learned alot along the way. Also willing to bet your no longer the slowest 6.9 in the 916 anymore with the bigger pump and turbo and the extra gear from the zf5!

Amen! How do you like that fancy turbo/IP compared to that other setup? Whatever you have now will be way better with charge air cooling, when you get around to it. It's a wonderful addition.

 

[Laine D]

Damn good looking bullnose! Your friends, and your family are a blessings to be willing to help like that. You all did a wonderful job on that truck and I'm willing to bet with all that work it will last you a very long time. It should serve you well. I'm willing to bet you all have learned alot along the way. Also willing to bet your no longer the slowest 6.9 in the 916 anymore with the bigger pump and turbo and the extra gear from the zf5!

Man I almost forgot I still have that . It is a lot more enjoyable to do anything with than it used to be.

 

[Laine D]

Amen! How do you like that fancy turbo/IP compared to that other setup? Whatever you have now will be way better with charge air cooling, when you get around to it. It's a wonderful addition.

It is a night and day difference. It’s a lot more drivable and the truck isn’t working near as hard as it was before.

 

[Laine D]

It’s about time to buy some tires. I’d like to use these wheels I used to have on it. I am debating staying with 35’s or going down to a 295/75/16 which is about 33.5 inches. Just can’t decide...

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[Laine D]

Picked up this 7.3 with the intention to do rings, bearings, and studs. Everything looks really good.

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[Laine D]

Pulled the engine to do headgaskets. I ended up making a pretty big mistake when I put this engine together and I left out the little support tabs that go in the 6.9 gaskets. Funny, I did injectors a year ago and noticed that the rear drivers side had some rust on it. I figured it was from my lack of cowl seal. I believe these gaskets have leaking since the start.

With the heads off I noticed that 2 of the pre cups are almost loose. They protrude. I can tap them in very easily. Is this something I need to address carefully or can I use a center punch and tap around the edges to keep it tight?

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[IDIBRONCO]

can I use a center punch and tap around the edges to keep it tight?

You can do that, but I don't think that you would need to go all the way around the pre cups. At the shop I used to work at, we actually used letter stamps for doing this and put an X on top, bottom, and both side. The X would be half and half on the precup and the head.

 

[Laine D]

You can do that, but I don't think that you would need to go all the way around the pre cups. At the shop I used to work at, we actually used letter stamps for doing this and put an X on top, bottom, and both side. The X would be half and half on the precup and the head.

I have those! I’ll do that tomorrow. Thank you for that