Australian 4WD Action | Forum - View topic - Chev 6.5L Diesel Engine Tips and Tricks
There is a decent amount of reading matter here if you want to go through it all.
I have a 6.5 (naturally aspirated) and I don't think I'll ever bother with adding a turbo. It does everything I want it to do now, without the added hassles associated with a turbo and intercooler. I say "hassles" because there have been some issues of overheating in the turbo'd engines, but I don't think it's all that prevalent.
Let's get one or 2 things straight.
Firstly I do love my big old Chev.
Secondly, they are NOT everyone's cup of tea. They are a big, heavy, slow revving lump. They're like a class full of 14 year old boys (ie: they'll happily pull all day long)
I often joke that mine has great acceleration; I can beat a B-double in a traffic light drag just about every time.!!!!! hahahaha
Not sure how much value you can place on the GROWL factor, but jeez they sound the business (in my opinion)!!!!
Anyway, very expensive to do a conversion....long term project; you need to be sure you're gunna keep the rig for at least 5 to 10 years cos you'll never make your money back if you try to sell it.