OK... you all are making me tired. There is no need to discuss needs vs wants, as we can all see he WANTS a diesel. For what he has told us, I would think the 6.5 he is asking about would work for him, especially since the injection pump has been replaced. Budget here is not huge so I think this is a good option for what he is working with....
1990's GM 6.5 Turbo Diesel???
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Builder
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Maybe it's making you tired, but he came here for advice.
If you want to see something that's REALLY tired, it's that 6.5TD with 220K on it he's considering. Now THAT'S tired!
If you want to see something that's REALLY tired, it's that 6.5TD with 220K on it he's considering. Now THAT'S tired!
L39Builder said:
Let's not start a war over the diesel motor issue. I appreciate all the advice wether it be Pro or Con on this vehicle and other Diesel options that are available. I am pretty sure that one way or another I am going to buy myself a diesel pickup in a one ton class if possible. If not I will have to settle for a 3/4 ton and beef up the springs. The search is on once I sell my 2000 Blazer. Right now I have way too many vehicles that are not being used and will be disposing of them to buy a diesel pickup. I'd sell my gas pickup too right now. Unfortuately I need it for the summer and do not want to be without a tow vehicle for any length of time.
BarryinMN
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JimR said:
Sounds about right. I bought mine with 48K on it 5 years ago & now has 60K. Ran it a bunch to clean up the farm (it has a 4 yard dump box on it) & now sits in the barn and used for occasional towing or hauling jobs. 8'x10' landscape dump box so it's a pickup on steroids. Didn't pay much to buy it & doesn't cost much to keep as insurance is $275 year, DOT's are another $100 for truck & trailer.
Do get alot of comments about when am I gonna sell it, even my cousin wanted the motor for his 3/4T '93 when his needed rebuilding at 300,000 miles + as he had a snowplow on the front of his every Winter.
L39Builder said:
OK.. I guess I misunderstood the first part of this... when u said "whereas a diesel engine could easily go 300-400,000 miles before needing to be replaced." u really meant "whereas a diesel engine (except GM) could easily go 300-400,000 miles before needing to be replaced. I am in know way, shape, or form a fan of this engine... I know two different people who have owned 3 of them total....They worked OK for them, but they are both mechanics of sorts and can work on them too.... for 5,000 miles a year... if he can get 100,000 more miles out of it as u indicated...that's 20 years of service.... for what was it $3,200??.. $160 per year.... I think he can afford some repairs there... There is a reason there is a Dodge in my Av. and my previous pick up was a Powerstroke... I have don't the ability to work on it as JR said he did and me friends have, so I won't have a 6.5.... We agree for the most though...
I still think, that for the money... he can't get hurt too bad on this pick up for his perceived needs...Builder
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rback33 said:OK.. I guess I misunderstood the first part of this... when u said "whereas a diesel engine could easily go 300-400,000 miles before needing to be replaced." u really meant "whereas a diesel engine (except GM) could easily go 300-400,000 miles before needing to be replaced. I am in know way, shape, or form a fan of this engine... I know two different people who have owned 3 of them total....They worked OK for them, but they are both mechanics of sorts and can work on them too.... for 5,000 miles a year... if he can get 100,000 more miles out of it as u indicated...that's 20 years of service.... for what was it $3,200??.. $160 per year.... I think he can afford some repairs there... There is a reason there is a Dodge in my Av. and my previous pick up was a Powerstroke... I have don't the ability to work on it as JR said he did and me friends have, so I won't have a 6.5.... We agree for the most though...
Correct. I have no faith that a 6.5TD would go 250-300,000 without a major overhaul. If it's already got 220 on the ticker, then it would be too close to grenading for my comfort level.
I assumed he didn't want a truck that will have engine problems pretty soon.
If he only drives it a couple thousand a year, then yeah, maybe it's worth a chance, roll the dice, but ya gotta make an observation: Why would a guy sell such a nice truck if he just replaced so many engine parts on it? When someone sells a super nice diesel pickup for $3,200, that tells me something's up. However, If he only pays $3,200, he could get a newly remaned 6.5TD for ~$5,000 so it wouldn't be too bad if he doesn't mind the likely hassle & the downtime.
With 220K on a diesel truck, I'd be looking at a 5.9L or 7.3L to avoid replacing the engine, which could happen at any given time with a 6.5TD. They're just not as "hard" as a 5.9 or 7.3L which you might be able to get for $5,000.
L39Builder said:Correct. I have no faith that a 6.5TD would go 250-300,000 without a major overhaul. If it's already got 220 on the ticker, then it would be too close to grenading for my comfort level.
I assumed he didn't want a truck that will have engine problems pretty soon.
If he only drives it a couple thousand a year, then yeah, maybe it's worth a chance, roll the dice, but ya gotta make an observation: Why would a guy sell such a nice truck if he just replaced so many engine parts on it? When someone sells a super nice diesel pickup for $3,200, that tells me something's up. However, If he only pays $3,200, he could get a newly remaned 6.5TD for ~$5,000 so it wouldn't be too bad if he doesn't mind the likely hassle & the downtime.
With 220K on a diesel truck, I'd be looking at a 5.9L or 7.3L to avoid replacing the engine, which could happen at any given time with a 6.5TD. They're just not as "hard" as a 5.9 or 7.3L which you might be able to get for $5,000.
Interesting thoughts on the mileage. I found a 1997 Ford F250 Today with a 7.3 Turbo in it for cheap money. It has 250K on it and the block is cracked. The guy said he has no idea what caused the block to crack other than the high mileage. So far he has been unable to sell this truck and insisted that I come and look at how nice it is.
Builder
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I've seen even the best diesels let go at an early age/mileage. It can happen.
One other thing you gotta keep in mind about the 6.5Td is the timing gear for the valves isn't even gear-driven, like on a "real" diesel. I'm almost positive it's chain or belt driven, like a car engine. Much less reliable and when it lets-go, better get ready to write a big check.
BUT, like someone else was astute to notice, if you only run it a few thousand miles/year, you might get some years from it before any trouble.
I just always hated buying things that were proven to be troublesome over the years. It's your money, and you were asking for advice. I drove a GMC 6.5TD plow truck and it was a POS.
Maybe that's why GM couldn't get more than 5% of the diesel light truck market share when the 6.5TD was their diesel engine?? Ford & Dodge split the remaining 95%
One other thing you gotta keep in mind about the 6.5Td is the timing gear for the valves isn't even gear-driven, like on a "real" diesel. I'm almost positive it's chain or belt driven, like a car engine. Much less reliable and when it lets-go, better get ready to write a big check.
BUT, like someone else was astute to notice, if you only run it a few thousand miles/year, you might get some years from it before any trouble.
I just always hated buying things that were proven to be troublesome over the years. It's your money, and you were asking for advice. I drove a GMC 6.5TD plow truck and it was a POS.
Maybe that's why GM couldn't get more than 5% of the diesel light truck market share when the 6.5TD was their diesel engine?? Ford & Dodge split the remaining 95%
As long as you have time I would be patient and find the right one for you. I am sure you will no it when you find it.
On a side note... I have GOT to start previewing my posts to proof them.... It's a wonder anyone figured out what I meant in my last post to this thread with some of my typos.... and the "know" rather than "no"... well that is just plain embarassing.
On a side note... I have GOT to start previewing my posts to proof them.... It's a wonder anyone figured out what I meant in my last post to this thread with some of my typos.... and the "know" rather than "no"... well that is just plain embarassing.
