Re: Older diesel ?
 

Good info here. Run from the 6.2. My experiance with the 6.5 is not a lot better. Also if you are towing an enclosed trailer you will be happier with duel rear wheels. Put the best tires you can afford on the trailer, not a lot of fun on the interstate watching traffic go by. Jim

Re: Older diesel ?
 

Some things you want to avoid with 6.2 and 6.5 GM Diesels
1. Look for the round pencil type glow plug controller it screws into the back of the drivers side head near the #7 intake port if it has it dont buy it as you will be having glow plug problems forever. you can switch it over to the later style with seperate inhibit switch but is not worth the price and trouble on a older truck
2. Make sure it has the fuel filter that looks like a rectangle box on the firewall if it has it you are ok but if it has the 2 round oil filter type primary secondary filter system stay away from it they are a pain in the *** and dont filter very well your injection pump will thank you.
3. DO NOT EVER spray either in it to get it to start in cold weather. I cant tell you how many of these engines I have replaced due to either use even when the glow plugs were unhooked before either was sprayed in.
4. They are not the greatest powerhouse but if taken care of will last forever. I have several customers that still use them for farm trucks on a daily basis.

Re: Older diesel ?
 

I have had five of the 6.2's with only normal problems, they seem to last many miles. I like them alot, they get great milage but not enough power to tow much of anything.
Thanks

Re: Older diesel ?
 

This is the one I was looking at.

http://www.sundancechevy.com/Home/Vi...GR26J3MF510611

Like I said "WAS"

Re: Older diesel ?
 

6.2 diesels are not bad properly maintained, even better with a turbo kit
7.3 Navistar powered Ford even better, non Powerstroke with aftermarket turbo: good power and cheap to fix, longblock will go 400k or better, Hypermax knows these engines well
Early 5.9 Cummins Dodge will pull the house down, lots of parts support; get an intercooled '91-'98 and have tons of fun with good mpg.
All the trucks have the common problem with transmissions that can't hold up under the torque, be sure to inspect thoroughly.
As an aside, Heath Diesel put together a 6.5 GM diesel with twins that ran 153 mph at Bonneville, got over 30 mpg and is street driven daily. This combo is expected to go over 160 mph and give Duramaxes fits.
I have had two Powerstrokes, one '95 and a '96, and they are not bad, but unfortunately get costly when repairs need to be done. With a tuner and exhaust they do quite well. DP Tuner is the best and can custom flash the computer and make the truck come alive.

Re: Older diesel ?
 

I would recommend the Cummins myself. Alot of guys up in my parts run Ford or Dodge, and there's a few that went and swapped a Cummins in the Ford! The only thing I have seen is a few of the newer Dodges lose 5th gear, but two of them were 4x4's used for ranch duty. Just my .02. I'd think a 2wd Dodge with a Cummins would be a great puller.

Re: Older diesel ?
 

6.2/6.5 are bad news.

I run a 93 7.3 f-350 four door long box with 450,000km's and counting. From about march to november I burn straight furnace oil and for the colder days run diesel in front tank for start up and after warm switch to the back tank which is full of furnace oil. 25mpg(canadian) empty at 100kph. Fully loaded (3000lb's in box) + trailer/car it gets 19-20mpg. The only thing that will really kill milage is rpm. Run around 140kph (2700rpm) and it drops off to 18mpg when empty.

Love the mechanical inj and no turbo. Dead simple, on par with points and carb. Power? Almost exact spec's of a 390 2bbl. 175hp and 320lb's. If it's a real good grade I get it up to 120-130 and it will hold 100kpm. Anything less and It stays steady 100.

Unless your towing a 32-36ft enclosed trailer at 140 or so, it will do fine. If you want to tow that though, get a newer turbo diesel of any of the big three.