My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

I bought this baby brand new back in 1995. K2500 6.5 diesel, 3/4 ton 4x4. Atlantic Blue and silver. 123,000 miles. Still has original paint and a perfect body. We were attempting to tow my 24 foot trailer from NJ to a car show out west. I got 130 miles into PA and pulled into a rest stop to use the facilities. She was running smooth as silk (always a bad sign!)

I then noticed whitish smoke puffing out the exhaust when idling. Almost like what you see on start up on a cold day. Only it was after 130 miles. When I stepped on the pedal, the white smoke was much more evident. Since I didn't like the looks of that we turned around and headed home slowly.

I got within 30 miles of home when the mushroom cloud of white smoke came out the exhaust and the coolant blew out of the bypass hose off the reservoir. The truck's coolant temp was only running 185 degrees at the time (verified by infra-red heat gun on the hoses, the block and the radiator). Looks like a blown head gasket.

I was able to limp the truck off the exit and only travel another 1/4 mile to a safe parking spot which just so happens to be only 2.9 miles from my co-driver's home (This becomes a rather important fact next...).

I then call the wife and ask her if she renewed the AAA like I asked her to a couple dozen times before. She of course says, "Oh, I was going to do that later today." I then tell her to do it now. She gets on the AAA web site, and it crashes. So she drives into town and renews. (all while I am sitting with broken truck and trailer).

She then calls me back and gives me the Good News/Bad News. Good news, we are members again...bad news; they only tow 3 miles during the initial 7 day waiting period. Jeez - isn't the national gun buying waiting period shorter than that?

Luckily the destination is just under 3 miles and we get the truck towed by AAA to a safe spot. Once there I check to see if the truck will start. The engine starts right up and immediately smokes again. So I shut it down after only a couple seconds.

I call to a buddy (I'll call him "Joe" since that is his real name) who then loans me his brand new Dodge Cummins 2500 HD. (Now THAT's a friend!) and we make the trip up and back to the show.

So, here we are a week later. I just got back from the trip and checked the truck. It does crank slowly- no hydro lock. I checked the oil and there is no water in it. It is still black and not milkshake. But, the oil level is about 2 inches above the fill line! Did the non-firing cylinder(s) filled the crank case with diesel from a damaged injector? I will note that immediately after the initial brake down I checked the oil and it was at its normal level, so this must have happened over the week of sitting?

I know the truck isn't worth much on the open market but we have owned it since new and it is a member of the family - you know the drill: this truck brought pregnant wife to delivery room, carried the kids home from the hospital when they were born, took us on family vacations, dropped kids off at college 18 years later, over the years carried several of my dogs home for burial when they passed away...

So, I could use recommendations on replacing the 6.5 or repairing this engine. I have heard about the AM General replacement engine but I would like some advice from those of you who have more experience with 6.5 diesel engine replacements and/or repairs.

Sadly, the book value of truck is around $4,500 and a new engine is almost double that price.

Who do you recommend?

Thanks, NJSteve

P.S. Buying a new truck is out of the question with current economic conditions and daughter in college, etc.

If only I had a penny for every viewing of my old '72 T/A restoration thread on here and on the PerformanceYears site...104,814 + 1,990,194 pennies = $1,048.14 + $19,901.94 = $20,950.08 [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...ject#Post99416


Oh, and I only have two more days of my mandatory waiting period before I can get my truck towed back here from my buddies house 30 miles away... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

You could feel worse...like walking into the dealer for a $7500 bill for set injectors like on a Duramax. Tear it down and see what you have. It could be something simple. Your a fairly smart guy who can take care of it.

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Steve, I've been hearing about several different companies that sell conversion kits to swap newer Cummins diesels into older Chevy trucks like yours. Apparently, it's become a pretty popular thing to do lately. Here's something from a quick Google search:

http://dieselconversion.com//knowled...999-Diesel-Gas

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Smokey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You could feel worse...like walking into the dealer for a $7500 bill for set injectors like on a Duramax. Tear it down and see what you have. It could be something simple. Your a fairly smart guy who can take care of it.
</div></div>
That's a tad high, even for a dealer, lol...I wanna say GM books 10 hours, I'm thinking the tab for replacing all 8 on LB7 was just shy of $4500. Still not cheap, though... [Edit: it could be more I suppose if it was a new Dmax, but they don't have the catastrophic injector failures the LB7s had.]

Swapping a Cummins in those early c/k's is fairly common it seems, but the best bang for the buck would be to simply drop a 454 in it.

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

She is home now.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...ban_towed_.jpg


Of course the local NJ AAA started balking at the tow saying that it they only allow one tow per breakdown incident but the PA AAA lady (Mary) who I dealt with last week, was very forceful and worked on my behalf reminding them that they previously stated that the vehicle would be towed the full distance after the waiting period expired.

While I was on hold with the Mary, I drove right down to the local NJ AAA office where my wife signed up and was sitting outside with my headlights pointed inward at the front desk and looking very much like &quot;Heisenberg&quot; of <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Breaking Bad </span></span>fame, especially after having not shaved for a week and wearing my black hat. Maybe that convinced them to OK the 30 mile tow home.

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: markjohnson</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Steve, I've been hearing about several different companies that sell conversion kits to swap newer Cummins diesels into older Chevy trucks like yours. Apparently, it's become a pretty popular thing to do lately. Here's something from a quick Google search:

http://dieselconversion.com//knowled...999-Diesel-Gas </div></div>

That looks like a job for Kwhizz-Man...well beyond my abilities (and back muscles)

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

what part of NJ steve? .... I may still have a few connections

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Hunterdon County (Central Jersey)

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Let me ask around... a few of my buddies are diesel mechanics. I'm originaly from ocean county

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

I was originally trained as a diesel mechanic...but as they say, &quot;A man's got to know his limitations&quot;

And working on one of these modern contraptions is beyond mine.

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

&quot;That looks like a job for Kwhizz-Man...well beyond my abilities (and back muscles)&quot;

Offer it up to him as a Power Tour Vehicle and he will get it done.

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Hunterdon? Like next to Lambertville? Nice area, plenty of deer! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hunterdon? Like next to Lambertville? Nice area, plenty of deer! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] </div></div>

Yes. Hey, maybe I should check the air cleaner and see if the truck accidentally ingested an uninsured deer, and that caused the implosion. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

The deer overpopulation is crazy here. I have to honk my horn every morning to get the heard out of my driveway so I can leave. Those dang, pesky, meddling, teenaged, deers. No respect I tell ya!

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Steve,
Enjoyed talking to you at the MCACN. With what you went thru to get your car there your attitude and sense of humor was no different than what it is on the site whenever you post. You have an awesome original/unrestored Firebird!. Don't touch it! You can't find em like that.
Trivia note: A few years ago someone on this site started a thread about weird color combinations on cars they had owned over the years. NJsteve posted about a suburban that he owned many years before and I knew right away that we had met some 25 years ago in the hotel parking lot for the Musclecar Nationals in Atco NJ. My truck and trailer was parked next to his truck and trailer and while you couldn't help but notice the hideous color combination of the Suburban, what got my attention more was this guy working on this hemi car (Charger I think)to go out and thrash it on the drag strip the next day. I looked at wife, rolled eyes and said this guy is nuts to do that to this car. I know guys----that's what they were built for. Any way we spoke for a few minuets, wished each other luck,(I was car showing-he was drag racing) and never saw him again until Sunday at the MCACN. Steve, I hope you get your problem with the Suburban straightened and it doesn't cost you and arm and a leg in the process. The color combination of the present Suburban is more pleasing than the last one I saw. LOL.

Dave

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Great meeting you too, Dave.

You know, 25 years ago I was thinking the exact same thing about you and your car back then: How could this guy be so crazy as to be cleaning and polishing and primping such a nice car and then just show it. How could he NOT want to beat the hell out of it? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

That was the one-of-one, original paint, orange/white 1971 Hemi Charger sunroof car. It's in the Wellborn Collection now. It ran 13.837 at 101.35 if I recall correctly.

BTW for those who don't remember that old thread, my old 1986 K2500 Suburban was medium gold with a bright blue interior. I think the color was called <span style="font-style: italic">Jersey Tan Mom Bronze</span>.

Here's a couple photos, one of the charger and the trailer and one of the Charger at Atco in 1988.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...mi_charger.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics..._charger_1.jpg

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Great meeting you too, Dave.

You know, 25 years ago I was thinking the exact same thing about you and your car back then: How could this guy be so crazy as to be cleaning and polishing and primping such a nice car and then just show it. How could he NOT want to beat the hell out of it? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

BTW for those who don't remember that old thread, my old 1986 K2500 Suburban was medium gold with a bright blue interior. </div></div>

LMAO. Point well taken.
I trust you made it home with no further adventures. See ya next year.

Dave

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

BTW, is that you in the photo cleaning your car, clad in that classic, yellow, tennis outfit with the calf high socks ???

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

When you own a 6.5 Turbo Diesel you are often faced with enormous trials and tribulations... I know, I own one as well and mine is down &quot;AGAIN&quot; right now [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img].. You could send it out to Montana for a professional Cummins engine install. I don't know what they charge.

http://www.autoworldmt.com/Page_11.html

http://www.autoworldmt.com/Page_8.html

http://www.autoworldmt.com/

Here's my problem child... a 2000 model that has cost me more in repairs than the initial purchase price.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psdf864076.jpg


Tommy [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img]

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

time to buy a new one!

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">BTW, is that you in the photo cleaning your car, clad in that classic, yellow, tennis outfit with the calf high socks ??? </div></div>
Nope, not me. My hair had already started to turn grey. LOL. I also would not be wearing a classic yellow tennis outfit with calf high socks. Is that what you Jersey guys wore back in the day? I am home on the computer instead of the office that sometimes blocks the pics. Yep, that's the car. Great times you were clicking off with that car. Great seeing you again after all these years even if it was just for a few minuets back in 1989. Hope things work out on the the Suburban.

Dave

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

I have a 1984 F350 Dually with a STOUT 460. You can have the truck for cheaper than whatever you need to do to the Sub..... Just sayin!

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

I found a local reputable diesel place today. They were a 45 year, family owned GMC truck dealer until the 2008 GM slaughter of small dealers. They are still a GMC truck repair facility for light and med duty trucks and familiar with the 6.5s.

That being said, I pulled the drain plug and there was a lot of coolant at the bottom, under the oil. So it is looking to be a bit more serious than a head gasket, possibly a cracked block or head. And if the coolant ran through the bearings for any length of time, that pretty much points me towards a new engine.

The shop is going to do a compression test and dye test next week to confirm a diagnosis and see exactly where the failure point is. We will then make a decision based on the facts.

Anyone have any experience with the GM part # 88894125, which is the brand new factory long block? They go for around $6K and have a 3 year/100K mile warranty. I am looking for warranty coverage otherwise I'd go with a military takeout. The shop said they have had nothing but trouble with Jasper - he said they had to replace a Jasper Duramax three times on the same job. After that they wouldn't touch a Jasper again

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

I can't imagine the engine ran long if at all with the coolant in it. I say that because you checked the oil after you shut the engine off and it was normal. Then you checked it after it sat and it was high. Also, if the engine ran with the coolant in the oil, it would be milky, not separated. Why are you thinking it is something more serious than a headgasket at this point?


Jason

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Like Oscar the Grouch, I am an eternal pessimist. That way if something goes right, I can only be disappointed by the fortuitous results. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

I hope everything works out for the best Steve. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

I'd just slap a junkyard motor in it.I mean one that I could hear run.

They are out there for cheap.

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

On Ebay

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

I checked into the Cummins update. Too much labor and modifications needed, like a mandatory 3&quot; body lift it to clear the oil pan, rewiring the truck, computers, etc.

Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention...all said and done, the conversion is almost double the price of a brand new 6.5 Am General 6.5 (GM actually sells the AmGen updated 6.5 that are used in Humvees as their replacement crate engine.) The crate engine dealer that was at MCACN ran my VIN and got me the proper part number for the new longblock assembly, and they seem to be available for around $6,300.

As for junkyard engines, not even the rebuilders use the cores any more because 90% of them have internal stress cracks in the heads and main webs. That is why AM Gen reverse engineered the block and made their own version.

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Id still drop a Big Block in it......

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As for junkyard engines, not even the rebuilders use the cores any more because 90% of them have internal stress cracks in the heads and main webs. That is why AM Gen reverse engineered the block and made their own version. </div></div>

You were told correct. No junkyard 6.5's....


Tommy [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img]

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Update today. They drained the pan: oil and water in pan was completely separated - no milkshake. They changed the oil &amp; filter and then removed the glow plugs and cranked it and coolant was coming out of several cylinders on both sides. Not a good sign unless it blew both head gaskets simultaneously. The heads come off next week so we should know if it is head gaskets or time for a new engine.

Best price so far for the new AM General 6.5 long block PN 88894125 is $6,362.55 with free shipping and no core charge. 3 year, 100,000 mile warranty from GM. Anyone have a better deal?

P.S. I can't understand why some GM dealers try to charge a core charge when it's a brand new engine and they will not be using the core. I guess it's just a scam because they know you won't waste several hundred dollars to ship an 500 lb long block back, that they will just say is unusable anyway and will then refuse to refund your core $.

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Didn't do a ton of reading on their site but these appear to be some pretty good prices.....

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

.... You might want to check this out....

1996 K2500 with low miles

..... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

I want to stay away from remanufactured engines as they can only use the existing (and risky) cores out there. To add to that risk is the fact that the vast majority of &quot;new&quot; blocks and heads that these rebuilders use, are counterfeits of the AmGen block, cast in China and are notoriously failure prone.

Plus if you google that company in NY, you get a nightmare of bad rebuild stories and un-honored warranties...

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Well Steve, certainly sounds like you don't need anymore nightmares! Best of luck with the swap! BTW, love the stories on your cars. Unbelievable historical data on all of them, it's a joy to read.

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Thanks for the morale support [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

I keep accidentally leaving the TV on Overhauling episodes, as a hint to my kids to call Chip Foose. But so far they haven't taken the bait.

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

My 67 bird which I have had since I was 15 in '82 could use some &quot;Foose Love&quot; as well. I'll get to her someday....

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Driver's side head is off and the head gasket is blown out right at the back by the coolant passage, in the regular spot where the 6.5's tend to blow them out. The other head is coming off today or tomorrow. The diesel tech was quite complimentary on how clean the inside of the engine was from 18 years of frequent oil changes.

He also noted how clean the #7 cylinder was from the brief amount of time the water was steam-cleaning the chamber - it removed any carbon residue. The bores all looked nice with the cross hatching still very evident in the cylinder walls.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...9-8478-hg7.jpg

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...9-8479-hg5.jpg

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...9-8480-hg8.jpg

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...9-8481-hg6.jpg

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

Looking good so far. You may get away with this one cheap!

Re: My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...
 

The passenger side head was removed and head gasket was OK. The diesel tech said that the coolant was only coming out of the driver's side rear cylinder. So they are replacing both head gaskets, head bolts sets, water pump, (since it's the original one), etc., and reassembling everything. Might be back on the road next week. (Fingers crossed)