[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by hurryinhoosier62

Brad, I have been inside several hundred 6.2s and 6.5s. They really aren’t bad engines. The normally aspirated ones are a bit gutless. The biggest problems we saw were the thickness of the head decks( one or two millings and the valve seats would actually move when you torqued the head) and cracking in the number one main journal into the number one rod journal in the early 6.2 nodular cranks. The fuel injectors weren’t the most reliable but the injection pumps were bulletproof. The best 6.5s were the 6.5Ts installed in the late HUMMVs. 210hp, 500+ ft/lbs of torque.

I bought my first truck with a 6.5, in 2010, (93 K3500 dually) the engine still runs great, roughly a year ago, at 270,000 miles the 4L80E decided it was done. I replaced it with the 97 with a 454 in it, I'm not impressed with the 454 at all. I'd much rather have a 6.5, but a year ago when I was looking to replace the 93, I couldn't find any 6.5s that were priced reasonably. That was at the height of truck scarcity, and people were stupid on their pricing, so I ended up with a 454.

I'd trade the 454 truck for a 6.5 if I could find extended cab 4X4 in good shape.

I also have a C3500HD, 6.5 box truck I bought that is getting compression into the cooling system. I've tried every stop leak that there is to seal the small leak, none have worked. I might just pull the engine out of the 93 and stick it in, I know the heads are prone to cracking, and headgaskets can also leak. It's a fairly low mile reman engine, so who knows what is leaking. Pulling the heads in chassis is not going to happen, so I might just swap engines, but it's too tall to get inside of my garage. I'm still debating on what I want to do with it.

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

I bought my first truck with a 6.5, in 2010, (93 K3500 dually) the engine still runs great, roughly a year ago, at 270,000 miles the 4L80E decided it was done. I replaced it with the 97 with a 454 in it, I'm not impressed with the 454 at all. I'd much rather have a 6.5, but a year ago when I was looking to replace the 93, I couldn't find any 6.5s that were priced reasonably. That was at the height of truck scarcity, and people were stupid on their pricing, so I ended up with a 454.

I'd trade the 454 truck for a 6.5 if I could find extended cab 4X4 in good shape.

I also have a C3500HD, 6.5 box truck I bought that is getting compression into the cooling system. I've tried every stop leak that there is to seal the small leak, none have worked. I might just pull the engine out of the 93 and stick it in, I know the heads are prone to cracking, and headgaskets can also leak. It's a fairly low mile reman engine, so who knows what is leaking. Pulling the heads in chassis is not going to happen, so I might just swap engines, but it's too tall to get inside of my garage. I'm still debating on what I want to do with it.

If you have a 93 6.5, IMHO..you have the best 6.5 made.. It was the last of the fully mechanical injection pumps used on the 6.5 before they went to the electronic controlled mechanical injection pump. I would not be afraid of one of those 92-93 6.5s at all. My cousin had a suburban that era with a 6.5. I think it had over 400K miles on it before it got parked, a lot of towing too.

The later 6.5s that are 94 and newer with the electronic controlled injection pump are a nightmare, tons of sensor and injection issues. You have to relocate the ecu if you want any chance of keeping it running. The oil sensor turns on the lift pump, and like to fail and not start. One thing after another on those. I would count my self lucky to have a 97 with a 454 over the 6.5. All the later 6.5s I know of end up in the shop and have mega bucks in them sorting out injection issues and sensors. These days, unless your a total DIY mechanic, it isn’t easy to find a shop that can work on those later 6.5s, they are kind of odd.

My uncle bought a low milage 98 Chevy service truck with a 6.5 because it was cheap and he wanted a quieter running Deisel, that 6.5 engine is quiet compared to the other diesels of that era. But that truck is always at the shop getting worked on, they have a fortune in shop bills keeping it running with sensor and injection problems.

I use to help a guy that was a die hard GM diesel owner, started with 6.2s, and eventually bought a new 02 Duramax, and semi retired his very nice 97 6.5. It was hilarious when he first bought the Duramax. All of a sudden that 86 year old guy was driving his pickup like a 18 year old kid. Looking back in the rearview mirror at the cloud of black smoke with a big smile on his face. Lol.

[Sirrotica]

My 93 was all screwed up when I bought it, I fixed everything on it when I bought it. Yes, the oil pressure switch was cooked, I just used a hot wire with ignition to run a relay for the lift pump, problem fixed. The injection pump was pulling the fuel without the lift pump so after about 20,000 miles later, it failed, replaced it. The transmission didn't shift consistently, found some bad sensors on the engine and replaced them, however it still wanted to default back to limp mode, (only had second gear intermittently) I finally found the TPS switch had a dead spot in it, that fixed the shift problem.

I made my living for 50 years spinning wrenches, I've worked in dealerships many of those years, and I know that the 6.5 has a ton of electronic issues, especially on the 94 and later electronically controlled injection pump. If I ever feel so inclined to the 93 and earlier mechanical pump, and lines can be retrofitted to the later engines, solving the things that can fail on the later pumps.

The 95 has already had the PMD relocated, but even with it relocated, it still failed. It didn't fail 100% though, sometimes it works as it should. If it doesn't work tapping it with a block of wood gets it to work again. It needs a new PMD, but because I use it only a few times a year I haven't bought a new one. The oil pressure switch has failed, so I just pull the relay out and jumper the lift pump to get it to run in the under hood electrical panel.

I've run into just about every electrical snafu that commonly happens with these trucks, I know what I own, and am perfectly capable of finding any problem, and fixing them. To get double the fuel mileage of that crappy 454 I'll gladly put up with the idiosyncrasies of the 6.5.

The 454 was formerly owned by a truck puller that half assed most everything under the sun, I spent a couple months just getting it to run and start properly. I took out the plastic distributor, had to reset the timing with my scanner, new wires, cap, rotor, the oil filter adapter needed new O rings, because it was leaking badly. The dipstick was just shoved in between the manifold and the block, because the bottom of the tube was rusted completely rusted off. He removed both catalysts, then welded the downstream O2 sensor into the exhaust system, of course it doesn't work any longer.

The injectors are shot in it, and he replaced only 2 of them. After all the work to get to them under the plenum. Now it need to be pulled back apart to fix the rest of them. That engine is harder to work on than the 6.5 by a long shot, the engineer that designed that plenum system with the injectors under it was a genius. I was never a fan of any BBC, this one just solidified my bias. I'm half temped to put a 455 Pontiac in it, it couldn't get much worse mileage than the chevy does, plus it would simplify the whole emission system because half of it missing, it sure isn't going to ever run properly with everything crutched together. I've seen a lot of mickey mouse fixes after over 50 years of working on cars, and trucks, what the former owner screwed up on that truck has to be in the top 5%.

I can appreciate your concern, but I'm well aware of what I own, and how to get them running properly. It'll just take some money, and time, being retired I have the time, money, not so much, so I choose wisely when I do spend it.

[TAKerry]

A 6.4 hemi reg cab has more payload than a 6.7 cummins dually? That stretches it for me a bit. Especially when it looks like the truck in question is at least a 2500(or whatever ram calls them).

One would have to have better knowledge of the payload and factory specs of the exact truck though to know for sure, But if everything was well within standards warranty should def. kick in.

[misterp266]

I’m gonna side with not covered under warranty. I did not realize that it was not an 8’ bed. Only an idiot would buy a short bed truck to put a camper in. It puts the axle too far forward. It sounds as if the dealer told him it would work. Anything for a sale I guess.

[SRR]

Originally Posted by misterp266

I’m gonna side with not covered under warranty. I did not realize that it was not an 8’ bed. Only an idiot would buy a short bed truck to put a camper in. It puts the axle too far forward. It sounds as if the dealer told him it would work. Anything for a sale I guess.

Plus he has some kind of motorcycle hanging off the back? I wonder if he had his water tank and sewage tank full?

I've only owned 1 short bed truck, a 2001 Dakota quad cab. It was a great truck being fast and handled awesome. Next to useless as a truck with that small box on the back.

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by TAKerry

A 6.4 hemi reg cab has more payload than a 6.7 cummins dually? That stretches it for me a bit. Especially when it looks like the truck in question is at least a 2500(or whatever ram calls them).

One would have to have better knowledge of the payload and factory specs of the exact truck though to know for sure, But if everything was well within standards warranty should def. kick in.

My bet, & I haven't done a deep dive to investigate the exact drivetrain weights, is the late model 6.7 Cummins engine & accessories weighs more than the 6.4 Hemi & engine accessories in the same chassis hd pickup. That extra weight of the big Cummins adds to the weight of the vehicle & thus decreases the GVWR.

[242177P]

This all could've been avoided if they had bought a fifth wheel camper

[misterp266]

Originally Posted by 242177P

This all could've been avoided if they had bought a fifth wheel camper

You’re right!

[242177P]

Originally Posted by misterp266

You’re right!