Chevy 6.5l TD

chrisb5050

New Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2007
Location
Oakboro
I have come across a deal on a 1997 Chevy 2500 with the 6.5l TD under125k miles. This is my first diesel purchase. What is the downside to this motor? I can get this one for around $7k. I have read alot of previous posts about the Duramax and Cummins and 7.3, but I am on a tight budget due to new home purchase. So please no replies of what I should buy.
 
They ARE NOT power house diesel engines, they will not pull like a power stroke, or a Cummins

Ricky is correct on the PMD ( Pump Mounted Driver also known as an FSD or Fuel Solinoid Driver) which is the control module for the injection pump.

The DS4 Injection pump in these engines is fully electronically controlled, and can be problematic. The fuel lift pump ( aka low pressure supply from the tank) can corrode internally, the fragments make it into and thru the fuel filter and cause the injection timing ring to sieze, which will burn out the timing stepper motor, which can fry the PMD

6.5 Engines have also had head gasket issues, head cracking issues, and in 98-99 years casting porosity issues (coolant seepage into the engine oil).

There are oil cooler lines from the block to the radiator, they will develop leaks and can blow out, a definate maintanace check item, if it's seeping, think real hard about replacing them soon ( and it's a REAL fun job, requires lifting engine out of the mounts in some cases )

All that having been said, they are a quiet, good running engine, not all that problematic save for the injection pump and PMD, they make good power, about what a 454 would, only with better mileage.
 
I have towed with one and it did fine, but it doesn't have the kind of power the newer diesels do.

I would look into the price as well. I looked up a '97 2500 king cab HD with every option and it was only $7K.
 
Sounds high for a 6.5L.

Personally, the only one I would own would be the early ones ('93-94?) that had the mechanical injection and the HD blocks. They had trouble with broken cranks, broken blocks, and blown head gaskets in the later models.
My buddy bought one with a fairly fresh motor in it and the bottom end fell out within a month.
 
I used to tow with one for a couple trips. '97 loaded 2wd...pulling 2 car goose. It'd hum 80 all day long just took a while to get there :). I was happy with it's performance though, even considered buying it, but got cold feet after reading up on all the problems listed above.

FYI this was about 2 years ago, and was offered the truck and the trailer for a package deal of 7k. I'm sure you could find one cheaper if you looked harder.
 
Those chevy's don't tow worth a :poop:. Max did tow with one and he would get passed by Grant's gas tahoe. You can get a 12v CTD or a PSD in that price range.
 
1stgenxxx said:
Those chevy's don't tow worth a :poop:. Max did tow with one and he would get passed by Grant's gas tahoe. You can get a 12v CTD or a PSD in that price range.
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Word on the street is Woody's taco pulling the buggy passed Max going uphill, both loaded about the same......:shaking: Max may have been 1500 lbs heavier on the trailer
 
Could you swing maybe like 9k? I went and looked at a 98 CTD last week in my search for a tow rig. This thing was pretty nice, I just found one that'll work better for me. Let me know if you're interested and I'll get you the lady's phone number.
 
I bet a tahoe or a taco doesn't pass my 6.5 loaded equally or even perportionatly. News flash there are very few stock PSD' and cummins so people just assume there all fast as shit, they are after you tweak them.

Its all relative..... cummins,PSD, Duramx yes much better than 6.5. but lets not get crazy talking about tahoes and taco as tow rigs. Said 6.5 must be a real dog.......Metto's dad has PSD and my 6.5 will smoke it , loaded or unloaded. it's just big turd though.
 
Cperry said:
I bet a tahoe or a taco doesn't pass my 6.5 loaded equally or even perportionatly. News flash there are very few stock PSD' and cummins so people just assume there all fast as shit, they are after you tweak them.
Its all relative..... cummins,PSD, Duramx yes much better than 6.5. but lets not get crazy talking about tahoes and taco as tow rigs. Said 6.5 must be a real dog.......Metto's dad has PSD and my 6.5 will smoke it , loaded or unloaded. it's just big turd though.
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I was wondering when you were gonna chime in on this thread. Considering the work that has gone into yours. I am looking to get a crew 6.5 down the road. The only affordable true crew cab with a good ride.
 
Cperry said:
Its all relative..... cummins,PSD, Duramx yes much better than 6.5. but lets not get crazy talking about tahoes and taco as tow rigs. Said 6.5 must be a real dog.......
Click to expand...

Ha, I have first hand experience how much it sucks trying to tow with a half ton type vehicle, and have probably spent double on it converting it to a 1 ton "type" vehicle when I should have just got a 1 ton to begin with :shaking:
 
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