Assuming it's a 6.5 Turbo Diesel it's not a bad motor provided it's been maintained. Injector pump and drivers are the weak spots on those motors, not cheap.
The problem comes when someone buys an older diesel and expects it to act like a newer Duramax or Powerstroke. Most of the older diesels will do very well when you ask them to do what
they were made to do, not what
you want them to do.
SMITTY wrote:The older diesels were nothing more than a gas 350 with beefier big-ends on the crank & of course, different heads & intake.
The 6.2/6.5 is NOT the 5.7 Olds Diesel from the early 80's - it's a purpose designed diesel engine. Last year for the 5.7 Olds Diesel was 1985 IIRC, and they finally had the bugs worked out but the reputation was already established. The 4.3 Olds V6 Diesel was a scarce but good motor since it started production with many of the upgrades that the 5.7 didn't get until later years.
The 5.7 Olds DX block makes a great starting point for a built 430+ cube SB Olds gas motor.
But I'll take a Duramax any day - 450+ hp and 825+ ft/lbs torque with just a keyboard, no greasy hands!
