The 6.5 is a boat anchor. My father had one for years. Tried everything to make it run properly short of replacing the entire engine. 2 injection pumps, relocating the PMD, removing the choked down pipe, improving the cooling system, etc..., etc.... He could have bought 2 other trucks just trying to figure out the engine troubles. Then the damn heads cracked. Very common on the 6.5. More common than the block cracks. In short. He could have done a swap with a 12 valve Cummins 2 times over for all the money he wasted. But, he really liked the truck. Honestly, overall the Chevy was a better "truck" (and still is IMO). It just had a crappy engine that was poorly supported from the factory. The Cummins is the only way to go if you can do it (IMO again).

Ironically he sold the truck to some guys in Finland about 3 years ago. I'm sure they have long since turned the 6.5 into an "oyster bed" and probably have probably thrown a Cummins into the mix.

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AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)