roasted my 6.5 GM, time for engine options
 

lent my 02 work van to an associate for 2 weeks and 800 miles, and it returned like uncle bucks brougham, emitting an enormous cloud of white smoke at all times. hes not a gauge watcher so oh well.

Burning 1 gallon of coolant in 20 miles. at the age and mileage im considering going 4bt or 6bt instead since the van is good otherwise. Maybe even an older ford 7.3 instead. Something that can take punishment instead of the glass jaw 6.5

anyone have any opinions?

a picture is worth a thousands words

When my 6.5 bit the dust I found a brand new Optimizer long block being sold off by a Phoenix Chevy dealer for $3000. Optimizer's are much more robust than the original Chevy 6.5's. Ted's sells Optimizer take outs from military Humvees. Lots of people have been happy with his engines. He does a compression test on them before selling them I believe. Not sure whether the Humvee 6.5 will fit in a van due to the center turbo mount. You may need to swap heads or something.

if it still runs good i would pull the heads and replace the headgaskets.probably your cheapest option if you plan on keeping it.a 6bt is no way in h3ll fitting in a van.for one the front suspension would never take the weight.but in the end probably your cheapest option is to find a different van.

I'm pretty sure mine cracked the block so you can't just assume the problem is a headgasket. I have seen it claimed that if the upper radiator remains hard when cold it is a bad headgasket but if the upper hose doesn't get hard, it's a cracked block. Probably not a completely reliable diagnostic procedure though. These engines are known for cracking the lower block or putting a hole thru a rear cylinder wall.

I would have agreed with you until i read a thread where a guy fit a 6bt in an express with a 1.5 inch body lift. Actually fits amazingly well.

Suspension should have no problem on 3500 chassis

Engine is at 300k so a new engine might be the best plan long term

Excellent info thanks!
The vans have a center turbo at the back of the motor, but if i go with another 6.5, i may go naturally aspirated and nix the turbo all together.

My turbo has been non functional due to a NLA van wastegate vacuum valve and i havent had time to rig a pickup or hummer variant. Honestly i never even noticed my turbo wasnt working

Mine's NA, you really don't give up much loosing the turbo except maybe at high altitudes. my GMC has no problems merging into traffic

still wouldn't waste my time trying to jam a 6bt in there.jeez i have an 03 express 3500 with a 6.0 i would sell ya for 3500.its a 15 pass extended van with rear a/c and heat.pull the seats and there ya go.heck a good 6bt will cost you about that.

Yeah i drove the thing around for months thinking i had a turbo diesel. Does great even fully loaded as a NA until i let the van out of my sight unfortunately

Must be a regional thing. 12 valves arent that expensive here. Sub 1000, was eyeing one for 800 bucks recently but someone else moved faster

I will find the thread and link it for you. Its amazing how well it appears to fit. Not a jam at all from the guys photos. I was pretty shocked

might be cheap out your way.but out here in farm country any 6bt under 200k miles is gonna cost ya at least 2500.

Thinking this might be the best option after doing more research. Only hurdle will be getting an NA intake and making everything work in a van application. These guys are pretty on the ball information wise.