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  #1  
Old 11-09-2011, 12:05 AM
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Have you driven an older 6.2L GM diesel...

I hear these have been put into CHevy/GM trucks, vans, Suburbans and Jimmys from around '79 to '93 or so. From my research they have a pretty good reputation as simple to work on, with large availability of parts, generally reliable and reasonably good fuel economy.

If you have driven such a beast in the past, I wonder what are your impressions of this engine in comparison to driving one of the MB diesels?!

I know they are not powerhouses like the modern Duramax or Cummins engines - not looking for the highest hp or Torque here - just something reliable that would give good reliability in a swap.

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  #2  
Old 11-09-2011, 07:04 AM
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I had an '82 K5 Blazer with one in it. It had the 4L60E transmission (Turbo350 with a 4th gear) and a 3.08 rear end gear. Good motor. Killed transmissions. Too much low RPM torque, I guess. The truck weighed 6000 lbs with just me in it. It got about 15.5 MPG all around and between 19 and 21 MPFG on hte highway at moderate speeds. Towing my 20' Shasta travel trailer, I got 11 MPG- up hills, down hills, fast or slow.
Besides the transmission issues, I only had a couple of problems. Glow plug controller had issues and killed glow plug regularly. Finally broke down and spent the bucks (about $150) and bought new controller. Problems solved. Other issue was that the injection pump developed a leak, while I was driving. Fuel was in the valley between the heads (where the pump is mounted) and running down the driver's side of the engine onto the exhaust manifold. Smoked like crazy, but never caught fire. Had the pump rebuilt and solved that problem for good. Motor ran fine and the 4WD was real handy. Had automatic hubs and I had to replace one of them one time.
Overall truck ran pretty well for non-turbo motor. About 130HP, which was fine with me. I finally sold it when the transmission went out for the 5th time!
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  #3  
Old 11-09-2011, 07:20 AM
Admiral-Third World Fleet
 
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My buddy had one of these in his '87 Suburban. I drove it a time or two and IIRC it was OK, kinda 300D NA performance. He never had any real issues with it , but ruined it when a rebuilt starter he bought caught fire and melted the wiring.

Then he bought a 240D stick. Actually, he's having starter issues with that one...
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  #4  
Old 11-09-2011, 07:23 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BobK View Post
I had an '82 K5 Blazer with one in it. It had the 4L60E transmission (Turbo350 with a 4th gear) and a 3.08 rear end gear. Good motor. Killed transmissions. Too much low RPM torque, I guess. The truck weighed 6000 lbs with just me in it. It got about 15.5 MPG all around and between 19 and 21 MPFG on hte highway at moderate speeds. Towing my 20' Shasta travel trailer, I got 11 MPG- up hills, down hills, fast or slow.
Besides the transmission issues, I only had a couple of problems. Glow plug controller had issues and killed glow plug regularly. Finally broke down and spent the bucks (about $150) and bought new controller. Problems solved. Other issue was that the injection pump developed a leak, while I was driving. Fuel was in the valley between the heads (where the pump is mounted) and running down the driver's side of the engine onto the exhaust manifold. Smoked like crazy, but never caught fire. Had the pump rebuilt and solved that problem for good. Motor ran fine and the 4WD was real handy. Had automatic hubs and I had to replace one of them one time.
Overall truck ran pretty well for non-turbo motor. About 130HP, which was fine with me. I finally sold it when the transmission went out for the 5th time!
Thanks Bob - I need to drive one to see how the acceleration is and how it feels driving one around.
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  #5  
Old 11-09-2011, 07:31 AM
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I owned an '87 GMC K1500 Suburban with the 6.2 and a 700R4 for about 5 years. Fuel mileage was very near Bob's K5 Blazer, 15 overall and a tick over 18 mpg highway. Towing a 2-place snowmobile trailer didn't effect the mileage at all. Power was adequate. More would have been nice but I never felt like it was a dog. I've always regretted selling it and have considered looking for a rust-free, low-mileage one out of southern CA when money permits.

The military versions are tuned for a bit more hp/torque but still within comfortable limits as far as reliability goes. Aftermarket turbo kits are available if you're brave or kind to it.
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  #6  
Old 11-09-2011, 07:43 AM
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Correction, mine had the 700R4. Thanks for the reminder Swamp. I think they are the same thing as a 4L60E actually. I think eventually they figured out how to make them reliable with the big diesel. Just took a bunch of experimenting by the after market guys and poor fools like me trying to fix what GM shgould have done. More clutches in the 3rd gear pack, better band, better servo, better pump, revised valve body, better torque converter (get the commercial one). That motor had so much torque just off idle, the old gas transmissions just weren't ready for it.
At least I learned how to rebuild automatic transmissions because of them. Note to self: I don't want to have to do that again!
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  #7  
Old 11-09-2011, 08:28 AM
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they can be turbo'ed pretty easy.a 92 up right side turbo ex manifold and turbo and crossover pipe,but you have to make a drain for the turbo and that means punching a hole in the oil pan.the 92 ups had electric fuel pumps on the frame and blocked off the fuelpump mounting flange on the engine with a plate with a pipe on it to drain the turbo.i have a 92 1/2 2wd with a 6.5 turbo,i used to drive it over 1000 a week and consistantly got 24-26 mpg out of it.and it's still pretty close to that.right now it had 560,000 miles.the engine was changed at 260,000 when the previous owner loaned it to a buddy to pull his boat about 300 miles.will he didn't say his boat was like 40ft long and weighed ?? but he was driving it in 5th lugging the hell out of it and scored a piston.i still have the reciept from the new engine change.in 96 it was 5900 bucks.you hear alot about them eating headgaskets.i don't know what these people are doing but i have had at least 8 6.2 and 6.5 diesels over the last 15 yrs and have never had a head off any of them.they aren't powerhouses by any means but they work for me.and beings the carmakers can't seem to get their heads out of the sand and make a small 1/2 ton pickup with a small 4 or 6 cyl diesel engine that will get 30-40 mpg i guess i'll just stick to my old 6.5s and 6.2s.
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  #8  
Old 11-09-2011, 08:37 AM
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I had a "Burb with a 6.2. Stone reliable, mileage as described or a bit more, no issues with the tranny, but I was not a heavy puller. I was also in the Army during those years and the 6.2 CUCV (Blazer/Pickups) were very relaible and tough.

OTOH, I had a 6.5 Turbo that was a massive POS. Fuel injection pump issues would prevent hot starts and the pump was twice the price of a 6.2. Avoid the 6.5 in my opinion.

A good reliable engine, the 6.2. You can find remanned ones at Government auctions for a reasonable price.
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  #9  
Old 11-09-2011, 09:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BobK View Post
Correction, mine had the 700R4. Thanks for the reminder Swamp. I think they are the same thing as a 4L60E actually. I think eventually they figured out how to make them reliable with the big diesel. Just took a bunch of experimenting by the after market guys and poor fools like me trying to fix what GM shgould have done. More clutches in the 3rd gear pack, better band, better servo, better pump, revised valve body, better torque converter (get the commercial one). That motor had so much torque just off idle, the old gas transmissions just weren't ready for it.
At least I learned how to rebuild automatic transmissions because of them. Note to self: I don't want to have to do that again!
Fortunately for me, I never got that learning experience!

Although, in my case, pulling a 1500 lb. combination of sleds and trailer aren't anywhere near the work of pulling a travel trailer. Heck, I used to pull them behind my Subaru Loyale wagon.
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'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)
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  #10  
Old 11-09-2011, 10:04 AM
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My trailer came in about 5000lbs, as I recall. Truck pulled it ok, but when I moved up to a Suburban, I noticed far less of the tail wagging the dog... Blazer just had too short of a wheelbase.
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  #11  
Old 11-09-2011, 08:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Txjake View Post
I had a "Burb with a 6.2. Stone reliable, mileage as described or a bit more, no issues with the tranny, but I was not a heavy puller. I was also in the Army during those years and the 6.2 CUCV (Blazer/Pickups) were very relaible and tough.

OTOH, I had a 6.5 Turbo that was a massive POS. Fuel injection pump issues would prevent hot starts and the pump was twice the price of a 6.2. Avoid the 6.5 in my opinion.

A good reliable engine, the 6.2. You can find remanned ones at Government auctions for a reasonable price.
yes when they went to drive by wire in 94 they in their infinant wisdom mounted the pump mounted driver or pmd to the side of the pump down in the valley of the engine,electrical parts and heat don't mix.the cure is to relocate it up to the radiator support.
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  #12  
Old 11-09-2011, 10:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MercFan View Post
I hear these have been put into CHevy/GM trucks, vans, Suburbans and Jimmys from around '79 to '93 or so. From my research they have a pretty good reputation as simple to work on, with large availability of parts, generally reliable and reasonably good fuel economy.

If you have driven such a beast in the past, I wonder what are your impressions of this engine in comparison to driving one of the MB diesels?!

I know they are not powerhouses like the modern Duramax or Cummins engines - not looking for the highest hp or Torque here - just something reliable that would give good reliability in a swap.
Just bought a G30 cube van with 43,000 miles on it. No rust, will pick up in two weeks, as replacement for my van with 330 000 miles on it, which is starting to fail.
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  #13  
Old 11-09-2011, 10:58 PM
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I did not drive one a lot but for the time I did the fuel milage seemed better than is quoted here. I know our gallon is larger than yours but even allowing for that. The 6.5s did not seem as good in that department though.
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  #14  
Old 11-09-2011, 11:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by strelnik View Post
Just bought a G30 cube van ... as replacement for my van with 330 000 miles on it, which is starting to fail.
The van has the GM 6.2L diesel motor in it with 330K on it?! Wow... just wow.

I'm definitely interested in 6.2L and NOT the 6.5L 'improved' version. I'm after reliability, simplicity and good fuel mileage. Thanks fellows - good info.
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  #15  
Old 11-10-2011, 01:27 AM
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Yes.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/283625-my-new-diesel-purchase-let-good-times-roll.html


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