Hello,

I have a 97 Chevy 2500 6.5L Turbo diesel elctronic injection. I was wondering if anyone has a 6.5l Bare block for sale and where are you located? My block has cracks at the bottom, and it's leaking coolant into the oil and cylinder. There is coolant comming out of my exaughst pipe too. Im gonna scrap the block and am looking for another one but in good condition. I have everything else. Just need a block.

I don't have a block for you but if it was me i would pay up at a Gm dealer. That is if the "new"replacement block was an IHC casting or GEP diamond version. Other than that I would look for a used one that came in a 1999/2000 truck & has the 4 drilled & tapped boss 's behind the LH engine mount.That is supposed to be the last GM incarnation of the 6.5 & be a high nickle casting. The absence of nickle was a promoter of cracks and in the 96/98 engines.!!! Listen up this is important. for future prevention .!!!The addition of a 99/2000 composite fan blade, the specific water pump & screw on fan clutch were actions by GM to stop the cracks as they had Horse power & Torque improvements planned for the last years of 6.5. that they didn't do. Robert Shaw 180 thermostats,Heath Balance Flow round out the best for cooling IMO.Also Kennedy has a highly touted low temp engaging fan clutch that will work well with the 97 water pump & the composite or modified Duramax fan blade & will work fine. Prevent the cracks is the message.You only want to this this once. If you have any tolerence left now ,LOL.you just might checkout 18.1 pistons & more TC pressure , volume. & an Intercooler. When were you ever sorry you had the best ? !!!

I don't have a block for you but if it was me i would pay up at a Gm dealer. That is if the "new"replacement block was an IHC casting or GEP diamond version. Other than that I would look for a used one that came in a 1999/2000 truck & has the 4 drilled & tapped boss 's behind the LH engine mount.That is supposed to be the last GM incarnation of the 6.5 & be a high nickle casting. The absence of nickle was a promoter of cracks and in the 96/98 engines.!!! Listen up this is important. for future prevention .!!!The addition of a 99/2000 composite fan blade, the specific water pump & screw on fan clutch were actions by GM to stop the cracks as they had Horse power & Torque improvements planned for the last years of 6.5. that they didn't do. Robert Shaw 180 thermostats,Heath Balance Flow round out the best for cooling IMO.Also Kennedy has a highly touted low temp engaging fan clutch that will work well with the 97 water pump & the composite or modified Duramax fan blade & will work fine. Prevent the cracks is the message.You only want to this this once. If you have any tolerence left now ,LOL.you just might checkout 18.1 pistons & more TC pressure , volume. & an Intercooler. When were you ever sorry you had the best ? !!!

Thank's for all the helpfull info, I will be looking around for a used 2000 block, dealer wants too much for it here, My friend has a 95 chevy 2500 has been beating it for the past 4 years, with heavy towing, and now he has cracks but using the griddle kit, still runs perfectly fine, he tows bobcats around and big ariconditioning units, I only need to tow my boat, and sowmobiles around. I have an intercooler for it, and am making the custom piping out of stainless steel, but dont have a good block.