Hello and thanks for having me.


I have zero experience on GM diesels, but about 20 years on gassers.


I'm looking to replace my old P-30 mail truck but the model I want (1991) was only offered with the 6.2L. Most of the ones I've seen have about 200,000 Km on the odo. I'm afraid of the 6.2! I've never heard anything good about them, and many top end and durability horror stories. But who knows? This may be due to the people that were wrenching or beating on them. I was wondering if any of you have some general advice or anecdotal stories on these engines, were some better than others, certain castings bad, certain years problematic, etc... I'm not concerned with "little fiddely" issues like having to drain filters (Um, if that's even still done.) or general tinkering, but the overall durability of the long block and expensive things.


My ears just aren't used to the sound of oil burners - when I listen to these things run they all sound like the piston skirts are slapping the walls! I'm not even sure what a good sounding one sounds like or what to look for when buying.


I guess I'm trying to gather enough info to decide if I should just buy a dead 6.2 diesel truck (lots available here) and swap in a gas or attemp to look for a long term diesel runner. Any help here would be appreciated. Thanks.


Jim.

I am from a ranch in Montana. Anyway, one of our neighbors has an '82 1/2 ton 2wd w/6.2L on his place that he has had since it was nearly new. By no means does he treat his equipment nice. Over the past 22 years it has been beat to death. They pull a 20 foot gooseneck with it, it has over 300,000 miles on the original engine and auto trans, and it still runs good and starts every time. That's what sold me on the 6.2L.


Don't hold me to this, but I believe there were some problems in the '86 model year. I'm not sure what.

Some of the blocks are weak in the main's and cracks can develop, something to check for before you rebuild. Some swear by the splayed main kit's available for a 300 hp 19:1 c/r turbo powered rebuild project.Edited by: quantum mechanic

I have two 6.2s that I work to death they are both in 1 Ton vans. One saw service as a school bus for it's first 300K now I have it loaded with 2000 lbs of Electrician tools and materials. Hauls it like a champ. These trucks never let me down.


Very little maintenance on these trucks, you will never have to buy a spark plug or a distributor cap ever.

Thanks for the replies. I started looking at trucks today. Saw an '89 but it looked so rough overall that I passed. Still searching.


Quantum Mechanic; I guess the point is that if I'm going the diesel route I don't want to have to rebuild. I wan't to buy a working truck that I don't have to worry about for a long time. My choices are put down big bucks for low milage and take my chances down the road or buy a known bad one cheap and drop in a fresh 305 EFI gas.


Any advice on what to look for when I'm looking at these things? Almost all of them I'll see will be old postal vans. The P.O. seems to keep them well maintained while they're in service, but all bets are off by the time they make it around to the public.


Jim.

You can buy a used 6.2 for around $1000.oo shipped. I think the going rate for a rebuilt small block is about $1500.

It did cost me more in labor to have my diesel replaced, but with the fuel and tune up parts savings over the years it was probably a wash.