Well I am kinda a new guy here and this is the first diesel I have owned and I am in need of some help. To start of it is a 93 GMC 2500 with a 6.5L and a manual trans. I just got it from a guy I work with and need to get it running.
It turns over, has fuel in the fuel filter canister and the filter it not in bad shape, I can hear a fuel pump come on with the key. What can I check and what are yalls thoughts. Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the site. Please take the time to fill out your signature so that folks will know what equipment you have each time you post. You will find this under the "Quick Links" tab at the top of the main page. Also use the diagnostic checklist at the top of the front page. Fill it out then copy & paste it into your posted request for assistance. This form, when used, usually points you in the right direction. I'm sure someone can help you soon.

1. Does the engine crank, or 'turn over'? Turns over
1a. Does the engine start and run? NO
1b. Do you have a Wait To Start Light & the amount of time (seconds) lit. No only a Glow plug light
1c. Ambient Condition (temperature outside) 90*f
1d. Engine Cranking speed (if you have an accurate tachometer).
1e. Are you experiencing stalling?
1f. If Stalling, describe (upon startup only, down the road, hit a bump etc)
1g. If Stalling, do you notice loss of dash or instruments?
-note if experiencing stalling,you must indicate PMD location in #24.
1.1 Lift pump test - describe results
2. Service Engine Light - on/off/intermittent Off
3. Model year 1993
3a. Odometer reading (indicate if in miles or km) 260000 miles
3b. Miles on major engine components if been replaced (example Injection pump)
3c. Indicate the model number on the Injection pump (starts DS4 or DB2......)
4. Have you scanned for engine codes? (varies by pre/post 96) yes/no NO
5. List exact results on engine codes:
6. Air Filter condition (visual check) Good
7. Fuel filter condition (freshly changed/condition unknown/mileage since changed) unknown milage but good visual
8. Condition of Battery terminal connections (removed, cleaned and tightened) Ok
8a. Known condition and age of the batteries. Unknown
8b. Are batteries of differing age or are they a matched set? Unknown
8c. Condition of Major Grounds. (same drill as batt - removed, cleaned, retightened)
9. Upon cold start, does the radiator hose get hard quickly? Yes/no
10. Upon cold start, do you have excessive white smoke? Yes/no
11. Do you have excessive cranking time before the engine starts? yes
12. Have you used the block heater, and does this effect engine starting? Have not tried
13. During hard acceleration, do you have excessive black smoke? Yes/no
14. Do you have any unusual exhaust smoke issues?
15. Turbo check out - pass/fail Pass
16. Do you have an EGR on the engine? (An F or an S engine code 8th VIN digit) F code
17. Indicate if you know if it’s a 1500, 2500, 2500HD, 3500, 3500HD. 2500
18. Indicate fuel that you are using: Bio-diesel, #2 Diesel, #1Diesel, SVO/WVO, other #2
18a. If running a VO (Veggie Oil fuel) setup, indicate details of your conversion (homemade, or packaged system)
19. Are you using any fuel additives? If so, please list. NO
20. Please indicate geographic region you are in: (example: Texas or Canada) Louisianna
21. Do you have any service history available that might pertain to the problem you are having? NO
22. Please indicate any modifications to the vehicle that might help us diagnose better. Stock
23. Upon unscrewing the fuel cap, do you have a large vacuum formed in the tank? yes/no No
24. Location of PMD/FSD? On the pump/remoted over intake/remoted out of engine bay (please specify placement specifically)
24a. If remote mounted, describe wiring harness (homemade or purchased from a vendor?)
24b. Indicate the location and condition of the FSD/IP grounding wire.
25. Are ALL glow plugs in proper working order as per this thread? Yes

What is the history with the truck? Has it been sitting awhile? Did it stop-running on the previous owner or something? What's the story there...?

All I got was that he started hearing a knock and it has been sitting for 2-3 months since then. The guy I got it from is not very engine smart. So I am trying to get it to at least start so I can find where the noise it coming from so I can get it fixed. He was driving it everyday to work and back but that is all the story I got from the guy.

come on someone has to have something that I can try

do you get even one fire out of it when cranking?

Have you tried cracking one of the injector lines at the injector to see if fule is getting to the injectors?

Nope and nope I will put that on the list for in the morning. Also on pulling the trouble code should the glow plug light flash or an actual check engine light? Cause I tryed it and the glow plug just came on for a little bit and went off. Anything else?

You have a 93 mechanical injection pump. There aren't very many of them as compared to the rest of us on this forum who have the famed DS4 electronic injection pump. A lot of the info found on the diagnostic checklist was geared for the electronic end.

I'd say, crack the injector line open on the top of the injector, crank a bit and see if there is any fuel dribbling out. That would indicate if fuel is getting to the injectors. If not, we need to back track from there.

Bam, bam, boom, man your fast tonight....... we were typing at the same time.

lol Ya like I said I am not very smart on diesels give my a gas chevy motor and it is a different subject. Just need to crack open one injector right?

Yes, openning the injector will allow the fuel to trickle out upon requested combustion event during cranking, (that won't happen with injector line loose). If you have fuel to the injector, then that tells us a story at least. No fuel, then another story.

what size wrench to crack open the injector?

IIRC 19mm. Or 3/4", same difference.

I cheat, I use an adjustable....

well I got it to try to crank and got a little fuel to the injectors. The bleeder on top of the canister is it suppose to have a steady amount of fuel coming out of it when you crack it or bubble out?

Should be steady supply. ALso, there is a T-valve attached to the thermostat housing that is a fuel bleeder. When that is open there should be a steady fuel supply while cranking. If you have bubbly coming out either, you have a leaky fuel line somewhere.

Do you have a service engine soon (SES) light at all? You mentioned that the glow plug light comes on, but the SES light should also come on until it starts. If not, you either have a bad bulb there, or some other problem, perhaps involving the pcm.

Ya fuel comes out when I open the T-handle. No SES light I will tear into the dash and check on the bulb. The lines on the lift pump are tight, What are some areas that usually leak? what does the pcm control and is there one on a 93? Also how much fuel should come out of the line going to the injector?

What could cause me to not be able to bleed all the air from the canister? The lid is tight. Also where does the fuel line enter the canister and exit?

Bottom of canister toward firewall fuel enters.
Bottom of canister toward manifold; one fitting to drain and one to pump.

A fuel leak in between the lift pump and the tank could cause the lift pump to suck some air in. Any fuel leak for that matter could potentially suck air.

Good deal I need to check them out cause I can not get all the air out of the canister for nothing.

Been tossing around the idea of building a small block for the truck, but I also want to get it running the way it is just to learn a little about diesels. So here is my question what could I expect to get for the motor that is in there now if I do go gas?

Well I have made up my mind time to start parting it out. If anyone need any parts let me know and when i tear into it I will let you know what condition everything is in. Everything from the lift pump to the down pipe for sale, it has a/c and a GM-3 turbo. pm me here or send me an email southern_sierra@yahoo.com