Well, it seems that I have committed to fly from NY to Kansas to purchase a M1009 Military Blazer. I suppose my wife will have me committed now!! LOL

Anyway, I intend to drive the thing the 1200 miles home. I have some basic experience from my brothers 6.2, but I figure I would see if anyone had any suggestions and/or tips for my trip.

Biggest theory I see, is dont shut it off... :rolleyes: as I know the most common problem with a 6.2 is hard starting... :)

I suggest you shut it off at least once to copy the key, then every time you stop for fuel or food you can lock it. good luck.

LOL good idea...

Good thing is, being a Mil Blazer, the keys were all the same, maybe the guy has a spare he can loan me.

Blacksmoke, are you on an antique tractor list as well?

Check all the differnials for for water. drain fuel filter, take fuel additive, change oil, fix-a-flat, warm clothes, and pedal to the metal.

6.2s weren't really that notorious for hard start HOT, hart start cold problems are largely due to glowplug and GP controller problems.
I would be more concerned about the cooling system than the fuel system. It will be easy to tell if the lift pump/injection pump/injectors are all working atleast well enough to make the trek very quickly, but you won't know if you have a cracked head, leaking head gasket, weak waterpump, stuck thermostat, plugged radiator etc until you get a few miles down the road. Not to mention belts/hoses/alternator/batteries/tranny. Funny, but I got myself in a similair situation, I bought a '90 civilian Blazer in NY, and drove it straight to Texas. Lucky I guess, only had to stop once to replace the alternator in Tennessee.

Why in the world would you come to NY from Texas to buy a vehicle????? dont you know they all rot here? :D


I do have to agree with your starting comment.... I suppose I was mostly spouting what little knowledge I have with the 6.2.... I also know, dont tow with a 6.2, 700R4 and 3:08 gears in a blazer... makes bad bad bad things happen. I think most the 'problems' I have seen with the 6.2 are from my brothers bad luck, and habits.... after all, he does seem to have similar problems with gas engines too... :rolleyes:

My list of items to bring with me is as follows:
GPS
Laptop
speakers for laptop (damn military and their no radio policy)
small toolset (basic 3/8 sockets, couple screw drivers, couple wrenches)
Inverter
Cell Phone (of course)
phone # for dial-a-prayer (1-800-PRAYER I think...)

Things I plan to buy before driving too far:
Oil
Tranny Fluid
Antifreeze
Bars Leak
Fix-a-flat
fuel conditioner
washer fluid
fuses
silicone spray (anyone ever use this a starting fluid? works pretty good)
brake fluid


Anything else suggested? I am going to tell the seller, that he should be 'on call' in case I dont make it half way... :rolleyes: , and I have a towbar waiting on this side if need be. Being that its in a86 with only 88k on it, I cant imagine I should have too much of trouble, but who knows... better safe than sorry.

You buying from Brian, south of Kansas City? That's who I got my M1008 from. Nice guy.

Depending how long it's been sitting, I wonder if it'd be a good idea to replace the oil a few hundred miles down the road? In case a bunch of crud breaks loose? I plan to do that on mine, and probably replace the fuel filter just in case the tank has crud in it.

Being that its in a86 with only 88k on it, I cant imagine I should have too much of trouble, but who knows... better safe than sorry.
That's funny, right there! Military personnel are NEVER hard on a vehicle! :eek:

Best of luck for a safe ride home. I'm sure there's a fellow Diesel Place member not too far out to give you a hand if need be...

Thanks for the vote of confidence Ty... ;-)

If it helps... I will be taking I-70 all the way from KC to Columbus, and work my way north to Cleveland, then taking I-90 the rest of the way.

Mastiff, check your PM's

hey if you need help, im in between columbus and cleveland in amish country. 419-349-7555.


:ro) a twelve pack of budwieser should be on your list!!!

Just do a few basics and you will be fine. 1) start engine and remove radiator cap, look for bubbles,(make sure coolant is full) no bubbles = very good, head gaskets are good. 2) replace fuel filter, remove bail clips, install new filter, open bleed valver(top of filter housing), disconnect pink injection pump wire(keeps engine from starting and then dying and loosing prime), crank engine until fuel comes out of bleed hole. Install pink wire, start engine. Keep an eye on temp gauge to make sure thermostat isn't sticking. Check tranny fluid and differential fluids before starting out. Check engine oil every 100 miles until you are sure it doesn't have a thirst for oil. Check air filter to make sure no mice have built a nest in it, have a safe and fun drive.:grd:

Trip went great!!! just got home...

Only problem I really had with it was the lack of heat... managed to get some 'warm' by putting a piece of cardboard on the grill. I am thinking either stuck or missing thermostat?

Everyone agree?

hope for stuck, missing would mean that the previous owner was having trouble with it. Could also be a bad waterpump, I'd change both.

I've heard of the heater core getting plugged with scale resulting in loss of heat. Maybe a flush is in order first.

Thats possible, but only if the coolant temp is getting hot and the heater is not putting out hot air. If the coolant temp is not getting hot the heater never will.

It is so much not getting hot, that after idling for about 15 minutes, it told the high idle solenoid to activate again!! Hows that one for ya?


I am gonna assume that it would run somewhat sluggish and inefficient in this manner, right?

Yes, but how would you tell?):h