I recently purchaced a 93 k3500 ex-cab lb 6.5td 4l80e as a parts truck. The guy I bought it from didn't know anything about what was wrong with the engine.
Yesterday I thought I would try to start it. It was low on oil and very low on anti-freeze[not good] but I thought i would try anyways. I spent a couple of hours cleaning grounds,putting batteries in and trying to get fuel to the ip.I ended up making a fuel pump harness to wire direct to the battery. When i got it turning over it didnt sound right. Kind of a whooshing sound. There was no belt on the engine so no coolant was being pumped. There was bubbles in the over-flow tank. No anti-freeze in the oil. It didn't start and i gave up because of the bubbles. I'm thinking blown head gasket or head.Am I wrong? What would be the best thing to do if i want to just store it untill i get to fixing it? WD40 in the cyl.? Or do i need to pull apart asap to dry cyl. out?I plan on pulling the engine this week.

Pull it apart

Hey, if you decide to use that rig for parts, though, and want to get rid of a couple of things off of it, let me know. I need a few things to get my mechanical IP conversion made a reality, so I'm happy to buy parts off you if you'll sell them.

Kinda sounds like the timing chain broke and hit some valves probably.

It did sound like a valve stuck open. The tensioner pulley was froze up so i'm gussing it was run with no belt and overheated. I dumped aprox.2gal. anti-freeze in the rad. The overflow jug was 3/4 full. The truck has a little over 200,000 miles and had a snow plow at one time. I've never heard of timing chains breaking on these. It wasn't working against the starter like it would if the valves weren't opening. Just bubbles in overflow jug after cranking with water pump not turning.

With out taking it apart we are just playing the 6.5TD pick a broken part game! Just yank the heads off and the story will have a true start and hopefully a happy ending.

tear it down man, may be a multitude of things or one small thing ( not likely with bubbles in overflow tank). Could be head gasket blown who knows........

The engine is on it's way out of the truck now. I'm hoping to not find major carnage inside. At least there wasn't anti-freeze in the oil. It had over 40 psi oil pressure while cranking.My fingers are crossed.