I've been looking for a 6.5l td and a nv4500. I found a 1998 truck on craigslist and the description says

"The motor started making a loud clacking sound" and that's why he parked it. And also why he's sellin it for 1800obo. It has a 5 speed manny as well.

What do you guys think? What could be the problem and is it worth it?

Thanks for all the help so far everyone

possibly the injectors or hopefully not the lifters?

possibly the injectors or hopefully not the lifters?

Both of those difficult fixes? What about for the price for the engine and tranny?

They get pretty noisy when the balancer breaks too.

If I go check it out, is there anything I should look/listen for that could help me diagnose the problem cause I'm new to these engines

You could be looking at any number of possibly issues here. The balancer is easy to diagnose, but it could be internal. Rod bearings, cracked pistons, or a broken crank will make plenty of noise too.

Jake

Could be a whole lot of things;
Injector/injectors
Harmonic balancer
Crankshaft pulley
Lifters
Rocker arm buttons
Pushrods
Piston pins/pistons
Main bearings
Connecting rod bearings
Turbo heat shield
Injector heat shield
Injector lines
Ect...

Pretty much anything that moves can make a knocking sound. You'd have the describe/videotape the sound and pinpoint the location it is coming from, that can "narrow down" the possibilities.

Depending on the condition of the rest of the truck would determine if it's worth buying, and for how much.

I've been looking for a 6.5l td and a nv4500. I found a 1998 truck on craigslist and the description says

"The motor started making a loud clacking sound" and that's why he parked it. And also why he's sellin it for 1800obo. It has a 5 speed manny as well.

What do you guys think? What could be the problem and is it worth it?

Thanks for all the help so far everyonenever mind the engine,that's fixable.If the body is in good shape i would buy it.

^^ Good point it makes for a nice start for a badass engine build. :)

I'm a licensed, for 30 years auto dealer.Also was an appraiser/used car manager for about 15 years prevously.Rule number one is to not over pay or buy any vehicle with unknown cost of recondtioning. The perfect used buy is a vehicle that needs nothing & do not over pay. No way to estimate that trucks value accurately IMO !!!

I'm a licensed, for 30 years auto dealer.Also was an appraiser/used car manager for about 15 years prevously.Rule number one is to not over pay or buy any vehicle with unknown cost of recondtioning.
The perfect used buy is a vehicle that needs nothing & do not over pay.
No way to estimate that trucks value accurately IMO !!!that would be like winning the jackpot,very few and far between.

As a dealer, you also know that used vehicles are under valued,and new veh are over valued when it comes to a trade in for new,and the used vehicly quikly changes to being over valued when its offered for sale again:D.

So,you care to tell me the real value of a 94 Chevy sle 3500 dually 4x4 ext cab L box with 6.5, NV 4500 and 4:10 gears is.
This truck is in show room cond,the powertrain is exellent.there's 320.000 km on it.the only repairs has been a new eng at 90.000 km,and a OPS,LP,IP,inj and a set of balljoints in the last 20.000 k.
No leaks,no rust anywhere.A 1 owner truck.

Thanks

True cash value of any good used vehicle is is determined at the "whosale dealer only auctions". Unfortunately a 1994 GM diesel would have very few ,if any comparable vehicles sales in that venue.Salvage yards offer $600.00 to $1000.00 here in the west for a 90'S truck that has very little or nothing wrong & is presentable. Good crash parts,good mechanicials are the determining price factors.There is even a lower price venue ,salvage sales by insurance companies.It is easier to overpay than under pay,IMO/LOL.

These prices don't make any sense to me,Up here you cant buy even an old rusted running clonker for less than a grand. just a new set of tires for a GM truck cost here at least a $1000.

I have a 93 grand am that got fender damage(one side) trough a deer hit last august,repair cost was estimated at $3900:cookoo:.( parts totalled only $300.) Insurance wrote the car off and paid out $2200 plus i kept the veh,no buy back charge deducted.

that dont correlate to what you're telling.