http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=267353271&dealer_id=64516251&car_year=2003&rdm=1258861332340&lastStartYear=1981&model=CHEVC25&num_records=25&systime=&make3=&make2=GMC&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=2001&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=Diesel&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&color3=WHITE&model2=GMCC25PU&color2=RED&search_lang=en&sownerid=593524&showZipError=n&make=CHEV&keywords_display=&color=BLUE&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=4%20wheel%20drive&default_sort=priceASC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceASC&feature7=power%20windows&address=55316&advanced=y&feature2=cruise%20control&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Automatic&max_price=15000&cardist=481&standard=false

I'm looking to buy a truck, how hard and what is the cost to fix the problem with that truck? And are there any more problems that could resurface?

Usually when a valve drops, it lands in the pan and makes a path big enough to get through to get there.

10k is high for that truck with the miles and its mechanical issues

I wonder if there is more to the story, cam key sheared or the motor ran away?

Sry I'm new to diesel engines, this is like spanish to me, don't understand a of of it.
Cam key?

You think an offer of $7,000 is good? Or even less?

i would not make any offer without looking at it, so to have actual assesment. never heard of valvekeeper breaking. cummins had KDP(killer dowel pin) so gm decided to use pins in crank and cam to drive gears, instead of keys like they did for decades(probably for reasons, but hey what did those old guys know). well the pins can give/shear, leading to mangled valves, pistons, bent pushrods, can junk engine. $1,000 would be good offer since i would think allison will need work to.

Alright, screw it, I'll let some sucker buy it lol.

The dowel pins in Cummins engines is simply there to align the timing gear housing with the block. It has nothing to do with mating driven gears to shafts etc. There is no load on these pins. Now...if this one particular pin wiggles out of its bore, which is open to the engine front geartrain, its basically free to float around between the various gears in there. I've done the fix to several of them. The classic wrench in the gearbox story. Busted blocks/housings, bent camshafts and other types of massive deal ending damage. Hence the name Killer Dower Pin.

On GM's...are these gear drive pins known to fail for no reason? Or what causes the failure? I've seen the ads for folks who will machine keyways in the the components. But is that just for performance needs?

The pins are just for assembly and the torque on the bolt is supose to hold it tight and from spining. They will often come loose and shear the soft pin.

What do ya do? Tear down to check torque?