I am confused and need a little guidance.

I purchased a 96 K2500 5 speed 6.5TD from a friend. His father purchased it a year old with about 12-14k miles. It now has 190k.

The drivers side valve cover has a pretty and shiny new looking sticker that says "GM GOODWRENCH NEW 6.5L"

My mechanic says the motor is not original based on the sticker because he has never seen it.

When I talk to my buddy, his father says it's the original motor.

Don't know if it helps, but the VIN is 1GCGK29F3TE146833.

Anyone else have this?

Nope not the original engine. The way i see it, how many new vehicles(of any time period) woudl have a "new (enter displacement here)" sticker on the valve covers. None that I've ever seen.

My blazer has a "GM Goodwrench 6.2 Diesel" sticker on both valve covers and i know it's not original.

The Goodwrench is a replacement motor. The engine was most likely replace under waranty before your buddys father bought the truck. You can contact your local GM/chevy dealer and have them run the VIn#. They will have a record if the engine was replaced.

That's what I figured, but what confuses me is his father has owned the truck since 97 and around 12-14k miles.

Can this be a warranty replacement motor from the 1st year?

What is strange is the motor looks amazingly clean for 190k, without a single leak (yet). The sticker looks brand new, the valve covers are shiny new black, not faded, rusted or showing any wear like usual.

He is very trustworthy. I have never met his father, but I can't figure out why he would say the engine was original if it wasnt. I purchased the perfectly running truck, in nearly new condition for $750 bucks, so it's not like he ripped me off.

Im lost.

The Goodwrench is a replacement motor. The engine was most likely replace under waranty before your buddys father bought the truck. You can contact your local GM/chevy dealer and have them run the VIn#. They will have a record if the engine was replaced.

I will try that, thanks!

Edit: I called the dealer. It's had the tranny replaced at 81k in 2000, injection system items in 2000 but nothing on the motor during warranty. He also says that sticker indicates a replacement.

I guess i should call myself lucky if it was replaced??? I don't know how else to know for sure.

The replacement is probably a 506 block considering that block was the last 6.5 block made and it started in '97. depending on when in 96 yours was made it could have been a factory 506 or could not have been i suppose. The first gen 506's had problems with the oil squirters being too big and weakening the block, and the block would crack near them.

I wonder if that's what happened to your original engine? My 96 is a non-squirter block from what i can tell, but i've never pulled the lower intake to check the casting number either.