I am new to the world of diesel and have had one offered to me for 2k. The truck is a 1988 1500 one owner vehicle with 6.2 diesel with a 100000 miles on it. I am considering it to tow about 4000lbs everyday for 60 days on an extended trip. After that it will become a weekend hauler, toy hauler and all around outdoor play and work truck. I've scanned the site but am still wondering is this a good deal and a good price? A few opinions and info would help me out-

Since I have never driven a diesel - What's the benefits it offers over gas?

Overall with the cost of gas vs diesel have you found it cost efficient to drive the diesel vs gas?

Any daily, weekly or monthly maintenance or additives that are different from a gas engine?

Do you see mpg benefits? Have you seen longer life from your vehicle and engine by purchasing diesel?

What should have already been performed as major maintenance by a 100k on these trucks (What should I check to see that they have already done?)

What are the major maintenance items that need to be performed on the 6.2's and at what mileage? What was the approximate costs paid to have these maintenance items performed?

Does the injector pump need to be replaced at 100k?

Does the 6.2 use a timing chain or is it gear to gear?

What is the minor maintenance that should have been performed regularly?

I understand gas engines and know to check compression,plugs, fluids, etc. What can I check on the diesel to know if the engine is solid?

I live right by the rocky mountains will this vehicle be able to tow 4000lbs up and down the mountains maintaining 55 mph?

I hear that the transmissions on the Chevy's are weak (700r4) is this experience of most or only those pulling heavy trailers (fifth wheels)?

Is the 700r4 the only automatic transmission that was used in the Chevy's? If no how can you tell what tranny is in it?

Anyone know a good diesel mechanic in the Denver metro area that will do a vehicle review for me? (if I decide to buy it)

Anything else you could tell me would be helpful. Not knowing anything about diesels is making me unsure about the potential purchase - appreciate the help.

:eek: Most of these can be answered by reading posts. However , IMO the short answer is NOT to buy it for the towing application with that tranny and those miles. Mountain towing and a 700r4 at 55 mph at 100K :badidea: .

Maybe a TH400 or 350 with the right gears if the engine was solid.

As far as a beat around truck for the money........ maybe. I would look for a 3/4 ton setup minimum. Others here have far more diesel knowledge than I, so maybe you will get another opinion.

Appreciate the response CR. Why the fear of 100k on the engine? - or is it just the combination of the trany and engine. I've spent quit a bit of time scanning the site and couldn't find info on most of this info, maybe not searching well.

Anyway saw trany info with heavy duty towing but not low to moderate. Also couldn't find specs on what came with the truck as far as Trany's in 1988 Does anyone know the code deciphering info for 1988's 6.2l diesels? I saw the 6.5 diesel info but I'm sure this isn't applicable - is it?

As far as the other questions I appreciate the indication that I should search. Spent about 8 hours doing that and couldn't find the info for the 6.2 or enough on diesels in general Finally went to a generic diesel book that I found at the library for more diesel repair and maintenance info. Highly recommend - Diesel Technology by Andrew Norman. It's a Diesel Mechanic's text book. :blahblah:

Other then the codes info I am good now. To many long hours without sleep.

The tranny /engine combo is what bothers me on that truck. If the engine is soild, and has been well maintained thats fine but a 700r4 at 100K is looking to be rebuilt if its done much towing. I have had several 700's, and they can be great trannies with the low first gear and OD. But for towing on grades and those speeds I would look for a TH350 or 400. The tendency for the 700 to want to drop in and out of OD is a pain in the butt. Yes, I know it can be built to eliminate that, and I have had them built but I get the impression money is a factor. Not ranting at you ...... I am not a 700r4 fan anymore. I also would try to find a 3/4 or 1 ton truck to get the bigger brakes and stouter frame.
The diesel stuff is actually fairly new to me as well, so I will stay away from the tech side of those comments. Trannies , axles, brakes, t-cases , general 4x4 stuff, that is where my experience falls. Try Chucks Chevy truck pages for VIN de-coding, and do a search on google for transmission ID's and several sites will give you pan shapes to help your ID. Also I did not see if it was a 2wd or 4wd, the 2's can tow more.:blahblah:

MTN Diesel go to the FAQs sticky locked above, there is a thread linked there to give you some things to think about before buying a Diesel. I'm not sure 4K tows extended really fit the 6.2 it's a good engine but not really the power house that comes to mind when thinking Diesel, any grades to haul that load over or mostly flat,??

The 6.2 does okay with rolling loads moderate terrain, turbo Diesel is what you need to pull heavier loads or work grades.

Honestly, aren't 4k tows kind of small? I would think that they should be no problem. I understand the concerns of 100k miles on the truck and the un-knowns, but arent most camper trailers weighing in around 4k? Are you saying I shouldnt tow anymore than a couple of snowmobiles with a 6.2? My 2000 S-10 Blazer with 4.3 could tow 4k all day long if it wanted.

Now I could see this discussion if we were in the upwards of 10k towing... but then again, even my sbc 250 had issues then. ;)

I think what is being said is, the 1/2 ton, 6.2C engine, 700R4 trans combination was designed as a fuel economy, light duty vehicle. Yes, it has some towing capacity but! The overall design was for ecomomy, "like a passenger car" type use. When used this way, they yield excellant fuel ecomomy and ease of driving with fairly low maintanance.

The 3/4 ton and up combos, are much heavier in all areas except horsepower and torque. With a 6.2NA, that stuff is pretty limited. I know, you can "build them up, etc", I'm talking stock engine here. The gearing, etc. allows heavy towing, but don't expect to pass on a hill while towing a load.

Overheating wasn't much of an issue with the 6.2 if you didn't abuse the design. The 6.5 turbo seems, from all the posts, a different matter.

I have many miles towing with my 3/4T 4X4 6.2NA without problems. Temp runs 180 - 190. If the guage begins to crawl up, I just slow down, gear down and hold up traffic on long hills! Sorry, but that's what it takes to keep everything together!

Well put Fred482, he needs what I drive, '82 chevy 3/4 ton camper special deluxe, 2wd, 6.2na, turbo 400 trans, and a 4:10 rear end, definatly NOT a highway cruiser, but will pull good for a non turbo diesel, good accelration around town to. This truck is built like a tank. The trucks rated gvrw is 8600lbs. Plus you get the non egr emission intake on the 3/4 ton. If anybody has a rear bracket for the factory air condidion compressor, I am needing one. Everything is there and works except for the rear bracket, makes the compressor shake like the dickens. Thanks and good luck Mike

The engine should be in great shape with only 100K miles on it. The major maint. items for the 6.2 is to change oil/filter at 3K miles and the fuel filter at around 20K miles.

The 700 trans. is a poor quality transmission. Maybe even worse than the 350. The 400 is the best of the three and if your truck has it then I would not be worried (if the trans oil and filter have been changed every 30K miles. I suspect your truck has a 700 and it is past the time for an overhaul from the experience of friends and relatives that have the 700. You could put a manual trans. in the truck if you have the mechanic knowledge. That is what I did with mine when the auto failed.

The '88 700R4, at least, had all the latest and greatest upgrades from the early, "weak sister" models of the '82 - '86 range. I used a late '87 core ( the last one without the auxillary valve body) to build the one in my suburban. It had some of the "good parts". It was a GM SERTA take-out. Owner wanted a THM400 for towing.

I added the 13 vane pump, .500 boost valve, HD sprag, high dollar convertor, HD sun gear drive shell, Red Eagle clutches, full thickness steels, etc. So far, so good. We'll see as time passes. Total parts investment was around $750.

Thanks everyone for the responses and information. Based on all your responses and other postings, I decided to pass on the truck since I live at the base of the colorado rockies and have to continuously climb mountains pulling a moderate to midsize tow load.

Honestly, aren't 4k tows kind of small? I would think that they should be no problem. I understand the concerns of 100k miles on the truck and the un-knowns, but arent most camper trailers weighing in around 4k? Are you saying I shouldnt tow anymore than a couple of snowmobiles with a 6.2? My 2000 S-10 Blazer with 4.3 could tow 4k all day long if it wanted.

Now I could see this discussion if we were in the upwards of 10k towing... but then again, even my sbc 250 had issues then. ;)

Fred nailed pretty much what I meant to say, 6.2 is a good engine don't get me wrong but it does have it's limits as do all of them.

When most people think or hear Diesel, they assume gobs of power, which unmodded N/A engines don't have and struggle maintain economy & speed.

ok i got an '84 k10 with the 6.2l,th700r4 and 140,000 on the clock runs like a champ seams to pull fairly well here in michigan but my hills are alot smaller than yours. Your not gonna win any races but it should handel it. 100,000 on that trans. prolly looking at an overhual pretty soon.But I love that my 1/2 ton 4x4 still gets 20mpg when all my friends only get about 11 to 13:ro)

Chuck