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glassbysam
08-11-2004, 13:15
hi
I just bought this 1994 chevy P-30 step van, 6.5 normally aspirated diesel, with 65,000 miles in new york for $3500.
We drove the van up to grand Island , NY and I had a mechanic replace belts,
radiator hoses , antifreeze, oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter,
replaced front disc brake pads, [left front pad was 'frozen' in place rubbing],
front shocks,headlight,oil cooler lines [one was leaking onto left front leaf
springs.], total of $252.00 dollars in parts and $300.00 in labor. also had
two [2] new front tires put on , another $525.00... so all total about $1100
spent so we would have a safe and trouble free ride home...
we started home on sunday towards missouri went 503 miles, just east of
indianapolis and the motor locked up from a cracked block, dumped the new
antifreeze into the crankcase and cylinders...had it towed to a chevy garage
with a diesel mechanic and they are telling me to fix it will be $12000.00-
$14000.00.... not only is the block cracked but the liquid in the cylinders
caused the rods to bend trying to compress the liquid, also broken pistons, and
bearings...
I have located a used engine for about $2000.00 but they still want $3000.00
labor to switch engines.......
I do not even know what to do......the cheapest option is $5000 and I do not
think I want to put that much more into the van...
do any of you have any ideas?? know a diesel mechanic that works cheaper to R & R an engine?? or even a way to haul this step van the rest of the way to missouri about 425 miles...
thanks in advance
sam davisson
sedalia mo

CareyWeber
08-11-2004, 13:24
Sam,

You might post here.

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/haulquery.pl

Carey

rjschoolcraft
08-11-2004, 13:48
Where are you now? I live in Martinsville, just down the road from Indianapolis. Maybe I can help.

MTTwister
08-11-2004, 14:40
Glassby - take RonnieJoe up on the offer... Great guy - I'm sure he'll do what he can to help out.

markrinker
08-11-2004, 14:55
Here is my fiscal advice, based on your stated threshold of '$5,000 being too much'.

It will take at least $7-8K to dependably repower your van, if all goes well. Could be more, won't be less.

If thats too much, cut your losses and sell the van 'as-is', or trade as-is to a dealership that can fix it for cost of parts and labor.

Do you have any recourse on the seller? Dealer or private party? If you bought it on Ebay, you may have more recourse than you think through SafeHarbor or PayPal if that was used.

Good luck.

glassbysam
08-11-2004, 14:59
hi
thanks for the offer ronniejoe.....
At the present time I am in sedalia mo [back home]...
I am not sure what I need to do, fix van where it is [expensive] or find some way to haul it to sedalia [where I can get the work done more reasonably...]
I have thought about this motor on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7915535052&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
I could have it shipped to indianapolis for about $200 if I could get it installed for less than a thousand that would be an option...
do you know a mechanic that would take delivery of the van , pull out the lod motor and install another motor??
If you want to contact me off list glassbysam@SPAM yahoo.com take out SPAM
later
sam

markrinker
08-11-2004, 16:12
$1200 starting bid is attractive. I am not familiar with the NA version of the 6.5, but know that there are plenty on here that are.

Try another post and get feedback from NA users about 1995 model years. I'd find out WHY the fleet was being converted to Cummins - what problems led them to make this costly decision.

rjschoolcraft
08-11-2004, 17:09
I'm not sure what's wrong, but contact me at ron@schoolcraftpowertrain.com or go to http://www.schoolcraftpowertrain.com for more contact information.

LanduytG
08-11-2004, 18:11
Depending on the shape the heads are in you can do a top notch rebuild for less than 7-8K. I did my 6.5TD and spared no expence and put in new 18:1 and did it all for less than 5K. Being a van will surely make it laor intensive. I live just east of Indy about 30 minutes. You can contact me at the number in the sig.

Greg

whatnot
08-11-2004, 18:18
That ebay auction look a lot like what The diesel Depot sells.(see advertisers section) You should call them before bidding and see what they would get for a comparable one. (you could also throw a 6.2 in there cheaper and probably not notice the difference)

whatnot
08-11-2004, 18:25
If you do decide to try getting the one off ebay, ask a lot of questions first. Their last feedback is for one of those 6.5's

Seller tried to add additional costs (labeled core charge) - caution !!
Buyer farmkc9999 ( 0 ) Aug-09-04 07:20 7913127942 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemWithCategory&item=7913127942)

WhiteGMC
08-12-2004, 17:42
Glassbysam,

Check this URL out...6.5 engines $2000.00

http://www.65ldiesel.com/page/page/469414.htm

Good Luck,

Jerry