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Old 04-20-2015, 06:44 PM   #1
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6.5L gurus

ok ive searched and searched this forum but i am coming down to buying a short bus chevy with a 6.5L diesel. ive googled and googled and read many many other forums. But now i need real skoolie advice. if someone that knows their stuff and has experience with this platform. can i call you and get true advice? i just dont wanna make a bad decision on something i have plans to have for 10-15 years.
Thanks
Ryan

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Old 04-20-2015, 11:44 PM   #2
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Year: 1995
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Engine: DT408, AT545
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Get a FERD.
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Old 04-21-2015, 06:40 AM   #3
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does failed cranks and blocks ring a bell? converting an olds gas burner to a diesel didnt work well for GM, but again, what has worked well for them?
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Old 04-21-2015, 09:34 AM   #4
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Our church has started the discussion about selling our mini-bus that is built on a 1997 Chevy G3500 chassis with the 6.5L turbo diesel engine.

The 6.5L is not a bad engine but it does have it's issues. Among them are cracked blocks and broken cranks. Not all of them but a lot of them die well before 200,000 miles.

The issue for our church is we have found it increasingly difficult to find parts and pieces that are specific to the G-series platform.

The 6.5L was not a very popular option in the G-series platform. As a consequence there is virtually zero support for the application in the aftermarket. The aftermarket is needed because when GM stopped production of the engine they also stopped making spare parts. Now that the GM parts supply has been exhausted some of the parts and pieces are simply not available anywhere.

The 6.5L was put into many trucks and HUMVEES so there is aftermarket support for those applications.

My recommendation would be to not consider any bus, particularly a bus built on the GM G-series chassis, that has a 6.5L diesel engine in it.
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Old 04-21-2015, 04:22 PM   #5
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thanks guess ill pass on this and look elsewhere
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Old 04-21-2015, 04:58 PM   #6
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Don't make the mistake of getting a one ton van cutaway bus.

Your better off with a short, full size chassis bus. Much better engine choices, better brakes, ect.

Nat
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