My Truck's engine blew on the way to MCACN...

[Craig_Maiorana]

Let me ask around... a few of my buddies are diesel mechanics. I'm originaly from ocean county

[njsteve]

I was originally trained as a diesel mechanic...but as they say, "A man's got to know his limitations"

And working on one of these modern contraptions is beyond mine.

[Material_Boy]

Steve,
Enjoyed talking to you at the MCACN. With what you went thru to get your car there your attitude and sense of humor was no different than what it is on the site whenever you post. You have an awesome original/unrestored Firebird!. Don't touch it! You can't find em like that.
Trivia note: A few years ago someone on this site started a thread about weird color combinations on cars they had owned over the years. NJsteve posted about a suburban that he owned many years before and I knew right away that we had met some 25 years ago in the hotel parking lot for the Musclecar Nationals in Atco NJ. My truck and trailer was parked next to his truck and trailer and while you couldn't help but notice the hideous color combination of the Suburban, what got my attention more was this guy working on this hemi car (Charger I think)to go out and thrash it on the drag strip the next day. I looked at wife, rolled eyes and said this guy is nuts to do that to this car. I know guys----that's what they were built for. Any way we spoke for a few minuets, wished each other luck,(I was car showing-he was drag racing) and never saw him again until Sunday at the MCACN. Steve, I hope you get your problem with the Suburban straightened and it doesn't cost you and arm and a leg in the process. The color combination of the present Suburban is more pleasing than the last one I saw. LOL.

Dave

[njsteve]

Great meeting you too, Dave.

You know, 25 years ago I was thinking the exact same thing about you and your car back then: How could this guy be so crazy as to be cleaning and polishing and primping such a nice car and then just show it. How could he NOT want to beat the hell out of it? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

That was the one-of-one, original paint, orange/white 1971 Hemi Charger sunroof car. It's in the Wellborn Collection now. It ran 13.837 at 101.35 if I recall correctly.

BTW for those who don't remember that old thread, my old 1986 K2500 Suburban was medium gold with a bright blue interior. I think the color was called <span style="font-style: italic">Jersey Tan Mom Bronze</span>.

Here's a couple photos, one of the charger and the trailer and one of the Charger at Atco in 1988.

[Material_Boy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Great meeting you too, Dave.

You know, 25 years ago I was thinking the exact same thing about you and your car back then: How could this guy be so crazy as to be cleaning and polishing and primping such a nice car and then just show it. How could he NOT want to beat the hell out of it? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

BTW for those who don't remember that old thread, my old 1986 K2500 Suburban was medium gold with a bright blue interior. </div></div>

LMAO. Point well taken.
I trust you made it home with no further adventures. See ya next year.

Dave

[njsteve]

BTW, is that you in the photo cleaning your car, clad in that classic, yellow, tennis outfit with the calf high socks ???

[Tommy]

When you own a 6.5 Turbo Diesel you are often faced with enormous trials and tribulations... I know, I own one as well and mine is down &quot;AGAIN&quot; right now [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img].. You could send it out to Montana for a professional Cummins engine install. I don't know what they charge.

http://www.autoworldmt.com/Page_11.html

http://www.autoworldmt.com/Page_8.html

http://www.autoworldmt.com/

Here's my problem child... a 2000 model that has cost me more in repairs than the initial purchase price.




Tommy [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/[/img]

[Material_Boy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">BTW, is that you in the photo cleaning your car, clad in that classic, yellow, tennis outfit with the calf high socks ??? </div></div>
Nope, not me. My hair had already started to turn grey. LOL. I also would not be wearing a classic yellow tennis outfit with calf high socks. Is that what you Jersey guys wore back in the day? I am home on the computer instead of the office that sometimes blocks the pics. Yep, that's the car. Great times you were clicking off with that car. Great seeing you again after all these years even if it was just for a few minuets back in 1989. Hope things work out on the the Suburban.

Dave

[njsteve]

I found a local reputable diesel place today. They were a 45 year, family owned GMC truck dealer until the 2008 GM slaughter of small dealers. They are still a GMC truck repair facility for light and med duty trucks and familiar with the 6.5s.

That being said, I pulled the drain plug and there was a lot of coolant at the bottom, under the oil. So it is looking to be a bit more serious than a head gasket, possibly a cracked block or head. And if the coolant ran through the bearings for any length of time, that pretty much points me towards a new engine.

The shop is going to do a compression test and dye test next week to confirm a diagnosis and see exactly where the failure point is. We will then make a decision based on the facts.

Anyone have any experience with the GM part # 88894125, which is the brand new factory long block? They go for around $6K and have a 3 year/100K mile warranty. I am looking for warranty coverage otherwise I'd go with a military takeout. The shop said they have had nothing but trouble with Jasper - he said they had to replace a Jasper Duramax three times on the same job. After that they wouldn't touch a Jasper again