6.2 GM Diesel

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   1987 step van with the 6.2 GM Diesel. All I have heard is they have no power, was there any other bad rep that they have that one should be aware of? Would be used by my wife to haul her upholstery business a 30 minute drive to the lake to do boat covers. Thanks, John.

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johnkc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Location: KCMO Points: 714	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnkc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 6.2 GM Diesel Posted: 27 Apr 2018 at 7:42am
	1987 step van with the 6.2 GM Diesel. All I have heard is they have no power, was there any other bad rep that they have that one should be aware of? Would be used by my wife to haul her upholstery business a 30 minute drive to the lake to do boat covers. Thanks, John.
	I support the development of hybrid automobiles and alternative fuels as I need DIESEL fuel for my ALLIS CHALMERS!

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DMiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Hermann, Mo Points: 29912	Post Options Post Reply Quote DMiller Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 2018 at 7:58am
	6.2's were notorious as to leaks, fuel, oil, coolant. If the coolant was not taken care of in it over the years the head gaskets will be problematic, but if has been then not so much a issue. The old roosa pumps were bad for losing the coupling internally and required some finagling to keep in function, not many shops will have the timing kits anymore as they used a timing meter and read off a glow plug insert for proper timing.

TimNearFortWorth Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Points: 2014	Post Options Post Reply Quote TimNearFortWorth Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 2018 at 10:13am
	Long about 1983/84 if memory serves, plenty of folks jumped on them in the oilfield in WY, mostly for 4 man crews (Blazers) on pulling units as we could fill up at the rig on the operators dime. Run like a striped a$$ monkey but started eating starters, pumps and front brakes badly after about 18 months. Seem to recall the starter replacement from GM at the time was 1200.00. Don't know for sure if they ever sorted that initial engine and it was reportedly converted from the GM gas offering at the time.

Coke-in-MN Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Afton MN Points: 41272	Post Options Post Reply Quote Coke-in-MN Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 2018 at 5:36pm
	Had a 6.2 in my 85 GMC - 200,000 it broke the crank - took out the block also Was in 3/4 ton with 4 speed 3.78 gears - fantastic mileage - between 19 to 23 MPG Went through 2 sets of heads - cracked on rear combustion chamber - Had bought a 2nd engine and chassis for $150 so had 1 set of heads off that engine and 1 starter . Picked up 3rd engine that I rebuilt in another 1/2 ton truck I bought for $600 - sold the truck with a gas engine for $1200 - used the engine for 60,000 then sold the 85 for parts a body went bad . Was a fantastic truck for snow plowing as cheap to run plow route took 1 tank of diesel or if done with gas truck 2 tanks of gas . With 9' camper on truck is still got 20 MPG Son has a 6.5 GM diesel - with new style pump - 15 to 17 MPG at tops with no load - module for new pumps go out regularly- buys rebuilds or used one off e-bay and has them inside cab as they will not stand the heat in factory location . On my old truck I replaced the temp sensing glow plug control with newer style unit that cycles when key is turned on no matter engine temp - as a few times when cold out if engine did not get warm - glow plugs would not cycle and engine would not start .
	Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something. "Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."

Lee (MN) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Bronze Level Joined: 14 Jan 2012 Location: East central MN Points: 116	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lee (MN) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 2018 at 8:00pm
	I had on my in a K30 service truck, 4.10 gears, wouldent pull a sick whore off a toilet. Glow plug controllers/realays were a problem as well as the glow plugs..... Head gaskets were replaced more than once. A 6.2 in a 1/2 ton that was not worked usually held up fairly well and gave decent fuel mileage. I would look for a gas job, much easier to maintain. Lee
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shameless dude Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 10 Apr 2017 Location: east NE Points: 13611	Post Options Post Reply Quote shameless dude Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 2018 at 9:14pm
	I've had 2, still have one. one broke the crank at 403,000. miles. fantastic milage if not ram rodded got mostly up to 26 MPG. always started in winter without being plugged in. a lot of folks didn't like them, but I never had any problems with them. had one in a burb and used it to pull grain wagons with 300 bu of beans and corn in the wagons to the elevator. I did buy a new starter for one once, think it was in the area of $150-$200. always let it warm up before driving it.

johnkc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Location: KCMO Points: 714	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnkc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Apr 2018 at 8:13am
	Thanks for the input guys. I think I’ll pass on these step vans with diesels. Just not to interested in learning new tricks right now. But if I come across one with a blown 6.2 then I would be up for putting a gas motor in it.
	I support the development of hybrid automobiles and alternative fuels as I need DIESEL fuel for my ALLIS CHALMERS!

HD6GTOM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 30 Nov 2009 Location: MADISON CO IA Points: 6627	Post Options Post Reply Quote HD6GTOM Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Apr 2018 at 1:31pm
	I had a tire service truck was an old Goodyear truck I put over 300000 miles on it, that does not include the time it set pumping. Had the super hevy duty rad in it. Never had a problem. Never changed brakes on it. It had over 400000 on it when we got a newer Dodge diesel. .

Orange Blood Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Location: ColoradoSprings Points: 4053	Post Options Post Reply Quote Orange Blood Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Apr 2018 at 6:15pm
	WOW......I guess we were the only ones in the country that didn't have much trouble with them. Dad and I both had '82 model trucks, glow plug controllers were changed occasionally, but we put a crap ton of miles on both, and one is still running. The other just got parked when dad upgraded. We also had an '85 G20 Chevy van with one, and literally a couple hundred thousand trouble free miles. It got parked, because all of us kids moved out. Now I did put head gaskets in dads, once, and I think in mine, but we had far more problems with transmissions, and other truck parts than we ever had with the motor. NO they are NOT fast, but they will pull one heck of a load up a cliff if you have a couple of minutes though.
	Still in use: HD7 WC C CA WD 2-WD45 WD45LP WD45D D14 3-D17 D17LP 2-D19D D19LP 190XTD 190XTLP 720 D21 220 7020 7030 7040 7045 3-7060 Projects: 3-U UC 2-G 2-B 2-C CA 7-WC RC WDLP WF D14 D21 210 7045 N7

shameless dude Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 10 Apr 2017 Location: east NE Points: 13611	Post Options Post Reply Quote shameless dude Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Apr 2018 at 9:04pm
	John...who had the step van before? if it's like a delivery service (UPS/Fed EX/ect) they ram rodded them step vans all the time, go fast, deliver, and gits home was their thinking. if it was like a plumbing/electric company, I wouldn't be afraid of it. years ago, a electrical company had 2 of their step vans for sALE, they were older and they wanted bigger and newer models. they had the all aluminum bodied ones with the GM diesels. they are still going today, I know they sold them like 20 years ago or better. eva

shameless dude Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 10 Apr 2017 Location: east NE Points: 13611	Post Options Post Reply Quote shameless dude Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Apr 2018 at 9:06pm
	well...that was weird...was typing and it went right to the forum....anyways...even now a days if you ram rod any diesel...soon yer gonna be walking!

johnkc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Location: KCMO Points: 714	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnkc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Apr 2018 at 8:20am
	It was a US Postal Svc van that has been retired and repurposed as a sign makers van. The first life maintenance was probably good. And it looks like the sign maker has treated it well.
	I support the development of hybrid automobiles and alternative fuels as I need DIESEL fuel for my ALLIS CHALMERS!

klinemar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Points: 7937	Post Options Post Reply Quote klinemar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Apr 2018 at 9:17am
	Oldest Son worked on a lot of 6.2 GM Diesels as he was an Army Mechanic and the Hummvs all had 6.2 motors. Most of these were not the up armored models and he said they had a lot of problems . His exact words about the 6.2 was they were good if you were going fishing as they make one hell of a boat anchor!

Coke-in-MN Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Afton MN Points: 41272	Post Options Post Reply Quote Coke-in-MN Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Apr 2018 at 9:28am
	Over the years I had more clutch problems and evidently because the crank had to be flexing as it took out the pilot bearing - did change the input shaft and bearing on tranny and helped . Overall was a good engine for the miles i put on - and would have bought another one if i had stayed in snow plowing as was great for that . Pulling small trailer was OK but with skid loader at 8,000 and trailer - it struggled and did leave a smoke trail under heavy load and could time speed with a sun dial ! Still have the 3/4 ton 3.73 rear end out back with a new posi-traction unit in with about 5,000 miles on it - semi-float GM axle . Also have front unit to match but one tube is bent from hitting something hard .
	Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something. "Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."