I'm looking at a couple 6.5 TD is the local area.
First off, I'm not familiar with diesels, let alone the 6.5
There seems top be a lot of negative press about the 6.5 out there.
I;m looking at a 95 6.5 TD in an ecsb, and a 6.5 TD in a 97 Eclb.
The 95 is in better overall shape, and the 97 looks to have been a farm truck. You can tell it was loaded down as the bed is bowed down between the bed supports.
The 95 looks to have been a dialy runner that once had a fifth wheel hitch in the bed.
Mileage:
95 ecsb - 263 000 KMs (about 163 000 miles)
97 eclb - 332 000 KMs (about 205 000 miles)
Both are what I would consider expensive, 95 at just under 9 grand, 97 just under 8 grand.
The 95 is pretty much bone stock, the p7 has the PMD cooler/heatsink installed, but not much else.
The 95 is "rust free", but has one of those stupid sunvisors bolted to the roof and I'm not keen on those holes it will leave. A few more redneck touches like lighted running boards and aluminum bed rail tie down Bars easily unbolt. The 97 is a long box (which I want) with a spray in liner, but like I said it looks like it's been used hard and put away wet. The rocker on the extended cab are also bubbling and will need to be cut out.
Then again, the 95 has the 6 bolt rims (1/2 ton front diff) and the 97 has the 8 bolt rims ("true" 3/4 front diff).
Anything diesel is foolishly priced around here. A cummins or powestroke is completely out of the question.
My concern is the mileage. I know diesels are "supposed" to be able to gobble up high mileage, but my gasser mind just can't wrap around 332 000 kms being "reasonable".
Can anyone offer advice on these two trucks, or the 6.5 TD in general.
I'm just looking for a daily driver in an 88-98 body style that can haul my plow up an down my 300 foot driveway in the winter and be reliable......oh yeah, and get 20+ mpg average.....