Im looking into buying my first diesel, but I've heard these trucks are plagued with issues. The guy with this truck told me that the upgrades he has done pretty well fixes all of those issues, since I don't know **** I was hoping someone who does know could help me see through the BS if in fact that is what I'm being fed. Thank you in advance, anything is appreciated. His ad description are as follows:

1995 GMC 6.5 Turbo Diesel 4x4 Auto Trans, New pensacola diesel injection pump, Pmd relocate to front bumper, New pensacola marine injectors, Custom chip from Heath diesel, New Heath diesel glow plugs, lift pump oil pressure sensor, k&n intake, 4 inch exhaust 2 1/2 inch crossover pipe 5 inch powder coated tip black, 18 inch Rockstars with general grabber tires, Kenwood cd/DVD flip out radio, Cowl hood, 35k Hids, 155,xxx miles
Asking $7000 OBO

 

Price seems steep depending on where you are. Sounds like he may be trying to get his money back from all his upgrades. In these trucks, the injection pump and injectors are considered "wear-items" from GM and have an expected lifespan of about 100k miles. PMD relocation is a must, and a good thing to already have done. Hard to say without looking at the truck, but it could be a solid truck, just don't expect much power out it. JMHO.

 

$7000 too much for one of these, for that much look at 96-98 12v cummins with the 5 speed, there's a lot more parts out there for them in case it should die, and the old 12v one's last with relatively low issues. I got a friend with one that has 300k with the auto and runs strong. I bought mine for 3500 two years ago, and looking back at it, I should have saved up for a cummins, they are good engines but will not produce great number for power, the big issue is the PMD which has been relocated. Mine has 195k and runs strong, but constant down shifting and running hills at 50 mph in 4th can get embarrassing. I can do all those mods on mine and have it cost less than $7000 total.

 

Where are you at? That's about what they are going for here in CA. A 95 in good shape at a dealer here is $5-$8,000 for a 4X4. And that is all stock with no upgrades. There is a dealer in Livermore that wants $20,000 for a 99 CC with 82K miles on it. It's been for sale for probably 8 months, but they are still asking $20K for it. I have seen a lot of trucks that have had the wrong people working on them. Would I pay $7000 for somebodied hack job they think they improved? NO. Would I pay $7000 for a clean, good running truck that fit what I want it to do? Yes.

 

Okay, D-Maxes are going for under 10k right across the state line in AZ. To me it would make sense to take a road trip and get a better diesel for your money. The best bet for $7000 is to go find a 96-98 12v cummins with a manual that is clean a good running with fairly low miles 150k. NOT saying the 6.5 diesel is a bad engine, there are just better ones out there for $7000.

 

We are getting hosed then. 96-98 12V cummins, unless they have over 250K, for the most part, are $10-$15,000. Same with early Dmax. Unless they are pretty rough. Only Dmax's I've seen around here under $10K needs quite a bit of work.

 

Yeah, people in Southern California should just take the weekend to go to Arizona, Phoenix to be more precise, it takes a little time to find a 4x4 but they have them. Just the other day I found a 2002 D-Max CCSB 4x4 with the Allison for $9500, but it sold the same day it was posted. However most of the cheaper ones typically have a $H!T load of miles but you can find some with 150-160 for under 10k. You do have to take a trip to AZ, but there is a three day weekend coming up. Here's a link to a 94 CC Chevy 4x4 for $4800. It has 121k miles on it. 1994 Chevy 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 Diesel I would be all over this if it had the 5 spd, my starter went out for the 4th time in 2-3 months so I'm looking to replace this one. Might have to sell it in California since they're worth a lot more there.

This is a Duramax spoken of 2005 CHEVROLET 2500HD LS EXTENDED CAB 4X4 DIESEL

I don't think you're being hosed, I think diesels in general cost a bunch more in California. I know when I first bought mine in 2011 it was the cheapest in New Mexico, where I lived, $3000 asking price but I got it lowered to $2800. I know in Colorado, I've found 03-04 Cummins with the 6 speed for under 13000 and only had roughly 150k on them. Right now I'm going to college in Montana and at least all the diesels are manuals, but they all have 250+k miles since its a huge state that is all highway.

Yeah, I guess buying diesels probably isn't too great in California, but if you're serious about getting a diesel look outside the state, I'm sure in Oregon they can't be too much. My brother is at Camp Pendleton and was shocked when he found out a bought a running diesel for $2800. He says it almost impossible to find gas stations that sell diesel too.

 

I don't consider that 1994 clean. That is a truck with a cheap shiny paint job over a beat truck. It's black paint with blue door jambs and interior. Has none of the upgrades that the one this guy is talking about. If the truck psychodoughboy is looking at has all these upgrades, plus a descent paint job, I would go with the 95 for another $2000. The 95 has newer interior also.

 

I do like the newer interior, this is what I could find in the 6.5 market pool, when I was hot in the market there were a bunch of 6.5s but now they are all gone. I didn't notice the blue door paint, but I did notice the blue interior. Yeah, figuring it's Phoenix, I would imagine that there would be fading paint, but I usually just look at the mechanical side of things, only 121k miles, heat sync pmd. Two things to look for. He mentions corrosion underneath, rust, don't have any pictures of it so can't get an idea of how bad. All the mods still don't make it a $7000 vehicle, but that's just me, I tend to be kinda cheep on stuff. Maybe that's why I'm having bad luck with mine, I keep buying the cheapest parts I can find for it., Can't really tell how good the vehicle is until you drive it (or own it for a while). I thought I got a great deal until I got home and started leaking a quart of power steering a month. I've honestly had a sour ride with mine, when its running I love it, but I get a lot of periods where I can't get it to start, in the year in a half about 30 times I'd say. It seems like I can get it running then a week later something breaks. I'm on the 4th starter solenoid and 2nd starter motor in 2 1/2 months. I've had these problems, this was my first vehicle, so I'd hate to see what happened to me happen to someone else. And this 95 cost more than twice what mine did so it would be worse if it happened to him. I think I might have drawn the short straw in the 6.5 diesel pool since the only thing I see people not really like about theirs is that they won't produce the "big" numbers for power. Looking at the non-mechanical stand point, 18" rims with off road tires can add up, just the rims could close the $2200 gap between the two, but when I look at vehicles, I've learned my lesson, I'm going to focus on the mechanical stand point. I did do a half-@$$ inspection under the pickup, but everything seemed good. I got burned bad buying a 6.5, I would buy another one, with a lot less miles and a way better inspection of course, but I wouldn't spend anymore than $5000 on one. This 94 Chevy has been there for a while, so talking the price down should be somewhat easy. I guess the best bit of advice for PsychoDoughBoy would be to not rush into it. It being your first diesel could get exciting and make you rush things, but look around and see what else is out there first to compare with this one. Then start off with a low offer $5000-5500, if they ask insulted, tell them the truth, there isn't a big demand out there for these diesels. But don't let them take you for more than $6000. Good Luck.

1999 GMC what did you think of the D-Max, isn't the one I first wanted but a 2005 for 10k seem pretty good, you can get up to 2007 with 200k miles but they have all the basic features like manual locks and windows, not too bad.

 

It doesn't say what the mileage is. I'm thinking close to 300K. Maybe not. On to your starter, either they are the cheapest starters you can buy, or something else is wrong. Normally you get what you pay for. It really bugs me about people that they buy cheap stuff and then blame the truck. I recently purchased a 4 high wiring harness from MEAN GREEN, and when looking at replies on the forum of people saying it's too expensive, and "wow, he's making a pretty penny on those". And it's not the case. The product is awesome and high quality. Racedaymechanic got the same thing when he started selling glow plug harnesses and battery cables. You can buy their product once, and have years of trouble free service from it. Or you can keep mickey mousing it, and come out to trucks that don't run right or start, or be stranded somewhere.

Don't go cheap. Buy a quality product and be done for another 100K. My starter started cranking my truck over slow sometimes. Did a starter draw test and it was drawing excessive amps. Did some research and replaced it with a brand new Bosch. It cranks my engine over faster than the stock started ever has in the last 8 years. I paid I think about $60 more than a lifetime warranty one from O'reilly. I have found they have to give you a lifetime warranty because the starters and alt. are garbage and nobody would buy them again if they didn't warranty them. My bosch has a 2 year warranty and has been on there for about 6 months now.

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I know it is just the way some people are. My business partner is that way. He has an 03 Excursion with a 7.3L The water pump started leaking at 120K. He calls around and O'reilly has the cheapest price with a lifetime warranty. He buys it. less than a year later he is replacing it again. A little over a year after that, it's warrantied again. About the same time a buddy of mine with a 7.3L needed a water pump as well. I call one of our parts houses and they have a brand new GMB water pump. $35 more than my business partner paid for his. Fast forward almost 4 years later. My buddies is still going strong, no problems. Business partner, is about to do his for the 3rd time. It just doesn't seem worth it to me.