Plummen,
Truth be told, all I know about the 6.2/6.5's is what I've read on the diesel boards. I drove my donor truck about 10 miles, but the tranny was toast. I got a couple of 6.2's early on that were trashed and tore them down. They're about as basic as you get, and since everybody trash talks them so bad, you can pick them up for cheap. As long as you understand that they were built for economy and reliability, and will never make the same power as the Dura-Cumm-Strokes, half a million miles is doable if you take care of it. My 6.5TD is factory rated at 200 hp/400tq or there abouts. I'm opening up the exhaust and the intake, and turning up the pump a fuzz so it should be a bit higher. I think the best part about them is there is no vacuum to deal with. It seems like every small block I ever had, there was a leak somewhere, or the timing didn't advance right, or the carburetors were erratic.
As far as putting one in an older truck, They'll fit anywhere a big block will. The hardest part is cramming as big of a radiator in as you can. However, If money was no object, and I wanted a diesel tire fryer, that I could beat the piss out of, I would probably go with a Cummins or a powerstroke and a six speed. I personally don't like the Duramax's
My goal with this truck has always been to build a reliable daily driver that gets better than 11mpg, on a nonexistant budget. Where we live, 4wd is a must, and when you throw on bigger tires and a lift kit, your mileage goes to crap. Diesels just aren't as bad. I had an 05 Tundra a few years back that the PO had lifted 2" and put on 33"'s. It was an awesome looking truck, and did great in the snow, but I got 13 on the freeway, and maybe 10 pulling my 2000# trailer. And the power wasn't very impressive. I'm thinking I can beat that and have a cooler truck for less than a years worth of truck payments.
