Diesel Suburban...Any Good?

[88sub4x4]

I'm looking at 97-99 suburbans and was wondering how the 6.5L Turbo Diesels are. I am going to drive one on Sat. Are these any good, or should I just stick with a 7.4L I want to be able to tow my 88 sub. on a trailer once a month. I think it would be too much for a 5.7L though.

 

[rjfguitar]

The 6.5TD's are fine engines. It will probably outlast the rest of the burb without very many problems. It will pull a trailer with a burb on it fine but don't plan on breaking any kind of records on the hills. I would personally look for a Ford Excursion with the Powerstroke but that Burb and 6.5 is a good setup also. I'd take the 6.5TD over a 454 anyday.

 

[88sub4x4]

Thanks for the reply, I have looked into Excursions, but there are too few around, and the diesels are all out of my price range.
Do you know how a 6.5TD compares acceleration wise empty to a TBI 350 Sub?
The 350 is all I have driven. It's hard to find a 454 with less then 150K on it around here.

 

[rjfguitar]

I have never driven a 6.5TD myself but would doubt a TBI350 could out accelerate it much, if any. Get in the hills pulling a trailer and the 350 will be left behind.

 

[73k5blazer]

No problem. My '97 K2500HD pulls 4 place snowmobile trailer all the time, no sweat. And gets 18mpg while doing it. I guess the thing with the 6.5's is, stick with the latter years ('97-00)(cooling, injection pump..glow plug controller, many reasons..), keep the fuel filter changed (every 10k mi). Other than that, great motor, I love mine...