Possible optimizer, whats it worth?

[GM Guy]

Hey guys, currently messaging with a guy that has a 6.5L diesel for sale. has no idea about optimizers, if he has one, etc, and I plan on keeping it that way, as the price is more than average.

he claims that his shop ordered a new from GM motor in and installed it for a customer 4 years ago. I asked, and he specified, new, not used or reman. the new engine now has 35K on it, and the motor is being sold. I am waiting on a reason as to why it is being pulled. might have been a bad tranny.

anyways, he wants 2500 bucks. is this worth paying, provided it is an optimizer? I am thinking the varying quality of military takeouts, a civilian ran since new Optimizer might be a more wise choice?

Is there any chance there were still GM casting new 6.5Ls floating around GM parts 4-5 years ago?

also, can someone point me to , or should we start a thread dedicated to, casting codes, build date codes, locations, etc? If I go look at it, it would be nice to know the year.

is there any year optimizer to avoid, or were they all pretty awesome?

thanks guys!

 

[deejaaa]

from what i understand, the actual date is cast on the block, not a code. i would like to see a thread on the Opto info.

 

[cedargrove]

I believe Optimiser date codes include the day the month and the year but the year is a letter code. Year letter codes are:
H = 2001
J = 2002
K = 2003
L = 2004
M = 2005
N = 2006
P = 2007
R = 2008

1 16 M = Jan 16 2005

If the casting number is in a different format, it's just an old GM block.

As far as I know, all of the AMG blocks are of a good quality.

Lewis

 

[Mike K3500]

Look for the "International" triangles down in the valley if the intake is out of the way... Also on the rear of the block there won't be any "GM" letters cast into it..
For that price, I would want to hear it run.

Mike

 

[GM Guy]

luckily it is still in the truck if I want to hear it run.

is the international diamond at the front of the valley under the IP, or rear of the valley, near the block drain?

 

[ak diesel driver]

IIRC it's about 3/4 of the way back

 

[great white]

Up by the ip.

 

[cedargrove]

Seems to me the diamond is just about under the pump. Take a flashlight for sure. The casting numbers above the bell housing are very hard to read with the motor in the truck.