What's this engine?

[matuva]

I rarely see brand new engines here.

Today, a customer brought us an engine and ask us to install it in a truck he just bought.

The guy was told it's a new improved engine, but can'tell much about it :skep:

According to the pics, anybody have an idea of what it is? Navistar? GEP? Optimizer? regular 506?

 

[Big Bertha]

It appears to be a newer GEP block for AM General.

 

[ccfoshee]

I know I'm not much help on your question, but don't it make you a little giddy to see such a clean, shiny, engine...wish I could smell it...

I've got the sickness bad...

 

[bison]

My chinese 506 block looks the same and has identical markings.
The heads could be GM though by the stickers.

 

[matuva]

I was wondering what means those 3 dots on the heads, and, as I have never seen a GEP yet (it is said it shows a cast diamond in the engine valley), I was too wondering if it is the kind of "diamond" we see on the pic, those 2 triangles?

 

[Big Bertha]

Yes those two diamond shapes are the Navistar symbol, near the date code on the passenger side rear looks wierd? like they added material to the block all the GEP's I have seen did not look like this.

 

[matuva]

I'm a bit confused. So it might be a Navistar, but I thought the 6.5 Navistar were rebuilt ones only, no new units.

How do you recognize a AM General block?

 

[ak diesel driver]

you can buy optimisers brand new and they are using navistar/gep blocks and heads

 

[cedargrove]

"New Improved Engine" sounds like those cats out of Bostic, NC. Find out who he bought it from and we'll go from there.

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

My chinese 506 block looks the same and has identical markings.
The heads could be GM though by the stickers.

The chinese block I seen didn't have teh NAVISTAR diamond in it, and this was one built just a few months ago. Another indicator of a chinese block is it will have 3/8" course thread bolt holes for teh bellhousing where as the real deal will have metric ones. The chinese blocks are copies of the early 97 506 block from what I seen as EARLY 97 had standard threads for the bellhousing whereas mid year 97 went to the metric 10 X 1.50(?).

 

[matuva]

I found this thread started by bobbiemartin : http://www.thetruckstop.us/forum/showthread.php?20029-Rebuilding-a-GEP-Engine

according to what I read and pictures I saw, it seems this young buddy brought a GEP engine, brand new.

Now I'm jealous ... :devil: I will kidnap him and torture him till he tells me where and how much he did bought this wonder

 

[cedargrove]

What's with the chinese looking symbols written in green marker in the valley? Look at bobbiemartin's pictures and you will see a boss with a plug in it in the valley near the rear on the driver's side (maybe feeds center mount turbo?). It's not there on this engine. Personally, I think it's chinese. I hope other experts will chime in (I've been wrong before).

 

[cedargrove]

Just realized I was looking at the wrong end of the valley in his picture. The area where the boss would be is not pictured. See...I told you I could be wrong! I'm still skeptical though.

I'll try to get some better shots of the real deal one that I have on my stand this weekend.

 

[bison]

The chinese block I seen didn't have teh NAVISTAR diamond in it, and this was one built just a few months ago. Another indicator of a chinese block is it will have 3/8" course thread bolt holes for teh bellhousing where as the real deal will have metric ones. The chinese blocks are copies of the early 97 506 block from what I seen as EARLY 97 had standard threads for the bellhousing whereas mid year 97 went to the metric 10 X 1.50(?).

Sorry bud,some China blocks(depending on source) have the diamond logo and the metric bell housing boltholes

 

[matuva]

No need to torture him. He speaks almost easy

The engine came from here : http://www.automotix.net/engines/65dieselengine.html

 

[cedargrove]

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Automotix

 

[cedargrove]

https://www.google.com/search?q=aut...w.,cf.osb&fp=79b30ab631f688f0&biw=960&bih=450

Reviews do not look promising.

 

[jmiller]

No need to torture him. He speaks almost easy

The engine came from here : http://www.automotix.net/engines/65dieselengine.html

"Our High Performance 6500 Engine fits all 6.2 and 6.5 Diesel applications, including vans, "

Interesting quote from the web page.

That is a cheap price for a "NEW" and "improved" motor. Is it a GEP? The marketing makes you think it is.

My understanding is that GEP block has a Girdle to stiffen the bottom end. If that is correct, it make identifying a GEP simple.

 

[jmiller]

Now that's funny. I was checking around some more on that web site and found the "Stock" 6.5 block, when checked by application (98 K2500), was $500 more than the "Performance 6500".

I have seen 3 different prices for 6.5 "long blocks"
Stock Num: 65DIESEL-1 $58xx ( "Performance 6500")
Part No: GMC-395TLB $39xx
Part No: GMC-395NTLB-1 $63xx



My BS detector is starting to go off.

 

[cedargrove]

"Our High Performance 6500 Engine fits all 6.2 and 6.5 Diesel applications, including vans, "

Interesting quote from the web page.

That is a cheap price for a "NEW" and "improved" motor. Is it a GEP? The marketing makes you think it is.

My understanding is that GEP block has a Girdle to stiffen the bottom end. If that is correct, it make identifying a GEP simple.

The new P400 might have a girdle but the Optimizer (what we are looking at) does not. I would not touch this thing with a 10 ft pole. You can get the legit no question about it real deal engine for about the same price from a reputable outfit. Why dick around with having to guess where it came from?