GM Diesel Questions

[Mashby]

Hi all,

I have seen a Binliner that would suit my needs. However I'm a bit concerened abouts its engine. It is a GM Diesel prodcuing 200hp. Does anyone have any experiance or knowledge on this engine. I would like to know are they reliable,how often will it need servcing,are parts easy to get hold of, Can any boat mech look after it or is it highly specialised. The engine is about 14 years old.

Many Thanks
Matt

 

[mil1194]

My first bet (for a jam tart) is a 6V71 2 stroke - and I bet it's older than 14years! (Fetches his coat........)

 

[Mashby]

A couple of pics of the engine might help.
View attachment 6119

View attachment 6120

 

[Divemaster1]

GM ... presume it is one of the GMC 6.2 or 6.5L V8's ??

Engine was never great in heavy industry or marine application, but should be OK in a relatively lightweight marine application...6.5L resolved a lot of the ssues wiht the 6.2L, so the better of the two... Parts availability could become an issue, but a fair bit of US automotive websites, Google "GMC Diesel" ,caters for parts, so may be available,but timing may be an issue...

However ....., the marinising kits varied a lot in quality and capability... and in particular some of the UK outfits did a less than satisfactory job ... don't get me wrong .. there are good ones out there .. but also bad ones, so be aware and do your research...

 

[Divemaster1]

My first bet (for a jam tart) is a 6V71 2 stroke - and I bet it's older than 14years! (Fetches his coat........)

... one of the 1.5 Tonne two strokes would probably sink the boat ..

 

[mil1194]

Wasn't quite the one I was thinking of!! I have a 6V71 in a lorry now - it does the job that it was asked to do at the time (sort of........) but I would NEVER EVER put one (or more) in a boat - but then again I am putting two VP AQ130's back into mine........ (comes back into room as he forgot his scarf on an earlier visit......)

 

[Mr Googler]

I had twin 6.5 gm v8's parts are easy to get but as alf said marinisation is the key. Noisy lumps too. 200hp is a bit keen especially as no turbo and pretty juicy. Pm if u want to have a chat as I learnt slot about this engine due to a few issues I experienced!!

 

[[2068]]

>are they reliable
Nope.

>how often will it need servcing
Continuously.

>are parts easy to get hold of
Yup, from other owners that have given up trying to get them to run reliably.
Suggest you buy at least three.

 

[mil1194]

Did have a 6.2 GM V8 in a old Winnebago many moons ago and that was lovely really as far as simplicity goes. As long as you get enough battery power to it it would always start, once the batteries lost their initial oomph thou then it'd turn over slowly for 10mins or more but not start.....

 

[Divemaster1]

Any 6/71 two stroke, both in V formation and straight six (which we have) are similar weight ... at 1.2 and 1.5Tonne pending on alloy or cast iron blocks... the "lightweight" 6.2 & 6.5 L four strokes are very different indeeed...

 

[Elessar]

do a search on samurai diesel

buy it only if it's cheap enough to throw the engine away and put another in. Then as long as it works it's a bonus.

 

[Latestarter1]

>are they reliable
Nope.

>how often will it need servcing
Continuously.

>are parts easy to get hold of
Yup, from other owners that have given up trying to get them to run reliably.
Suggest you buy at least three.

Probably sums motor up well.

6.2 had mechanical Stanadyne pump 6.5 had Stanadyne half assed mechanical/elecronic monstrosity. Marinisation of 6.5 involved fitting juced up 6.2 pump on 6.5. 200Hp I will eat my car!

Oil cooler mandatory on marine conversion, without cooler critical up and down bits are just dying to exit to atmosphere, few have one.

I see motor has Osco Barr manifolds, not sure if they are still available for this engine.

Boating should be for pleasure, you will not get it with one of these.

Funny story, during the last Round Britain Race one team had a pair of the so called professionally marinised 6.5's Suffered blown motor before leaving Solent.

Replacement engine fitted during Sunday layover. On the run up to Bangor second engine exploded.

My son is lifeboatman and was member of crew which towed the boat in. Race boat had James May and Nick Knowles on board. Once back ashore my son was chatting to Nick Knowles who was explaining about the second failed engine on their second leg. My son incautiously said "Yes dad said you have got **** engines" at which point Knowles lost it, savaged his support team saying "See everybody knows engines not worth a w£$%k exept you f*"^g lot" before jumping into wating taxi.

 

[Chris_d]

Does look like a Samuri conversion, in which case the advice is always runaway

 

[Mashby]

Thanks all after all your helpfuly comments I think its best I keep looking.