Reputable and Cost Effective Shop for a 6.5TD swap for 2000 H1 Open Top

[DrMarkJagger]

Finally got the truck here after the shop abroad seized the motor.  My lack of time prevents me from getting into this thing myself so I wanted to see if anyone has had/knows of a good experience getting a 6.5TD swapped.  The guy who deals with my other cars is out of country for a month so I want to get this thing on the road, actually moreso off the road.. haha!
 
Open to shop suggestions and ballpark cost estimates.  Thank you!

[Roy]

I am able to do this job!
 
Cost runs from $4000 to .hmmm $20000 pending on what is put in.
P400 are nice and are pricey,
used 6.5 are low budget,
rebuilt 6.5 long block about $9000
 
Before doing motor, best to do a complete checkover and find out what other expenses may occur. If interested, you can always help with all work so you learn about truck. Thats the way I can help train you for future repairs. Truck can arrive via caa or by my trailer. Good  project!

[DrMarkJagger]

I would LOVE the p400, but budgetary constraints at the moment.  haha..  I've found a 6.5TD but if you have a trusted source I'm open to it.  I'd also love to help, that would be an awesome opportunity that I'm very appreciative of!!  I'm not sure I could swing the time at the moment though.  If I don't find a way to get it on the road within the next month or so I'm going to take you up on it Roy.  I very much appreciate your counsel thus far.  I'll give you a ring on it if that's ok?  Thanks!

[Roy]

Call any daytime hour.
 
To get the truck ready in a month will be a lot of work. Seems be be 35 ish hours non stop without problems and sore muscles.
So, 2 weeks for a motor swap and a week of general repair and touch ups.
By this time, we would want a break from the truck for a few days! Love the trucks, but enough is enough sometimes. LOL

[GreenMeanie]

UHH What happened?? How is the engine seized??
Before getting a new engine perhaps we should figure out what is going on with your current engine.
Seized engine implies a number of different things. Is the seized engine in the truck now??
I am having trouble believing it is seized as it was recently driven onto a flatbed to make the trek to the BD shop. What happened to all of a sudden getting a seized engine out of a no start condition. Are you near Toronto?? 
I think we should arrange a think tank wrenching party on your behalf to get to the bottom of your what seems to be a never ending issue with your new truck.
Maybe you do need a new engine but im having trouble figuring out why that is.
What i would want to do right off the bat is bar the engine over by hand, even if you have to do it with the glow plugs and or injectors out to see if in fact it turns. Also i would confirm the starter isn't bogged up into the flywheel or the transmission is locked up.
I just can't see how we get from a running engine to a seized engine. In between data needed.
Even with all the oil drained out and oil pump failure it would have run for at least 10-15 minutes at idle. Is there oil in the pan?? Oil sample?? Get some in a jar right away and save it.
Hydro locked?? Water in the combustion system either by water getting into the air intake or a severe gasket fail or crack letting water into the combustion area. Both can cause a bent rod in some cases. Pulling the glows and injectors will allow the water to push out when you bar it over. This will also let you know what cylinder is affected cause you will see water coming out the holes.
Jammed starter??. Sometimes the starter can get jammed up in the flywheel and prevent the engine from turning. This might be the first  thing i would check!!
Trans locked up??. Its also possible for the transmission to be stuck in lockup due to a failure in the valve body or even the torque converter.
Heat soaked/scored engine.I doubt its this as it ran to drive onto the tow truck. This happens after overheating the engine and shutting it off
I would love to see the truck. As i said before you should arrange a wrenching party where your truck sits and get some ideas and options of how to proceed and diagnose the issue completely before spending another pile of cash. It may well be that you have to spend a bunch but it may well be you don't have to. I am not convinced either way yet. 

[DrMarkJagger]

Hmmm.. where to start...  Since the "no start" it hasn't run at all and reportedly ran onto the trailer for alignment but that's the last time.  Presently we pulled the starter, glows, tranny was pulled also and no rotation in either direction.  Best guess is maybe it ate too much ether before I got it and seized that way at the shop where it came from (it was purchased from that shop in running condition but something happened between then and now in their possession.)  It's evident that the previous shop tried to bar it over also so I'm thinking it might've been seized for some time but of course no way to know.
 
I am in Mississauga, truck is in Etobicoke now just planning out what to do.  Wrenches and parties?  I'm in!  Actually sounds like a good idea, once I get my space sorted out sounds like a plan!
 
Thanks for everyone's input, it's great to learn from those with more knowledge on these monsters of which we're so fond!

[GreenMeanie]

I posted on the HML about this issue to see what i could find out. Eric had asked for some suggestions on the HML while he was working on getting the truck started some time ago. At that time it was cranking over fine but not starting according to the HML thread. I suspect what may have happened is they cranked and cranked and with the truck not starting the engine never made oil pressure and the top end seized due to lack of oil. The mains may have spun as well although less likely as some oil would have made it to the crank during the starting attempts.
Still worth a shot to free it up. Here is how
Pull all glow plugs and injectors and fill the cylinders with dexron 3 transmission fluid and let it sit for a week or so, then try and bar it over one quarter turn. Then repeat the process. If you get a quarter turn easily after sitting for a week you can try and bar it over another quarter turn. Do not force it, let the fluid do its work. If it does bar over chances are you can save it. Sometimes it takes a while. We did a 6.2 Sierra that was in water for 5 years and we got it turning after about 2 months of soaking in dex and last i heard its still running and that was a few years back. Also it was a 1993 599 block and very worth the effort. The 506 blocks in our trucks may not be as forgiving but i still think its worth a shot. 
Here is a link to Eric's thread on the AM Generals forum about your truck and may help give some insight into what is happening.
http://forum.amgenerals.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8

[GreenMeanie]

Also i was going to say, if you do decide to swap engines would you be interested in selling me your old engine??

[drm]

I have a next to new non-turbo crate engine from the u.s. military. I will double check on Mon. that it is a 6.5 and not a 6.2 if your interested in it let me know. It will be a good price. thanks.

[Monk]

I was always wondering on hours involved it ha straight re and re. That good info for future knowledge .

Wow, lol I hope when I'm looking for a engine there's a crate motor kicking around cheap, hehe

Don't most find when they NEED something bad, it's around but at a major premium? Haha we'll always is my luck,

I sure hope you get things in order, it gets sooo fustrating as I'm sure you wanted on the road yesterday, best of luck on your

Engine, I sorta hope it's not gone, that be nice.