some advice needed

[jake_33]

i recently bought a 95 chev ext cab s/b 4x4 1/2 ton 6.5 diesel i paid 1000 for teh truck witch i thought was a good deal they guy who i btought it from said teh engine was gone........it runs really bad lots of smoke and kinda knocks but the head gasket apears to b leaking.....there is no fileing in the oil i was j/w if i could put i new head gasket in and it would run good or is it to late....any help would b nice

[Shaners]

Head gaskets are a fairly common problem on that motor.

[ZE5]

black or white smoke?

[16gaSxS]

If it was just a leaky head gasket then, I think it would be well worth just givng a head gasket change a try. What concerns me is the knock you have, is it a rod or bearings....what? You may have to go into the engine. If the smoking is at start up that may not be a big deal could just be injectors and they are not too bad $300-400 for a set. What part of the world are you located? You could try and find an engine from a wreck that might get you along for awhile. A decent REMAN 6.5 is about $5,000 + or - $1,000 What kind of miles on this truck?