Diesel seems to be the most popular and I think often the best answer these days, must be something to it if you're having a difficult time finding other interested gas guys.
Its clear that not many people are on the same page I am. That's okay I don't mind walking my own path. I so find it difficult to believe there are so few with similar interest.
In many cases Diesel is the right answer. I don't think the logic that concludes Diesel for many others comes up that way on my project. Its a combination of my bias (which I admit to) and the relatively low mileage I expect not just each year but over the life of the truck.
As a 53 year-old guy battling cancer I have to face that its unlikely I have 20 useful years left. Could be much less though my treatments are going very well and I've begun to believe I could have another 30 years. My dad is still kicking at 82 but he would not have any reason to use the truck I'm building.
But using 20 years as the trucks lifetime and looking at my use of other tow vehicles over the last 10 years, I think its unlikley I'm going to drive it even 60,000. I did most my math based on 10 years and 30,000 recognizing too many of the variables are unpredictable even a few years ahead (fuel cost, or more important in this case the differential between gasoline and Diesel).
If I were a healthy 30 year old some of the math might change.
From a dollars and cents standpoint doing a Diesel isn't going to pay me back but it is going to at least tie up if not burn capital that really needs to be part of my retirement funding.
I could not find a
cheap Diesel in my area when I was researching for comparison. And I read enough threads about needing to rebuild the cheap ones that I see many thousands making sure I had a good one that make as much power as the Cadillac.
I've read that a Cummins swap is really a $10,000 commitment. I suspect many of the swaps are done for half that, and having looked at some of the threads using lots of aftermarket parts I'm sure many cost far more.
A crate Caddy cost maybe $7000 so if I were going that route my math may fall apart. But I'm using a low mileage motor that I expect to spend between $1,000 and $2,000 on some freshening and upgrading my Caddy.
I don't intend to rebuild this motor because I'm sure it doesn't need it. I have a second I don't know as much about that I might rebuild someday if needed.
That Chevy 8.1 seems to get mixed reviews. But its only found in trucks far newer than I've ever seriously considered buying. My neighbor has one is a motorhome and seems very satisfied with the performance. I was very surprised that he spent at least $250,000 on the thing but got a gas motor. Then I realized he drives his motorhome 50 miles and parks it. Maybe the cheaper motor really does make sense for him too.
I appreciate your willingness to be involved Grigg, I enjoy your insight and projects and follow along even though I couldn't choose your motor.
