Got offered another engine

Bad thing is, all that expense, for cheap aftermarket parts. I doubt you could source Cummins parts

 

There are rebuilds then there are Re-Builds. 20k may be fair depending on what they are going to do for that. Replace cylinder packs and roll a set of bearings in?… no thanks.

Do all that and send the heads out, cut and shim the block, send pump and injectors out, replace cam, gear train, turbo and hoses and belts, etc… yeah probably

 

unless it has tracible paper work, it is a core engine, and core engines are cheap. It could be a Cummins rebuilt engine, brand new looking in a crate, but it could be a mess internally and worth scrap prices.

 

Might be a bit far for you, (SW Missouri), but I can PM you my mechanics number for an opinion and estimate if you like, he and his father have worked on old Cummins for years. @wore out knows him, and he's good for just some plain honest fair quotes.

 

Feels like a steal to me, wish i had this as an option 2 years ago

 

Me personally, I would go with something electronic controlled from the 90's. Parts and knowledge are easier to source, making them work is super simple, and they fit all the same places.

Gotta face it, there aren't very many good mechanics out there, and maybe 3% of those could touch injection pump work.

There's not a @wore out or @OLDSKOOLERnWV in many shops out there

 

Cheap and fast usually ain’t good. Good and cheap is never fast. Good and fast ain’t ever cheap. I can tell by the way the conversation went OP is looking for validation on a decision he has already made. You tried

 

Honestly 20k is probably a decent price. I mean 15 years ago it cost 15 grand to do a proper rebuild. But if you ain’t got 20 grand it may as well be a million.