Rebuilt engine one million miles

Well it's not as outrageous as it sounds. Paid $13500.00 for the truck knowing it needed a transmission repair.

$14k Replaced trans, clutch and rear seal. 7 new tires and 4 used tires, new air compressor (not needed) new 5th wheel, 1 brake chamber, new shocks, 2 air bags, leveling valve, new or repair front belt pullies and belts, starter, 3 new batteries, AC compressor, rebuilt driveshaft, and oil changes and services through the year. Along with some other misc stuff (wipers, headlight, tail light antifreeze etc)

Trailer was $4k; 4 new tires and 1 used, all new brakes including slack adjusters and drums and factory replacement wiring harness.

Misc stuff $5k; homemade apu, truck fridge, drivers seat, steering wheel, computer mount, headache rack, blinky lights, 1/2 fenders, cb and antenna, mattress,etc.

This total includes 2 tow bills.

This year I already had to replace the transmition again (no warranty as the trans cooler dumped all the fluid before I caught it) new crate motor is $25k if that's the way I go? New brakes on the truck, and probly 9 new tires. That is easily $35k for this year.

I was just trying to point out to the OP that you can go through money fast. I don't regret buying this truck and as far as I'm concerned it doesent owe me a dime.

The think costs would be double if I didn't do the work myself. I keep track of every penny I spend and they are accurate numbers. I think a lot of people forget about a lot of the little stuff. I thought I did perrty good?

 

So we got another OP thinking like a company driver.

If you check out trucks in the price range you are planning on you will find automatics go for much cheaper. Their is a reason why, do you think you could figure out that reason.

 

It just depends on driving style and staying up on Oil changes etc. I meet people all the time with motors past 2 million, same block.

It's a matter of finding the motor you want to build your business around. Then once you decide that based on knowledge, researching and cost effectiveness; you go looking for that motor in a truck. Once you locate that motor and truck combo you sift through to find your best bargain. 10k to 20k can but you a decent if not great starter truck if you are patient enough to do the sifting.
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If the seller says it has been rebuilt look throughly through his bill or tell him your walking. A rebuild is to big of a bill for tax purposes to randomly misplace or lose. The more work recently invested in it adds to the bargain. If he has 15k $ worth of work done to it the last couple years and is selling it for $15k, I look at it like - I'm paying for those new parts and the truck comes free with it.

Check the electrical flow real well. If the truck has a lot of exposed wire, I mean wire with no wire loom or some type of insulation or tape; then be very weary. When there's to much of that going on, it's almost safe to place a bet on electric issues popping up due to grounding out wires and corrosion. If the electrical wiring doesn't look to bad you can always reinforce them before you put it to work.

But yes, in theory a rebuilt motor is close to equal if not better than new. It all depends on the skill, experience and INTEGRITY of who's doing the build. Not all budget priced shops do "shotty" work, and not all Cummins/ cat dealerships to grade A work either. It really takes a personal touch to hand build a motor to its true, potential.--------- and how can it be better than new? ; well for starters, the case and point of INTEGRITY comes right back to play. If whomever was assembling the motor in its new production was lazy, sloppy, didn't care, didn't pay attention to detail/ then you can count on that motor not reaching its full potential. Everything needs to be hand torqued to spec, liner height has to be spot on, etc

We've seen a brand new long block straight from Cummins with bad liner heights

 

The first time I rebuilt my 12.7 was a 600K, #6 cylinder was all shiny and bright. Second time at 1 million, tiny headgasket leak that never showed in oil sample. Rings never properly seated on that one, but screw it, I'm driving it until she grenades....

A million out of an in-frame is a best case, and going to church every Sunday type scenario......

 

!!! I KNOW, I KNOW, PICK ME, PICK ME, ME ME ME!