1st Gen Crew Cab Engine
If you arent going to tow frequently or drive lots of miles I would go gas. Depending on gearing in it now or if you plan on changing it too as to big block or small block
It will cost a lot more upfront for a cummins
My 95 2500 extended cab 4x4 with 8 ' bed and 143,000 mile Cummins, auto trans is a great over the road vehicle, 19-20 mpg just truck, 10-15 depending on trailer, load & speed
Looking to possibly replace it later this year. I'm not like the other truck owners, unless you have a need for the diesel don't think the other factors justify the cost. Spent $116 in fuel yesterday yeah it is sitting in barn full, but next time I get it out will be 1/2 gone by the time it gets back to the barn. $4.00 was the most I paid for fuel on recent trip to Florida, $3.75 I think was cheapest
I just don't tow enough to justify the cost.
If I can get the damn automatic trans fixed so it doesn't cycle the converter I might keep it a few more years.
For built cost a good 360 would be the way to go
For fuel economy a diesel
For power without the changeover trouble a big block, the bigger the better
As someone stated an old motor home, you can sometimes pick them up cheap, strip the drivetrain and build truck on the cheap most class a coaches will have big block. The old Champion we had was a 413