Cummins mpg vs 225 Slant 6 mpg

If it's a factory Cummins and not a conversion go the cummins. The 1st. generation can get closer to 25 MPG. They however will not go as fast MPH as the newer Diesels because the gearing back then was different and you did not have the overdrive ratios they have now.

Does take more$$$ to change the oil & filters versus the slanty.

1982 would not be factory cummins, first cummins was 1989 I believe

the cummins engine would do twice the work that a slant could in that time frame of changing oil and filters too, also longer intervals in between changes