Ooooook everyone here's another help me with advice about a build thread. I'm lookin into buying a 12v cummins. This will be my first diesel and I'm pretty nervous about it cause I'm selling my really nice ranger to do this, but I really like the diesels and I'm pretty sure this is the way I want to go, just looking for a little more advice and affirmation. That being said I think what I'm looking for is a 94-98 extended cab 4x4 12v cummins. My budget to spend including the price of vehicle is $20000 max. Is this going to possible? How many miles would you say is max to buy one of these vehicles considering the vehicle I buy won't have any blow by and the transmission is shifting well? This will be my every day vehicle with light towing, usually a 4000 pound boat and maybe a lance camper. I'd like the build to be extremely reliable considering this will be my daily driver and I make frequent trips from California across the desert to lake havasu. I keep reading everywhere that these motors can be built to a reliable 600hp with decent mpg relatively cheap, I think that's awesome and would love to have that. if you guys were in my situation what would you recommend, is this a project even worth starting or would I be in way over my head. I'm expecting a local diesel shop to do most the work so I know labor cost will eat up alot of my funds. I'm good with bolt ons tho haha, anyways thanks for your time everyone and information.

 

Alot cheaper then 20k. My buddy has under 10k with purchase of truck and 800hp now

 

What power goal are you looking for? And I think you can have a great running truck for 16-20k that is a good solid set up

 

Hey guys thanks for the response makes me feel better for what I'm about to do. As for power of course I'd like to have as much as possible, but I need to be realistic since this thing needs to be reliable being my daily driver. Also decent mpg is also on my list. Sounds like most people are able to build a 600 hp truck that runs solid, decent on gas, and doesn't require a ton of up keep? I'm not sure tho. Thanks again for the input