Well
The decisions have been made!!!!!!!!!!!!
The issue being that the cubic checkbook will not stand the stress of much more shopping.
I got the block and new pistons back last eavening from the shop.
Looks wonderful (as it should)
I absolutely need a fresh radiator and a few other items before the job can be finished.
Too many outside things pulling $$$$$$$ from the pot.
The engine that came out was fine other than the cracked #4 main that had gone up into water.
Otherwise this engine ran sweet.
Going to reassemble using most all the original parts, the crank and the heads were fine and will likely serve for many many miles.
This is definately not my dream build-up but the source of $$$$ is not there for what I want to do.
My rationale is that my 94 Burb had 230K on it when I bought it, lost a head gasket at 237K and I reused the shaft in that one.
The Burb has 268K on it now and runs pefect.
Loads of these factory cranks out there that have been run to death, reground .010-.010 reboxed and reused in remans and run a buttload of miles.
My truck usage is not even severe.
The cost of the forged crank is near the total cost of what I had available to fix the thing.
Just too many little things that also need doing while the engine is out. (because they are tough to get to with the engine in the rig)
The heads are fine, valves look good and there was not any issues with the top end.
Will do injectors while they are out to make sure it starts and runs its best.
Glow plugs too.
New oil cooler lines, some wiring repairs on the glow system (RH side)
Steam the engine bay out reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeal good.
Timing chain, fresh pistons and rings (.5mm OS) new bearings Crank sensor (Old one has worn wires)
Oil pump was perfect. (Will use the squirt block pump on the non squirt engine now)
It was a magical dream of having a real killer build, but the reality of things has to prevail.
One thing though thats for sure, the old girl will likley run very well and should be fine.
With the non squirt (929) block and the inserted outer main bolt holes, the bottom end should be good to go.
Had the wrist pin bushings redone on the rods, the big ends were still to spec so we left them alone.
Hope to get going this weekend on putting it back together.
Really miss that ride.
MGW