But... I think the point here is the basic block and heads and rotating assemblies haven’t changed much. You can have today’s HP/torque (or even more) with almost any diesel pickup from the ‘90s on up. You just have to do your research, learn what works, and make some little “tweaks”
And be smart enough to build your transmission and cooling systems to handle it.
For a whole lot of (sane) people, $75k for a new diesel dually is just not happening.
I have a little vacation place in Kauai... I can fly there a whole lot of times for the money I didn’t spend on a $75k pickup truck. Let’s see... drive a zillion dollar pickup, or hang on a Hawaiian beach a whole lot more... decision made. I’m keeping my “tweaked up” ‘99!