Wouldn't repowering the FL with a take-out from a wreck be a boatload cheaper than dropping a fortune on another truck (which may or may not be any better)?
Repowering would cost around 10 grand by the time you figure in the labor and the downtime and then the "new" engine is untried it would just be throwing money away, and letting it blow would be worse, if you could sell it to one of the "port" haulers who only go short distances, it could last them forever. Repowering works best when you have your own shop and don't have to pay "shop rates"
Why is this other Pete for sale?, and is the factory warranty still in place? lots to consider here.
I never believed 1 bad business decision could put you out of business,
Unfortunatly in the trucking biz, thats how it is, not a whole lot of breathing room.
I've been an O/O for 29 years and seen it lots of times, my KW is getting old, I had "heavy" repair bills myself this year, just when you think your getting ahead
Sad to say its usually either the vehicle or driver who does you in, and as the older hands get out and retire off it wil be harder and harder to replace them simply because the money doesen't keep up with the hours and the newer drivers won't put up the BS that we older guys did, not a bad thing IMO, but it will make drivers harder and harder to find and to keep.