I hate to pee in the pool, but I may have made just about the opposite choice for a MI winter beater. An old diesel V8 that is tired and hard to start in this summer temp, is going to be very resistant to start in the winter months. You can use a block heater and all that, but that could get costly. Also a diesel does not generate a lot of heat, so your heater will take a long while to warm up, and to fill that big cab with warm air. Use brand new batteries, good battery cables, make sure alternator is working well, and your glow plug system is working correctly. You could add an intake grid heater from a Dodge 5.9L to also help if it does not have one, or even an ether start system that dispenses a safe amount to help fire the engine when really cold, or maybe it already has it. Not both at same time though. That grill guard is awesome. You'll need it to defend yourself on I-696.