Porsche and Volkswagen had been using the same swing-axle, rear suspension design. Ralph Nader stuck his nose where it didn't belong. My brother and I stuffed a Corvair engine in to our Dad's VW bus. What a blast it was to drive.
Personally, I think you're straying a bit too far from the original intent of thus thread.
But for the record, it depends on where the Russian satellite crosses the Equator. This is a trick question.
That begs the question...how do you define a diesel engine? If it's, well the block must have a certain weight/HP ratio, you may be right. They may have used the same block as the gasser, I don't know. Everything else on that engine was specifically designed to compete with the MB...however poorly it may have been done.
That's a challenging question to answer without knowing what loads you want on the generator. Generac, Kohler and Onan (from least expensive to most expensive) dominate the residential market. Personally, I'd research the installers in your neck of the woods that represent either of those three. Often times, they're an electrical contractor that is a dealer one or more of the Big Three. They'd be more than happy to come to your home and determine individual loads.
A truck that has sat is an invitation to four footed, furry monsters. These little devils love to chew on things, especially plastic wire insulation. I'd start by checking all exposed wires and grounds.