2350 isx rebuild recommendations

[Nostalgic]

Everyone preaches OE only here for a reason - and it's NOT because we're Cummins fanboys. When you buy OE, they have traceability, consistency, and standards, etc. With aftermarket, you get ... claims. Claims that this is better, or that is improved, or that it's "the same place that makes factory parts", but there's no validation or proof, ever. You, the end user, have absolutely no way to tell if what heat or material makeup your casting came from. A shop may swear by an aftermarket head that "they've sold hundreds of with no problems", and (doubtfully) that MAY BE, but you also have NO idea if the boxed head you actually get is from the same factory as the others, because there is zero traceability.

I get it, farm truck, limited use, limited funds. But do you really want to risk it swallowing a valve or windowing your block during harvest? Cummins' inframe kits are actually pretty good deals these days, if you have a dealer that will give you fair pricing.