What corners do you think were cut? I haven't seen one in person, but it seems like they went overkill with the restoration: boxed the frame; axles from a newer 3/4 ton; front and rear locker options. I don't know that a Legacy PW is worth the current asking price, but it seems to be a quality build from the outside perspective.
I'm somewhat familiar with the 2.8l's and 3.0l's origins.
Despite its lengthy service history, the 3.0l v6 ecodiesel is still a big unknown in my book: that engine has a decent trend of failures in the Ram 1500 (not just emissions, but actual engine failures too). Maybe FCA has really gone to town and addressed the known issues for this next iteration that will go into the Jeep Wrangler and new 1500....we'll have to wait and see.
I have not heard about the Aussie complaints regarding the 2.8l. That engine has also seen use in the overseas Jeep (including the J8), and I hadn't heard of any major issues in those platforms, but I haven't spent much time reading about the Aussie perspective. It seems decent enough in the Colorado platform, and honestly I think that engine (or at least that type of engine) is a much better fit for the Jeep, both in terms of size and torque delivery. We'll find out over the next 10 years how its longterm durability fares.
The real shame is that Cummins produces their own 2.8l diesel and could probably have developed a v6 or inline 5 for the midsized market, had FCA asked them to do so. I really do think FCA's growing reliance on VM Motori diesel engines is a big mistake in the long run. Cummins practically saved the Dodge truck brand back in the day, and its arguably a major reason for why their 3/4 ton's continue to sell well. I'm willing to give the 3.0l ecodiesel another chance, but so far it hasn't developed the best of reputations.
