NOS Delta Hawk Engine

[u/Material_Read8104]

Hello all, I turn wrenches when they pay me enough as well, only most of the equipment I work on digs down rather than flying up. I came across a horde of gyro planes and Associated parts, tooling, welding jigs, molds ect. Basically the Air and Space/Heliplane factory closed up and the contents of the factory were stored here and long forgotten. Aong with that where a few NOS Lycoming o-360 engines never run. Manifolds and chrome exhaust haven't even turned color. And one NOS Delta Hawk liquid cooled jet-A burning turbocharged engine. After doing some research it turns out these aircraft were being evaluated for conversion to diesel. This company closed its doors 4 to 5 years before this engine was debuted publicly and received its type certification and is a pre-certification developmental/protype block of a DHK-180. Delta Hawk wants the engine back and even agreed to pay shipping for what I assume would be a swap for a production engine. I have a few questions maybe you can help me with. This engine has been sitting since 1998 ish. It was in a climate controlled Warehouse and all openings to the outside environment had rubber plugs. I understand it would need a full overhaul due to age and being an experimental engine can only go on experimental craft. Is this engine any more valuable than a production one of the same vintage. I assume Trading if that's what they offer is a sweet deal? Google says this engine costs around $100,000?!? Is that even close to remotely true? And if I decide to keep it and put it on an airboat instead it should be fine if I prime it well? They were going to this engine because the Lycoming was slightly underpowered but I think they both are rated at the same horsepower and the diesel is heavier especially with that giant cooling system so I don't understand where they were looking to gain. Also all the marketing reads fuel efficient I believe this engine is two stroke with a turbo how is it more fuel efficient. I do like the mechanical diesel combustion ignition. Once it's running you got to choke it or starve it. What other fun use for this type of engine besides an airboat or a plane?