The only thing worth bothering prior to the mid 90's would be a Cummins powered dodge, IMHO.
Some folks like the 6.5 GM diesel, as well as the pre turbo 7.3/ 6.9 Fords, but they do nothing for me.
97-03 Fords are good, Any Dodge with a 5.9 (ideally a manual, they EAT automatics.), and I don't know enough about the later GM diesels to say one way or another.