Having a big AC genset is not the greatest thing for a long-term use survival type rig. Wastes too much fuel when a high load isn't on it. A much better system is a battery bank, inverter, and generator. Then you get your power direct from the inverter until the batteries are emptied and makes no difference in efficiency if you're drawing 5 amps or 100 amps. Then - you start the generator and run at full bore and full efficiency just to recharge the batteries and shut down. In the long run, much less fuel is used this way. A DC genset can also be pretty efficient since it can make power at any RPM and maintain the Hertz Cycle. So, it only has to rev up enough to match load demand. That's why the Inverter generators are getting so popular (but expensive). They make DC and run it through an inverter to supply clean full-wave AC.
There are many Detroit Diesel gensets around down south. They were often used in refrigerated railroad cars. Now they are for sale all over used, rebuilt, etc. Even Harbor Freight and Northern Tool has sold them, off and on. I had one with a 2-71 and rated 15KW. Wasn't loud at all. I've got a 17KW Fairbanks Morse genset with a Continental gas engine that is louder (and spins much faster). The Detroit units are about the slowest running around - and they make power at 1100 - 1200 RPM. Most other AC gensets run at 1800 or 3600 RPM.
You might find a unit with a bad engine cheap? I'm sure they are direct-coupled to the generator heads and might have special crankshaft ends. You might need some sort of belt-drive rig instead.
This place (and many others) specialize in the old Detroit gensets.
http://www.emerson2-71gm.com/
One of the best places for belt-driven generator heads is Hardy Solar (AKA Hardy Diesel) (or at least they used to be). Haven't bought from them in a couple of years.
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