60valves

I'm not saying they would have a chance versus the likes of Cummins, Cat, or Detroit, but I have always wondered why John Deere never got into the highway truck market with their engines. They do make a great engine. They are into off-highway equipment and such it just seems like a logical leap that they never took.

annabelle

They almost had an exclusive deal with Peterbuilt 10 years or so ago.

pind

what many people don't know, is that JD and Detroit had a joint venture a number of years back. Some of the designs from that venture, were incorporated into the 50 and 60 series detroit engines.

Hence the JD on the gear cover, etc.

John deere has stuck to what they know and do best, and good on them.

Hvytrkmech

John Deere and Penske = the series 60. They made their mark and made it well. They also knew when to to bail out.

60valves

Did not know any of that. Was that deal just with Peterbilt or with PACCAR as a whole? Either way that would have been something to see/hear.

RAMRODD

A John Deere 8960,and 8970 which at the time was there big 4 wheel drive had a 855 Cummins under the hood. There smaller 4 wheel drives used a John Deere engine

pind

That's right Tim, they knew when to bail. Shortly after showing those 2-stroke guys how to make a 4 stroke work.

Oh, and while we're at it, lets give a rousing round of applause and a big old THANK YOU to Roger Penske, for introducing DDEC. the grandfather of diesel electronic systems on this side of the pond. Look how far THAT got us.

* I could imagine the cheer sounding somewhat like a goldfish blowing bubbles into a fat man's navel*