I just bought a 1974 KW w/a flat valve cover Cat 6 cyl and a browning. I don't know why I guess the fact that it runs good and only cost a grand helped my decision!!!

What engine do I have, and how many batterys are needed to start this old girl? What is in there is 2 12v JUNK batts, and I fight it all the time. thanks, bruce

 

I think 24v in trucks.. is there any tag on the engine?

 

probably a 1693 if it has a overhead cam

 

It may have a series-parallel switch which gave the starter 24 volts by putting the batteries in series but charged the batteries with a 12volt alternator with the batteries in paralell.

 

Is it a positive ground? Be cautious of this. Verify what it is before you do anything. Most electrical systems were 12 volt, so if it has a 12v alternator then it is a 12 v system. It will need 4 batteries to get the cranking amps needed to spin the engine over.


Let us know,



Tim

 

Didn't know the 1693s had an overhead cam. When did the 3406 A models come into existance, wasn't it somewhere about that time? I've had a 77 KW with a shiny 290 in it, and a 77 with a 3408 in it. Is it turbocharged? Air to Air? Air to water? I've "heard" of some 1693s with twin turbos but probably rumors.

 

The predecessor is the 3408 natural - was bulletproof and the choice among boat and truck builders. Some time in the 80's they went to turbocharging and it became a throwaway engine, meaning it didn't last as long. Then came the wave of 6 cyl engines.

I noted last June the press release said:

"Caterpillar to Exit On-Highway Truck Engine Market"

"Caterpillar Inc. said that it would stop making diesel engines for the North American commercial vehicle market after 2009, ending a nearly 50 year long chapter in its history that made the company a part of American lore. In North America, Caterpillar will no longer supply truck makers like Paccar Inc., Diamler AG's Freightliner and others with engines. It's Mossville, Ilinois truck engine plant will stop producing the power plants on December 31, 2009."

Then right below that:

"GREAT LAKES DIESEL - The world's only Hi-Performance Diesel Engine company has stepped up production of stock Series 3400 Caterpillar Engines (3406 B/C & E Models and C-15, C16 & C18) to help fill the void left by Caterpillar. These engines are constructed using Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) components."

And another blurb, that said "Caterpillar and Navistar announced that they’ve signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will see them pursue global truck business opportunities together and “co-operate” on engine platforms. The agreement is expected to be firmed up in the coming weeks but the first fruit of this joint effort seems solid – a Caterpillar-branded heavy vocational truck will hit the market in 2010, aimed at construction, oilfield, and other severe-service on/off-road applications."

Might be a good idea to stock up on OEM parts for your 3406's. I don't see where marine and mining applications are affected by this shutdown.

 

that engine is a 1693, two overhead cams, 24valve, lots of torque,
darn close to the best ever built by Cat, almost indestructable.
the forunner of 1693 was Cat D343 industrial unit,most internals were interchangable, but no spacer plate, like later 1693s did, as i remember the same displacment as 3406,

the 1st D343s had forged pistons from the factory,1693s had cast aluminum pistons, FYI 1693s had some good engineering ideas as far as rugged internals,

YUP! Overhauled many of them and back then made good money from them,
fuel systems were ancient, smoked like hell, early ones Prechamber,, as my memory says, real good cyl. head design tho, the engine weighed more than an 06(AKA heavy duty)

and dont like hi-rpm, make it lug!!
THX Ron

 

memory starting to engage LOL,, 1693--D343 must have been good KOMATSU bought the manufacturing rights, and you see it in a lot of refined versions of them in big equipment, late 80s-early 90s.

THX Ron

 

Ron. D334 in offroad. 1693 in trucks. The 1693/D334 blocks were real close to the 3306, that came later. We remaned a ton of them for Crowley/CATCO
in Alaska. Good engine's just outdated. Parts are too hard to come by. If one looks on the turbo's, you will find a Mitsu insignia on. Cat has been in bed with them for years. The D334/1693 was pretty much done in the early 70's. IPD still has parts. As well as Cat. The cam box's are the parts getting hard to come by. They were made out of aluminum and the cams ran straight on the aluminum, no bearings. And they warped.The rods are the same as 3306/3304.

 

QUOTE The predecessor is the 3408 natural - was bulletproof and the choice among boat and truck builders. Some time in the 80's they went to turbocharging and it became a throwaway engine, meaning it didn't last as long. Then came the wave of 6 cyl engines. Are you thinking about 3208's ? They were an automotive type block. All of the 3408's had liners. 3208's were NA and turbo'd. Low that I recall was 180hp. Turbo'd was 425 in marine use.

 

Cat 1674 270-325 HP, 1693 325-425 HP replaced by 3406 PCTA 360-375 HP upgraded to 3406DITA 380-400 HP upgraded to 3406 DITA Air to Air 425 HP upgraded to 3406 DITA PEEC 460 HP replaced by C15. 3400 series all turbo'ed 3200 small displacement NA & T none after cooled. PCTA=pre-combustion,turbocharged after-cooled. DITA = Direct Injected Turbo After cooled. PEEC was kitbash electronics on a B mechanical pump. C15 uses an ECM. On a Kenworth take the last 6 digits to the dealer and they will tell you what it was at manufacture off of the line ticket order. Probably a 1674 270 HP.

 

1693 is a great engine, first true million miler IMO. My Dad installed one in his kw dump when i was just a kid,(early 70's) thing outran everything on wheels in it's day.
that old narrow nose still runs with no major work done to it. he still uses it it for a on site truck. guys always complain about it cause it has a 5 and 4.

 

And what would be wrong with that????

 

the PEEC engine iirc was a 3406B then there was the 3406C then an electronic 3406E then the C15.