A friend of mine has a 2006 Peterbilt 379 tri-axle semi. He hauls heavy equipment on a daily basis. He is looking for more horsepower and torque. His rig has the 500 CAT. I came across the pittsburgh power programmer online. Has any of ya'll had this particular programmer? Also, are there any reasonable modifications that can be done to this motor to increase power?

Thanks!

 

2 of my friends have them in there trucks one peterbuilt and one KW they both have the 550 twin turbo CAT in them and they say more mileage and tonz of pulling power and you can turn them down and up from what they say it makes a difference like a smarty did to my pickup.

 

First thing he should do is have cat flash it to 625 hp and then see if he needs more, if so, and I know I would want more, get the pittsburg box, the guys I know that have them for the accert said it finally made the truck run like it should have

 

A friend of mine has one "much money" but worth it. It's alot like the computer controllers in the newer pickups, has several power levels, from stock to a very high rate of fuel consumption. He loves the power available with just a twist of the controller. As 24valvepuller said have Cat flash the computer to maximum output some can go to 625 hp then decide if he needs the Cat Box.

 

I doubt they'll flash it to 625. I have an 06' C15 475 and they wouldn't take it above 550 because they said it required "iron" changes. Complete BS since the only difference between the 550 and the 625 is the compression ratio (18:1 vs. 18.5:1). That .5 isn't going to make any difference but you can't tell a "tech" that. I only knew of one person that had the Pittsburgh box and he said that at highway speeds bobtailing it would out accelerate his modded 24v dodge.

 

I wouldn't call it BS. Cat has to stand behind the motor when it's flashed.

 

Cat techs will only do what they are trained to do at work. If Cat specs say a 475 can go to 550 they won't go beyond that, as wannadiesel said they won't punish an engine they have to stand behind. But some techs will do this at home. A cowhauler friend had a 550 that would run great flatlanding or small hills but would lose steam quick in bigger hills ect.. The tech came to my shop after work and installed a number that went all the way across a legal note pad and part of the way across the next line into the computer. I don't know what that number changed but that truck came to life, no hill would slow it down grossing 86/90000 lbs. It would blow the hair off the ole cows he hauled.

 

Not when it's out of warranty.

 

I know all about that. But I've seen different results from different techs. Not just limited to Cat, I had an N14 that needed some upgrades. I had to take it to 2 different places to get what I paid for. I'd expect that from a mechanic working on an old mechanical engine but when all they have to do is point and click it's amazing how hard it is for some. I just find it funny how they preach "you can't do that" when I know you can and have to hold their hand to get stuff done. Last truck I had uprated I had to stand beside the "tech" and walk him through every step I wanted done. When you have to tell them repeatedly I want power not fuel economy they look at you like your a ailen. When your truck is as aerodynamic as a brick and haul loads upwards of 120k fuel economy is a joke. I want max hp and max torque rise. And you can stick that multi torque program.

 

Pittsburgh Diesel knows their stuff. They are the Big Rig Diesel shop!
If you have a 855 Cummins give them a call dual line kit and FASS for sure. Then injectors pump mods and rebuild kit.

 

Thanks for all the replys ya'll. This is the kind of information I was looking for. He already had the computer flashed to a 525. They told him the max was 550 and that would cost him $500.00

 

One thing to keep in mind with the differences in pistons other than compression ratio is what they are made of. I went through this when I rebuilt my 3406E. They use pistons with aluminum skirt/steel crown up to the 475hp 1650 torque range. Anything above that uses steel skirt/steel crown. I'm not sure exactly where the change happens. There are so many combinations; your rig may be 500hp and only 1650torque.

 

i talked to my friend that has the one on is 550 twin turbo and he said if he puts it any higher than level 3 the results are bad he said when he first got it he blew the top turbo the studs busted . he also has the fass fuel system on there and he said its one of the best things he bought.

 

most high horse programs for series 60 anyways, are offroad only programs that genset engines and power units get. I've loaded and stalled out a 700hp series 60 deck engine on a drilling rig before. they're not all they;re cracked up to be.

I've also layed eyes on a factory rated 800hp C16 cat power unit. You can get a C16 in a truck in the US can't you? but not at 800hp I bet/

 

The C16 (15.8L) was discontinued in 2002 for highway use here. But since 2004 the C15 was 15.2L, they just dumped the 14.6L version.