View Poll Results: Which one?
Cummins 8.3 (or larger)
109
82.58%
60 series detroit diesel
23
17.42%
Voters: 132. You may not vote on this poll
a cummins or a detroit?
10-23-2005, 06:07 PM
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a cummins or a detroit?
ok i know most of the pros and cons of both, but if you were going to build a medium duty truck, for a 3 ton or so service rig, which would you put it it? Why?
10-23-2005, 06:56 PM
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not necessarly. i had my heart set on a cummins then i started thinkin about the detroit. sure it leaks oil but thats just an external lubrication system and it prevents rust 
. they are pretty efficent power wise and fuel wise. jmo.
. they are pretty efficent power wise and fuel wise. jmo.
10-23-2005, 07:02 PM
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My brother had seven trucks on the road and they were about half Cummins, half Cats, and half Detroits (wait, that don't add up does it). The Cats were the most expensive to repair if and when they broke down. The other two were probably about equal as far as he was concerned.
10-23-2005, 07:14 PM
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word, cats are great motors, but when they break down, crack a beer and start crying in it. i'd go with a cummins over anything because of their warranty. i have heard bad things about detroit not honoring warranties, i know its hearsay, but i have firsthand experience with cummins stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing in warranty situations.
10-23-2005, 08:59 PM
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im plannin on becomin a Caterpillar diesel mechanic. (thats what the truck is for) Ill drive it to the site and work on dozers etc. out of it. i dont want a cat in the truck for sure 
10-23-2005, 09:08 PM
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Might as well
U wanna build a 12V right? might as well get a good basis as to what ur getting into and have another cummins there as well. Many parts for the 8.3 can be found the same for the 5.9 as well...
My choice.. obvious..... 500 RWHP with 1500 ft lbs....
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttttt.....
Tx
U wanna build a 12V right? might as well get a good basis as to what ur getting into and have another cummins there as well. Many parts for the 8.3 can be found the same for the 5.9 as well...
My choice.. obvious..... 500 RWHP with 1500 ft lbs....
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttttt.....
Tx
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10-23-2005, 09:11 PM
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Originally Posted by TxDiesel007
Might as well
U wanna build a 12V right? might as well get a good basis as to what ur getting into and have another cummins there as well. Many parts for the 8.3 can be found the same for the 5.9 as well...
My choice.. obvious..... 500 RWHP with 1500 ft lbs....
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttttt.....
Tx
U wanna build a 12V right? might as well get a good basis as to what ur getting into and have another cummins there as well. Many parts for the 8.3 can be found the same for the 5.9 as well...
My choice.. obvious..... 500 RWHP with 1500 ft lbs....
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttttt.....
Tx
10-23-2005, 09:16 PM
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Anyone I've talked to, that have Detroits like them. One trucker friend of mine has a T-600 KW with a 485hp Series 60. Has almost 1million miles on the clock. Engine hasn't been touched, to his knowledge. Pulls a 50' Wilson bullrack with it. Only just starting need a quart or two between oil changes. Most of it leaks though. 
Don't have any personal experiance with them myself.
I'd go for the 8.3 Cummins. Dang good engine. Pull strong. Never used one in a truck, but quite a few in C-IH Magnum tractors. Can't go wrong.
A TDR buddy of mine drives a F-650 Cat service truck (Ag side), powered by a Cat C-7. Only problem he has had, was a bad set of injectors. Other than that, it has treated him good, to my knowledge.
Don't have any personal experiance with them myself.I'd go for the 8.3 Cummins. Dang good engine. Pull strong. Never used one in a truck, but quite a few in C-IH Magnum tractors.
Can't go wrong.A TDR buddy of mine drives a F-650 Cat service truck (Ag side), powered by a Cat C-7. Only problem he has had, was a bad set of injectors. Other than that, it has treated him good, to my knowledge.
10-23-2005, 09:47 PM
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Originally Posted by blackdiesel02
im going to build a 12v for a streetable racing machine. and up the hp to around 700 to 800 hp. but this is gunna be a service truck
I know u Brian.. hehehehehehe... best of luck thoTx
10-23-2005, 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by blackdiesel02
not necessarly. i had my heart set on a cummins then i started thinkin about the detroit. sure it leaks oil but thats just an external lubrication system and it prevents rust . they are pretty efficent power wise and fuel wise. jmo.
. they are pretty efficent power wise and fuel wise. jmo.
10-23-2005, 10:36 PM
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nearly every fire truck I've touched in my career has been a Series 60 mated to an Allison...
These arent fleet trucks or OTR trucks...They dont get many miles (relative) put on them, but man do they get used and abused....Cold starts after sitting for days, cold idled on long nights, 2000RPM for hours on end....After getting ridden hard, their put away wet, literally....Maybe 1 in 10 firemen have knowledge of proper diesel care.....
But I've never seen a Series 60 break down...Ever
Seen Ford chassis with Cats break, Powerstrokes break, Internationals break...Never seen a Detroit break.....
BUT....I have seen a few electrical and electronic problems with Detroits
Just my point of view
These arent fleet trucks or OTR trucks...They dont get many miles (relative) put on them, but man do they get used and abused....Cold starts after sitting for days, cold idled on long nights, 2000RPM for hours on end....After getting ridden hard, their put away wet, literally....Maybe 1 in 10 firemen have knowledge of proper diesel care.....
But I've never seen a Series 60 break down...Ever
Seen Ford chassis with Cats break, Powerstrokes break, Internationals break...Never seen a Detroit break.....
BUT....I have seen a few electrical and electronic problems with Detroits
Just my point of view
10-24-2005, 12:32 AM
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the only reason people get cats in their trucks is for the higher resale and because they see the cat machines out there and they think "those must be the best motors"...
there's a few good options out there...
stick an 8.3 in there
what about a DT466? those things are great motors...
the detroits are great motors as well
the cat would be my last choice id put a john deere engine in there before a cat
there's a few good options out there...
stick an 8.3 in there
what about a DT466? those things are great motors...
the detroits are great motors as well
the cat would be my last choice id put a john deere engine in there before a cat