I 'stepped up' to a 9200 Series International. I'd have preferred a Cummins in that too, but at least what I got stuck with is still 6 cylinders.

 

I guess the Cat 777D and F series haul trucks I work on are grocery getters, hauling 100 tons worth of groceries

 

First of all, that's a whole different animal.

Secondly, I went to Cat school when I worked for them and had Cat engineers tell us that the service life and reliability factors of a 'V' configured engine are never on par with an in-line engine and never will be. If the guys that design the things are telling me that, it's good enough for me!

 

Maybe so but if they were that bad they wouldn't use them, no?

 

I dunno 'bout that. Look how long the 3208 was around. Or the 2 stroke Detroits. Sure, they'd stay together pretty good. You just had to get past the noise, vibration, leaks, rotten mileage, and low power, but they'd run forever. Doesn't mean I want one tho!

 

Lot of trains and diesel power generators use v style engines as well. I myself love the new dodges even over my 07. Been in a lot of new fords as well and they are the cats meow however im with just about everyone else here were ill keep my dodge, the cummins is a plus. I see a lot of commercial use pickups ford chevy and dodge, we work on chevys the least( but we see very few compared to the other 2 not sure why that is) for any bigger issues its always on the ford be engine or truck. Also, wait till 2013 when dodge has to use scr as well, then we will get more accurate mileage numbers.

 

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Quote by chaikwa:

I don't care how great they run, what mileage they get, how wonderful they sound or anything else. As far as I'm concerned, any vehicle with a V-8 diesel will never be anything other than a grocery getter or errand do-er. If the V-8's were anything designed for work, you'd see them in class 8 trucks. And you never do. Unless someone PUT one there.
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Scott, there are alot more class 8 trucks running V-8 diesels than you think!
Some of them have already been mentioned by you and the other members here.

With reference to your statement about the V-8 diesels in the Ford or Chevy, I regretfully have to say I now feel that way about the new Cummins 6.7 Emissions Engines found in the new Dodge 4th Gens! No more Dodge CTD CR Trucks for this member!

 

I love my 12 valve- I will run it as long as I can afford it. And, I am loyal to it. But, regardless of loyalties or ownership experiences or warm fuzzies, the fact is that all three manufacturers make a good truck, in their own rights. I prefer my Dodge, but would be able to find the good in and be able to enjoy and appreciate any of the three. None of them are without equal problems, anymore.

 

Yes, and most of them are vintage Kenworths or Peterbilts. A lot of guys think the louder they can get them the better, and what better way of doing that than with a big, obsolete boat anchor like this:

As far as trains and construction equipment; I'm talking about truck engine applications.

 

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My Brother works for a large OTR trucking company in the midwest and their fleet has the exact type of trucks you mention and many of them have the older V-8 diesels, but NOT like that one you posted from "You Tube." Their trucks are all high mileage, but well maintained and he says they have had good service from them. Not trying to argue with you, just saying there are alot out there. I got it that you hate the V-8 diesels.

 

I havent seen a V8 in a OTR truck ever in my liftime(34). Granted i havent worked in the buisnes but have been around it my entire life. My grandparents where truckers and my wife works for a large OTR trucking companie(175ish trucks). I garontee if I brought up having a V8 in the trucks to anyone in the shop or office at her work I wouold get all sorts of looks and none good.

 

bkrukow, you might be too young to remember the old style, two stroke Detroit diesels. A LOT of them were V8's and V6's and had a pretty loyal following while they were in production, which was a long time. I think in the 60's Cat and Cummins offered a V8 for road trucks too, but I've only seen one or two in my lifetime. Some of the over the road owner operators used to install huge old V8 Cats in their rigs just to be able to say they had the biggest engine. Or the loudest. Or whatever.

I know one guy back in New Hampshire that installed a KTA Cummins in his Kenworth Brute log truck. I don't even know how he fit it in there and it looks like the new diesels they're stuffing in the new pickups today; no room to work on anything. He claimed the thing was pushing 1200HP and I'm sure it was. I'm also sure he was getting around 2.5 MPG. Another friend put a 3408 Cat in his Peterbilt a few years ago. He hauls sheetrock and can pass anything going up the hill leaving the sheetrock plant. He too gets around 2.5 - 3 MPG, but by God, his truck sounds mean! Both these trucks have been in the shop as much as they've been on the road too. While I'll concede the log truck was originally underpowered at 290hP, the Pete had a nice 550 Cat in it to begin with, had only 40 or 50 thousand on an in-frame overhaul and was getting around 6MPG. You can't ask for much more than that!

 

Last I saw, the KTA was an inline 6...... One of our machine haulers had one in his rig, 11-1200 Hp and he got decent fuel mileage so long as he wasn't stupid, I remember him saying 5.7/5.8 MPG. It would run stupid MPH though.

Sure you weren't thinking of a 903?

 

No, it was a KTA. And yes, they're an in-line. But stupid power for a truck, especially when the operator generally rolls up his pant leg to get the throttle thru the floor a little farther. Just used that motor as an example of some of the stuff people will stuff under a hood just to have more power. BUT, they DID stay together... the rest of the truck didn't do so well tho. He rolled axles out from under that thing like pool *****.

I'm glad you mentioned the 903 too. If I remember right, those didn't have a stellar track record for longevity either.

 

Take a gander on over at Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Ford is raking owners over the coal with the new 6.7 in some seriously BS ways. The 6.7 is a better engine than the 6.0 and 6.4, but Ford is honestly losing credibility and customers on a daily basis.