What is the best pre-emissions engine/truck combo?

Truck body is pretty much subject to one's tastes, but the DDEC 4 Series 60 or the Cummins N-14 are pretty solid choices in engines. The Detroit will probably edge out the N-14 in fuel mileage, but the N-14 is a real solid puller and both are relatively easy to repair. Cats are real good engines, but statistically, they will cost a little more to maintain over their lifespan. I took my last N-14 in an FLD to over 1.4 million miles and it still got about 7 mpg average and used only a gallon of oil about every 8000 miles. If it would have been my truck, I would have kept the old girl and rebuilt it as needed.

Cummins (up until the '07 DPF) has an edge on the others when it comes to EGR. Just unplug the darn thing. I have had my '06 ISX's EGR unplugged for over a year now with darn good results. No CEL, no derate of power, runs a LOT cooler in pulls, and gained about .8 average mpg. My oil now stays pretty clean looking clean up to almost 20,000 miles and the oil sample results are much improved with very little sooting, lower metal wear numbers, etc. When the engine was still in warranty, I had the EGR unplugged and the 3 Cummins shops I used all could really care less I did it. Never denied a claim regarding a sensor I had to replace and a couple of other warranty issues I had fixed just prior to warranty running out.

 

I own a 2000 century with a series 60 12.7 liter with a Rockwell 10 speed. I have currently 1.3million miles on it and will soon do an overhaul. My Mpg is between 6.99 and 8.12 driving between 62-65 mph. The trick is how you hold the peddle. If ya looking for a good truck engine combo. Those kenworth's mentioned by the other members are worth looking into. One that is hard to find would be either a t2000 or a Pete 387 equipped with a DDEC-IV ENGINE. Pete and kenworth parted ways with Detroit after 2003 so anything newer has either a cat or isx cummins. Avoid the aCert cat engine, very bad and probed to injectors failing. The good thing about a used truck is you can do what you want to it. A friend bought an '06 Pete 387 with a C15 cat that had 800,000 plus miles on it that was desperately in need of an overhaul. He wound up getting a remanufactured DDEC-IV from Pittsburgh power and gets 8 plus mpg. It is all about preference and what you want what is best for your truck, it's your wallet....hope this helps.

 

6nz Cat motors are awesome! I do know for fuel mileage the pre EGR Detroit is hard to beat and also the N-14 cummins was a decent choice. As for a truck, why not do a glider if you have the money. Put a nice pre emmisions motor into a brand new truck of your choice.

 

Oh yeah. Forgot about the glider kit. Fitzgerald glider kits in crossville, tn has a bunch of coronary and Pete 388 and 389 trucks ready for your engine of choice. Located off of I-40 exit 311 in Tennessee. Pittsburgh power is doing the Pete 386 as a glider.

 

I plan to purchase one or two gliders this next year. They will be powered by Cat 2WS
3406E engines and RTX16710C transmissions. Rear gearing will be 3.90 3.70 running low pro 24 rubber. These specs work for our operation.

 

I wanna purchase pre emission truck only. Seems to me the best coise is 3406e ore Select Plus with 10 st. tranny. But I wanna say that DD60 DEEC-iV had not so many issues comparing with EGR DEEC-V engines.

 

That would be the best choice if someone is wanting to stay pre-emissions. A brand new truck with a well done rebuilt pre-emissions engine of their choice is awful hard to beat combination. Truck and engine good for a long, long time. Since a lot of problems are chassis, drive train related on used trucks, the new glider is the best choice if one has the money. Roughly 30% less than a similarly equipped brand new production truck and no Federal Excise Tax as well. That is real savings in purchase and maintenance costs over the life of the truck. No brainer.

 

If it comes right down to it emission laws started in 1970. The most fuel efficient engine was the 1990 series 60 430 HP. There is a tag on all Class eights with the EPA numbers for fuel burn rate at max HP that engine was 198MM3. The N14 of that era bought as a 460 to get the better cam for the Jake output, then reprogrammed for 430 HP. Put an 18 speed behind it and they are both bullet proof.
When ever you are looking at an engine look for that number, look at a new Acert.

 

My son's glider is an '06 379 with a 2000-vintage C15 # 600 HP. 18 speed. He built it himself... good truck. Cost him about $106,000... could have been a lot cheaper but the engine, big trans and driveline was expensive.

The engine was a Cat test engine originally in a Freightliner application... he bought it from Midwest Diesel in Minneapolis. The trans was purchased brand new... big $$$.

 

Gully Transportation is advertising for a maintenance manager. The ad appears in Transport Topics, 11/22/10, page 19. "This individual ...should be supportive to Freightliner FLDs, Cummins Engines (pre emission), and Eaton-Fuller Transmissions. ...tractor rebuild shop (refurbish to new, Glider Kit Assembly, Engine, Transmission, and Rear End Rebuild).

Gully's motto: "Committed to continue running the best truck built to ever hit the highway, the Freightliner FLD"