Pete 379 Drivetrains

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Crank1, Sep 4, 2007.

  1. I'm not a trucker nor ever really drove one...unless backing up a Freight Liner when I was 12 counts... But I've been looking at used Peterbilt 379 EXHD for sale and wondering what everyone prefers for engine/tranny combo? Which manufacturer of engine and trans and how many speeds and why? I'm really just trying to learn a little bit about them so I can actually narrow my searches and crap... So if anyone could just enlighten me a little I'd appreciate it... Doesnt have to come necessarily from your experiences from Pete's... But which engine would you have in them that they offer and why. Thanks
    Brandon
     
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  3. PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

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    Jul 15, 2006
    El Chuco, Tejas
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    Gimme a Cummins ISX 600 and 18 speed!:biggrin_25525:
     
  4. e500gvr

    e500gvr Light Load Member

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    Aug 21, 2006
    Bloomington,MN
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    Historically, about 80% of the Petes built in the last 5-6 years have Cats in them. C15 or 3406Es in earlier production. The long hoods, while attractive, usually lend themselves to the big block Cats with 893 cubic inches of displacement. As the saying goes..."there's no replacement for displacement"!
    Happy hunting!
     
  5. Well its just I think I read somewhere the cats were expensive to work on and some others liked the detroit in them like the N-14 or something and was just trying to get some more insight on this... Thanks for the replies so far.
    Brandon
     
  6. CaptCaveman

    CaptCaveman <strong>"Positive Pessimist"</strong>

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    Aug 4, 2007
    Amarillo Tx
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    Out here in the land of the bullhaulers if its a long nosed Pete it'll have a big Cat with either a 10 or 13 speed 95% of the time.
     
  7. PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

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    Jul 15, 2006
    El Chuco, Tejas
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    CATS do tend to be pricey when it comes to repairs.
     
  8. kd5drx

    kd5drx <strong>Master of Electronic Communications</stron

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    Nov 28, 2006
    Some where USA
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    The CAT's of old were expensive when you owned them because of all the routine maint they required. every 250,000 or so you had to roll a set of bearings in them and every 500,000 or so you had to redo the top end. so it seemed like they were always in the shop for something. I have no experience with the newer 3406 or newer it was the old 1492's we used to run that came right out of the oil fielf that were never ment for the road they were stationary motors and we put them in the long nose pete's and hooked them to a 13 or 15 speed or an old duplex or triplex set of boxes. Now the 3408 and a 5 and 4 and 2 speed was the set up that thing would pass every thing but a fuel stop 4 miles to the gallon if you were lucky but man would it run,
     
  9. 24valve puller

    24valve puller Medium Load Member

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    Sep 8, 2007
    N.E. Oh
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    I think a n-14 cummins is as good as any engine out there. Excellent fuel economy, good power and probably the easiest engine to work on. Not to mention a inframe kit is about half the cost of just buying a head for a cat
     
  10. Candy Licker

    Candy Licker Bobtail Member

    15
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    Feb 12, 2008
    dequincy,la
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    have the 3406e cat....love it...i was hoping in a few more yrs i could get a new W900L with a new 550 or beter cat...but if i stay in the trucking business long enough to get a new truck...will be a cummins...the cat was prided on power, long lasting , and finally reasonable fuel economy...since all the new epa crap they have been forced to add...their has been nothing but complaints about all 3 of thier pride marks...so from what i understand by 2010 they will be pulling out the trucking business...if you are goin to buy a used truck...would say look for 3406e with a 13 speed...if newer....hate to realy say but go cummins...has more power than the detroit ...far as price of fixing...i had an in frame done to my cat about a yr ago....new remaned head... on top end...had bottom end inframed....no new injectors or turbo..same ole crank and cam..every thing else replaced...had a bout a 14000 dollar tag on it
     
  11. 24valve puller

    24valve puller Medium Load Member

    399
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    Sep 8, 2007
    N.E. Oh
    0
    $4400 complete inframe parts bill for my n-14 in november
     
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