2000 KW W900 vs 2000 FREIGHTLINER FLD132 CLASSIC XL

Don't get hung up on hours or miles too much. They're important but its not a true indicator of vehicle condition. Have it looked over by a 3rd party, get oil samples and run it on a dyno to check performance and blowby. Its always a crapshoot buying used so you want to be as informed as possible when you make the call to purchase or pass.

 

If I’m not mistaken it’s length of the hood and axle location between the two and a few other available options for the classic xl which I could be wrong.

just saying if it’s commanding the price of a 132 it should be a full 132.

my Cascadia was priced as an Evo because it had some aftermarket cosmetics of an evolution and I’m sure the dealer would have not cared if I didn’t bring it up, but in reality it was a basic 125, the price difference was about 12k in retail value.

 

That’s all debatable. So many variables involved. Fleets often had the hp turned down and always set at 1800 rpm and 63-67 mph. Keeping the drivers from over revving the engines. The other school of thought is having lots of power and not using it. Running at lower RPMs. Gear fast/run slow. Works great on flat ground. Plenty of torque helps. The problem is when heavy and pulling a hill. Downshifting wastes fuel. The Detroit’s have less torque than others. In theory anyways, your prospective Truck would do great on mpg’s on flat ground. Worse in hills. The idea is to get a good compromise. That’s why so many are spec with 355 rears. Running 65 mph, at about 1500 rpm. Having some leeway from 1350- 1650 roughly without shifting. Makes for good drivability. That’s my understanding. Lately there’s been a push towards Trucks gears like yours. The argument is to run them in Direct Drive. That is 2 gears down from the top gear on a 13 or 18 spd. Supposedly losing less torque through the transmission. Resulting in better mpgs. This has been pushed by Kevin Rutherford and Pittsburg Diesel. It’s the same thing Swift did 30 years ago, with direct Drive transmissions and low rear end ratios. That Truck will probably do triple digits in top gear. Don’t know if I’d want to though. Lol.

 

Fld was offered in aero set back 120, aero set forward 120, severe duty set back 120. And 120 set forward classic. Then the 132 classic square hood, and 132 classic xl.

Don't forget all the FLD 112 configurations also.

In those years, if you ordered and paid for it. You could have about any combination you wanted built. Most all options were available on any body style.

Swifty and Werner had piles of them with detroits and cats. All 9 speed convertible eatons. It was built as a 13 but not plumbed. When they sold them to owner ops or market, they added plumbing and changed shift controls "converting" them to 13 speed. Marketing ploy, they didn't want the door slammers to have them, but wanted resale.

 

Sure looks like a 132 to me. Pretty sure FLD120 was a long hood and FLD112 was a short hood commonly called a set back axle. Likewise the Classics are available in long hood 132, or in a set back axle called a 120. The only other model was 132XL limited edition. Same as the other 132’s, just loaded up with leather seats and optional 84” bunk.

 

That explains the 13 spd. It’s probably an old Swift Truck.

 

This FL is in fact a 132.

 

This is a FLD 120 Classic. Read this. A classic was available in a 120 or a 132 hood.

 

Okay I am gonna get oil sample done. And I am new to the whole dyno thing to check performance and blow by. Will most diesel shops know what this is?

 

You mean I can run over 100mph in this bad boy? SOLD! Lol jk thanks for the breakdown, makes sense.