Muck Boots 'n' Slickers - Life of a Livestock Hauler

Tool box faces need some attention and the dryer vent cleaning brush kit Lowes's sell works well on soot in a stack pipe...
Works deeper than arm length....

 

You called it.

We gonna need the industrial pack lol

 

Clutch jobs suck, regardless of age.
I’d rather rebuild a motor than pull a trans and do a clutch.

 

Sometimes maybe most times ya I would too

 

Real life opinions on ISX Cummins. Some background, I recently aquired a 2007 379, bought it with bad injectors, no history on motor… It was cheap... I know most of y’all all CAT fans, but just curious, what’s your over all opinion on fixing that motor? Stick new injectors in, (provided that’s actually what’s wrong) and run it until it blows? It has 28k hours on it, so probably about used up. Other option readily accessible for reasonable, is I know a guy that has an N14 Redtop for sale, would probably be a relatively easy swap, and IMO a better motor than the ISX. I didn’t think the 07 was the best Cummins ever did for some reason. I thought about swapping my B in there, but think that looks very complicated, due to the electrical setup,and everything.Thoughts?

 

I personally think the ISX is a good platform. Is it an CM870? Or 2350?
Do you have any history on it? Cummins only offers 2 thickness of liner shims. I know guys that cut them deeper then have a machine shop make shims. I agree that should work but it doesn’t that I’ve seen for some reason. I also think the N14 would be just as hard to swap as a CAT. If it were me I’d truly evaluate what you have and if it’s fixable I’d stay with it. I’ve run beside a 07 379 (possibly an 06 I can’t remember for certain) that would run with any of them up hill and got better mileage than my CAT every day of the week. After 400k it cracked a head and the truck owner wanted it de tuned. About 10k miles later it vented the block. It’s my opinion had they just stuck a head on it and left it alone it would still be plowing today. The ISX can be really messed up by a ho ### tuner. When they are right they are very fine engines. Just an opinion

 

Clutch dust?

 

The cm870 is the same block as the cm570 sig 600. The sig 600 was a hoss. I think you could build it back to that. But will need the computer or programming. I have a lot of experience with the cm870. It definitely has its own quirks and mixed reputation. Some deserved, some not. Cummins reman quality is in the crapper though.

 

It’s at a dealer, he wouldn’t tell me anything about the engine. Said that way I can’t say, “Well so and so told me…” I ran an N14 for dad for several years, and I loved it, I’m not knocking Cummins, just don’t know too much about the ISX. Always thought I’d like a Signature 600, guess maybe I’m closer than I thought! If I decide to just stick new injectors in and keep it, think it would be a good idea to roll new bearings in right away too?

 

If you do keep it, go ahead and pull the oil pump and shim the relief (8 dimes. I think it was 8 that I used). They had issues with soft cams, but they also had issues with oiling the top end. Shimming the pump help that. Probably need to go ahead and replace rocker shafts. They have a detent that the Jake rocker uses. When that wears the Jake’s aren’t worth a ####. You may have to replace the rockers at that point. They used to have two sizes for rockers. Wide roller and narrow roller depending on the cam. I think they now have one rocker regardless of cam( but I may be wrong.) head is good for about 500 (remans don’t last but about 300. Or didn’t use to). The vgt turbo is needed for the Jake’s to function like designed. If removed the Jake’s don’t really have a stage 3. If it has the small breather tube go ahead and install one about twice that size. If not it will leak oil at the front structure