Pre EGR overrated ?

Not sure about Freightliner/Detroit. With anything CAT 2003 could be, but not likely to be "pre-emmissions" and most likely is an emissions "bridge" motor. I don't believe the 12.7L Detroit ever had egr - it's the good one.

 

YEP! O4 started the whole emissions issue.....

 

Did they ever put 14L Detroit's in 2003 Freighliner's? The actual date for the change in emissions regs was Oct '02. Some '03 models had leftover pre-emissions motors and many did not...

 

I couldnt answer that question. My logic would be there may be some O3 trucks with an emissions motor. But 99.99999 would prob be pre.... Im just guessing based on buying O3 trucks.......

 

You better find out for sure. Somebody that knows Detroits on here will likely answer before the end of the day. I made your exact same assumption and bought a single turbo CAT in an '03 truck because everybody knows the single turbos are/were "the last of the good ones" before twin turbos. Used truck dealers even use that quote in advertisements. Because I didn;t do my homework I ended up buying a "bridge" motor, yep it's a single turbo alright, it has a different camshaft/injectors/pistons/ECM tuning used to get emissions levels up to par for the Oct '02 regs. CAT only made the motor one year and it is mostly in '03 and in rare cases some early '04 trucks. Then they came out with the ACERT twin turbo motors. I thought any '03 single turbo CAT was good to go. Turns out the pre-emissions CAT's are very rare in '03 modle trucks and probably 99 percent of '03 CAT's are the worst motor CAT ever built. Was a costly mistake. I did a few mild, illegal upgrades that changed mine and made it much better... ...but if I had it to do over again I would not buy a "bridge" motor...

 

Check any O3 first..... I know all of the Crete fleet trucks in O3 were pre emission century class.....also the Swift columbias were pre emission detroits..... Anything above O4 is sure to be pre emission unless you get a crate motor put in.

 

If you can afford it, a glider trucks with a 12.7 would be the way to go.

If not, then try to find a 98-02 with a recent rebuild. on the other hand, you can find one with over 1 million miles and get it for a few grand and have a new reman motor installed for about $20k and get the same warranty as a new truck (3yr from Detroit).... the way I'm leaning towards is a glider.

Down-side to any of the above is that you can not go into CA wtih them. Many say CA isn't needed (I was one of them) but I have been making VERY good money coming out here in the last few months pulling a flatbed... it's the loads OUT of CA that kill ya.