Any old timers saw this engine in a truck? CAT 3408

x1Heavy · Sep 21, 2018

REO6205 said: ↑

We had six of them from the early 70s until the mid 80s. The guy that started this company didn't believe there was any engine except Cat. I always liked that idea, too.
Four were in logging trucks and two were in lowboys. I think the horsepower was somewhere around five hundred but I don't know for sure. I don't remember anybody ever asking. You'd just tell them you had a 3408 that was pumped up and their eyes would get glassy and they'd drool a little, and ask if we were hiring anybody.
In those days fuel mileage wasn't a religion. That was good because those V8s absolutely drank fuel.
They smoked too...not dainty little puffs of gray smoke but huge rolling clouds of pure black.
They'd pull and they'd pull down, too. We had 6&4s and I don't know how many times I'd have one on a hard climb up out of some god forsaken hole back in the woods and if I had to drop one in the brownie it was so steep that I'd lose it all. With the 3408 I'd just put my foot down a little more, let it rattle and shake...and smoke...until I got to a place where I could grab a gear or drop a gear. They never let me down.
As they wore out and with parts getting hard to find and expensive, they were replaced with 3406s.
The old 3408s were sold to a tugboat company in Coos Bay. Seems fitting somehow.
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I miss the smoke. It was one of the greatest indicators of how the engine was feeling in those days.

They not only stole the smoke with the ever tight emissions rules but also the chug.

x1Heavy · Sep 21, 2018

AModelCat said: ↑

Real truck, real engine:

Click to expand...

Nice land. A little jealousy going on lolz.

Midwest Trucker · Sep 21, 2018

God I LOVE these old stories! Puts bumps on my arms. X1heavy I learned to shift/drive on an old 74 autocar. Spring ride and the whole bit. Loved that truck. I’ll get you a pic of it at some point.

Here is the passenger side and top view of that 3408 cat. I find it very neat how the turbo is placed behind the engine. So cool.

tommymonza · Sep 21, 2018

Torque and HP at what RPM?

Midwest Trucker · Sep 22, 2018

tommymonza said: ↑

Torque and HP at what RPM?
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This particular one is said to be maximum tuned and fueled up and produced 800hp. No idea on torque/rpm.

tommymonza · Sep 22, 2018

Midwest Trucker said: ↑

This particular one is said to be maximum tuned and fueled up and produced 800hp. No idea on torque/rpm.
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How many cubes? 2 stroke?

x1Heavy · Sep 22, 2018

Midwest Trucker said: ↑

This particular one is said to be maximum tuned and fueled up and produced 800hp. No idea on torque/rpm.
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I don't know.

That's a littl much.

Cam Roberts · Sep 22, 2018

Oldironfan said: ↑

All I have heard is those were far more problematic than the 1693 engine which was the first certified million mile engine.
I dont like the sound of the 3408. Not even close to smooth sounding as a 3406.
But I've never drove or been near one to see or hear in person.
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Plus they never made jakes for that motor. So where’s the fun at if you can’t let em rip with 8” straight pipes

wore out · Sep 22, 2018

Most were 450hp from the factory at 1098 CID.

To say they were cut back is an understatement. Some fast easy hp back in the day was put a set of 3421 nozzles out of a 3406B in them. Give it a little timing and some fuel.

The sound of them old V-8's coming to life is unmistakable.

NightWind · Sep 22, 2018

Midwest Trucker said: ↑

Truck has been sitting for 30 years. This CAT 3408 looks massive even though it’s in a big Pete.

Reading on this forum got me curious about it.
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Had on in a Peterbilt. Loved fuel

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