Opinions on a truck I'm looking at

For the record, I looked at an almost identical truck to what @Brandonpdx posted a few years back. Difference was FL 60 I think, 2000my, '99 built exempt 8.3l Cummins with a 6speed manual Eaton, & juice braked. Called a Cabriolet sleeper. I got to say, it was pretty nice. But they are priced too high for my liking, & the bed has to come off for '65 law, so it just didn't make sense for me. Nice, roomy little rig though..

My understanding is an FL50 is basically a class 5 truck. So..
FL50 class 5
FL60 class 6
FL 70 class 7
FL 80 class 8
Same truck with higher weight rated axles, suspension, & frames. Biggest motor usually found in an old FL 70 or 80 will be an 8.3l Cummins. There are few exceptions of 10-13liter motors. Just not common..

Now when you get into full size road tractors like the FLD, the numbers indicate bumper to back of cab(BBC) in inches. Think day cab. Has nothing to do with bunk size. It really indicates how long the hood is. So in theory, yes more power as you can stuff a larger displacement engine under the hood..

So for the FLD you got
FLD112
FLD120
FLD132, know as the Classic XL
FLD112 you will find (rare)Detroit Series 50, cummins L10, ISM, & cat 3176, C12 for the most part. Smaller, compact vocational engines. Still plenty of power for running around 55k lb. These trucks can drag 80k+. Just won't win any races..

120 can be fitted with any size motor, from a L10 Cummins to a 3406e or c16.. A 132 is just a foot longer, cooler square hood OO spec'd truck usually.

The anomaly of mine only have a 11.1L Series 60 still requires the FLD120 BBC length hood. The 11.1, 12.7, & 14.0L Detroits are all externally the same dimension..

FWIW. My 11.1 is only a 350hp, 1250tq, with a gappy 9speed fuller. It's no rocket off the line for sure, but that's not really the idea of trucking. Once I ease my way up to 65-70mph, wherever I feel like cruising it does fine, pulling overpasses & 3-4% rolling grades never having to drop out of OD. Do I yearn for more power.? Sometimes. Just haven't got around to making my way up to a little know shop in PA. There is a safe 400-425hp tune out there. Just need to get it uploaded into the ol DDEC II ecm. Still doesn't mean I will need to launch it off the line at every red light like a 16yr old kid..

Edit. Not meant to be a lecture. Just my thoughts if anyone cares.. LoL

 

Wow I certainly care, and think the op @24kHotshot probably appreciates the comments too. Thanks shaker

 

Correct,sir.
When i posted that message i didn't have time for the full story.
But you explained it perfectly.

 

I need to did up the link, but there is one big loophole if I remember right..

My understanding is vehicles 14,000lb & under GVWR are not subject to the 2010my engine law. So a good loophole if you wanted to run into CA in a emissions free 100% legal rig is to stay in a 3500 series truck. 5.9l Cummins went their whole life without even an EGR hung on them. (Side note, few CA emission12 valves '94-'98 did have factory egr, but I doubt you would find one you wanted to work)

Here is what I see. Maybe I'm understanding it wrong, but read it for yourself.. Type what I did into google, & read the pdf..

I like tractors, but if the hotshot will make you more $ by going into the Commie, do what you got to do.. Its all about the money where I come from. I like my setup alot, but if I ever get onto a home almost every night gig, only sleeping in the truck 2-3 times a month, light weight I'd jump back into a pickup..

 

I’d rather have the Cummins ISC also but not sure I’d call a 3126 a throwaway. T444E’s are known to go 800k+ and they are parent bore. 200k that one is barely broken in. That looked like a pricey rig when it was new...probably some old fart with money bought it to haul his 5th wheel around and took decent care of it. I think the OCI is 10k on those motors. In reality I have run up to 15k on my 7.3 Powerstroke many times and the oil test always came back fine. That’s with good oil though...Delvac 1 or Schaeffer 9000.

 

I remember t444e's in busses and they were dogs. I wonder if it's due to the gearing and the transmission though. Either they were freeway geared and sucked on hills, or wouldn't break 55mph downhill with a tailwind and we're fine up hills. They were all 4spd autos I think..

 

FWIW, I live in PHX and have an 18,000 lb 35ft motorhome with the 250HP/700TQ 3126B and 3060MH. It pulls the 6% grades to Payson at around 47MPH max. Great engine/trans, but not a rocket ship by any means. Keep the revs over 1,800 to keep the temps down on those hills. The Cat can be uprated to 300HP with software and higher with hardware, but yes, it is not sleeved, and yes, you need to keep the oil clean.

 

Most heavily loaded work trucks aren’t running up a 6% grade at 65mph in overdrive with the cruise control on. No big truck Ive ever driven would do that unless the trailer was empty. They will cruise just fine at the speed limit on level terrain but big hills you have to drop gears and give the motor some leverage. Newer small trucks have much higher horsepower engines to satisfy automotive customers who want a diesel 4x4 sport sedan that never slows down. But that’s generally not how it works with bigger equipment. You actually have to know how to drive.

 

I liked my 3126 Cat but it sure was a dog on hills. Even dropping gears.

 

Volvo VNL - heavy equipment - by owner - sale
I cruise truck ads when I’m bored. Looks good in the pics.