Coronado glider, 12.7 or 6nz?

I would go with detroit ! The money you save over 5 years on mpg will outperform the loss on resale . Being owner operator should be fine for both choices talking about breakdowns

 

Also if you want to be eld exempt, the 6nz is a 2000 model year engine. Most 12.7, but not all are 1999 or earlier, so if that is an issue, then that could be a consideration.

 

I personally would go with the Cat. I've never owned a Detroit and have nothing against them but I don't think they are much less expensive to repair from what I have been told. 6NZ is a good stout motor. I can still manage to get 6.1 every quarter with mine pulling tankers locally with a bunch of stop and go driving it gently in the city. They did make the 6NZ starting in late 99 but chances are it isn't one of them. Really cant go wrong with either motor.

 

My old man ran a 12.7L Series 60 at 500 HP for off-highway logging. Mostly 100k lb gross. It did fine.

The 6NZ isn't all its cracked up to be IMO.

 

Drove them both, they run the same. I'd go Detroit. CAT makes a good engine but they're overrated in my opinion

 

I'm not a Cat guy, but the ones I know say a 2ws or B model is better.

 

AeroDynamics aren't really going to make that much of a difference in fuel economy if you're running that C&S stuff into the city. Your fuel economy gets killed in the block to block driving in the city. Go with the Detroit, parts are a lot easier to come by in an emergency. The cat with the 18 speed probably also comes with like a 3:90 rear end ratio.

 

My Series 60 has plenty of power paired with a power box used reasonably with my horrible aerodynamics. If you don’t need the power of the Cat I think you will have an overall lower cost of operation with the Detroit. I feel like your gains on the resale will be negligible if you factor all costs of operation in. If you like the Cat better, buy it as you only live once.

 

Definitely get what you want. I’d go with the Detroit. I’ve had 2 of them for the last 20 yrs. But if you want the power, from the Cat. Go for it. The Detroit’s definitely going to be cheaper on parts. Pretty much runs like a timex. Still not always a million mile engine. My 99 PK 500 hp blew turbo at 300k, a head gasket at 540k, then dropped a liner at 825. Though oil and coolant was very well maintained. Same with current 99 BK 500 hp engine, needed an inframe at 825. I ran it 1.3 mil. Just inframed it again. Overall parts are much less from what I’ve seen. Look for yourself, if that’s a concern. Inframe kits, head, turbos, injectors, fuel pump, water pump. Check prices. 12.7 parts are very cheap, compared to 14L, ISX, or Cats. That’s why I’ve kept mine. It all adds up. Just make sure the engine has oil squirter tubes, for piston cooling/ wrist pin lubrication, or drilled rods for the pistons/ wrist pins. Without one or the other, they’re prone to coming apart, possibly ruining the block.