Need 3406c engine specs please

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Mr79W900A, May 8, 2021.

  1. Mr79W900A

    Mr79W900A Light Load Member

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    Can someone run my engine serial number and tell me what compression my pistons are. Reason I’m asking is is like to turn it up but I’ve heard others say not a good idea if it’s higher compression until you drop compression or you’ll put a hole in the block. I’d like to upgrade to a 177148 borg and get about 550 but not if it’s gonna blow it up. Serial number is 3zj44731. Thanks
     
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  3. w9l

    w9l Medium Load Member

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    I have forgotten the specs but by this time there is a fair chance that pistons are not original and may not be exactly the same as oe. Cat only offers a steel top retrofit for the original aluminum pistons- as far as I know. If it is a 425 or 460 it should be fine with a 177148. Put turbo on work truck, watch pyro , back screws out a turn or 3 and repeat . Keep pyro under 9 you will be fine.
     
  4. Mr79W900A

    Mr79W900A Light Load Member

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    It’s got about 330,000 km not miles on it and 9000 hours. Everything was rebuilt on it with those km and hours but I don’t have the paperwork from the previous guys that were local except that i did confirm it was rebuilt before purchase. But I will know what went in it soon here. So if it got the steel top piston I’d imagine it would be fine under 550. Would they of still run that stock 16:4.1 compression then you think.
     
  5. w9l

    w9l Medium Load Member

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    Probably. They are available down to 14 something. The aluminum pistons in my 3zj are 15.9 or 15 something, iirc. Either way, with stock nozzles, stock or half hole advance on timing, governor and timing advance and backing screws out evenly a little at a time you can get it where it should keep in radio range of any stock 550.
     
  6. little cat 500

    little cat 500 Road Train Member

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    If it's a 425 turning it up to 550 is not going to hurt a thing Just Watch the pyro your head is now the ECM
     
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  7. Mr79W900A

    Mr79W900A Light Load Member

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    Older cat mechanic told me run the screws out to get 3/8 rack travel and leave timing alone. That’s all you can do with 16:4.1 compression and it live. Says that’ll put me around 450-475 flywheel maybe 500. That sound about right ? Just don’t want to crank it up if it ain’t gonna be reliable. What you think
     
  8. w9l

    w9l Medium Load Member

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    He may well be right? I have just never been around a 3zj 425 that couldn't be set to make around that to the wheels. But that was never against a dyno test. Just comparison to stock 550's of the era. If it was an 8pn, that would be different. As far as a one size fits all approach to rack travel I disagree. As far as timing, if it is an 11* spec it will live fine meter timed to 13 or 14*. No more in my opinion. If it starts to sound like a PC idling that is too much. Meter timing is the only way to know exactly where you are with timing. I have seen pin timing vary slightly from spec from one engine to another... but if you advance it enough that you can't quite get the 3/8 pin in flywheel you should atleast be a top of spec and at most 2-3* advance. You must have everything -timing advance, governor, injectors, charge air ,cooling system, fuel lines, lift pump, etc - in very good order to get good results. You must have a pyro, boost gauge, tach etc , and know how to monitor them to make it live. Depending on the stock turbo if you have it making 28 to 30 lbs of boost max and never let pyro exceed 900* you should be fine , regardless of compression. What kind of power it will make before exceeding 900* would be my limiting factor. A 177148, iirc, will only make that kind of boost before dumping? Should really wake it up taking off, etc. Again, iirc, it is really just rated to carry around 550hp.
     
  9. Mr79W900A

    Mr79W900A Light Load Member

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    Talked to the old owner. It was all rebuilt with original cat parts and right as oem specs said. So if imagine those are steel top pistons for sure hey? No way cat resold aluminum for rebuilds ?
     
  10. w9l

    w9l Medium Load Member

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    Depends on how long ago it was done. Aluminum was the norm up til about 2010 or 2011. Mine was inframed along about then and it does have aluminum. Remember there were a lot of 7fb and other b models hot rodded with aluminum pistons. The 3406c gen set @585 stock, and wjac at that, were aluminum. I ran over 800k miles with my 3zj with the governor set up with purple spring and screws backed out enough it would pull 27 or 28 lbs of boost on a warm day. Pm me and I can steer you to more info.
     
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