Muck Boots 'n' Slickers - Life of a Livestock Hauler

Chef Chez Mack

 

I knew they had to be good for something.

 

Toasting sandwiches and blowing head gaskets . Their 2 main features

 

I would say the lack of Jakes was a real problem for them. Also can you inframe a V8 or does it have to be out of frame?

 

Lack of Jake’s a problem? You ever heard of a break saver?

That 3408 is the exact same cylinder pack as a 3406 just 2 more of them. The fuel pump sits in the middle and resembles a 350 Chevrolet sitting there.

This is not my bias to CAT talking. They were one of the most de tuned under rated engines in history. From the precup all the way to the last 28V serial numbers which were truck engines they were rated at 450. The 3406 gained power and efficiency at the pre cup to DI change the 3408 stayed the same. The key to longevity on any engine is find its max then cut it to 2/3 if not more.

That tells you that some one was telling CAT to back them down. The KTA suffered from the same problem. The 12V53 which was the last V12 offed in a truck maxed out at around 500. The 92 was much higher but never offered in a highway application.

Let’s be honest here B model Jake’s suck. I run super Jake’s and they sound like they doing one helluva job. But they ain’t holding 90k back on Flagg just facts. E’s are barely any better. I had an ol hand tell me one time they was built to pull not stop, theirs a time and a place to show out. Know when to keep your brakes cool.


Now the later B design fuel system on the
28V used the 3422 nozzle with the orange govnor spring in the pump. You pump the 400 nozzle in it which was the 3421 and done 0 else to it it became a hoss. Then you put the right spring in the govnor, take all the slack out the servo and add a turbo you couldn’t hold that m’fer down with a chain. Again that’s not looking for longevity and no break downs doing that. You leave one alone and they last forever because they had the nuts cut out of them at the factory.

 

I have been around a few, but never had the privilege of driving a truck that had one.

If memory serves though I did run a D9R that had a heui 3408 in it. I could be wrong on that, but that's comparing apples to peanut butter anyway. It sure sounded good though.

 

Grading and pipeline Co. I used to drive for had them in some 631 pans and had one D8 with one all the other D8s had inline 6 . I would run equipment sometime when I was cought up hauling. I used to enjoy push loading with that D8 it definitely had the power. Heavy and expensive to work on and as Wore Out said the stock hp rating was their downfall in on road use.
But they were fun to drive back in the day. You want to talk about something that would roll coal , them things would put you in the dark if you was behind one. And in their prime you was always behind one.

 

Sounds as if you had experience, with the head gaskets. Sandwiches be of no consequence.
Was a head gasket the only/actual problem with your old blue truck when you brought it back home?
I knew you sold it, but did not know what you may have had to do to move it.

 

When we went to Mexico with their cows, we were told to take only <20P notes to the interior. As there was not a lot of change outside larger cities.
So Davis Hartness, Gabe Gray, and myself went into a bank in Nuevo Laredo and cracked 1k in green hundreds to P's. As best I remember the rate was 12 to 1 then.
So we 3 walked out of a border town with 12K of pesos, in pockets, shirt fronts, and in our caps. Safe as a Baptist Church at 11 on Sunday.
Back then, Mex LE protected the tourist trade, pre Cartel days.

 

That truck was never the same after I put it on its side back in august of 2021.. had nothing but problems afterward then it decided to blow up on me , right after I was having every single other problem a guy could have at the time... I'm not entirely sure it was the head gasket, because I never opened it up... but it tested positive right away on a block tester and had little black flakes in the coolant tank and an enormous amount of pressure blowing coolant out of all the ends of the hoses..I sure felt bad sending it to auction to some unsuspecting buyer , but I needed the money out of it.. at the point could no longer afford to rebuild it since all my money done went to other learning experiences.... if I could do it over again I just keep the truck and go get a company gig .. and rebuild that one. But you know hindsight is 20/20.. live learn and survive to fight another day