Where is everyone #5

I grew up in Wyoming, back then the saying was. The wind doesn't blow in Wyoming, It's just that Nebraska sucks.
I also met my wife on south pass Dec 13, 1979. It was not windy that day, it was beautiful, sunny and cold.
I was in my W900 and she was in a beautiful yellow step side chevy

 

Quite a few mechanical guys here. Not much experience personally. I've worked on a few Cats way back. Built and timed a few pumps, just by the book, but near or at 30 years ago.

Never had much dealings with the mechanical Cummins engines. Overhauled a few, but never did any pump work.

And I don't remember the difference between the different Cummins models. Most of the Cats I worked on were B's.

What was the better engine for OTR way back?

Looking at some trucks I have some interest in. Cummins pumps looks way simpler, but I've never been inside one that I remember.

I think Cat parts are still available for the old stuff, and Cummins parts would be aftermarket for sure.

 

My opinion is biased so it’s probably not credible if that makes sense

 

Well I wrote out a long reply and then managed to fat-finger the delete button, but it was kind of a Ford/Chevy kind of deal with Dodge in the background.

The jist of it is that in my expereince in the 80s the two-stroke Detroits had lost popularity and the battle was primarily between Cummins and Cat. I went the Cat route, primarily because of dealer support, longevity, and that they seemed to have the power edge stock to stock over the Big Cams. Both were very popular, but when the 60 Series came out it seemed that Cat and Cummins both scrambled a bit to remain competitive. Cat with C models and PEEC and Cummins moving to 444s and then the N14s.

I did not do any work on the engine beyond services and minor external parts changing, so I can't help with comparisons for working on them.

Cat parts are still available through the dealers, but as you mentioned, and from what I read on TTR, Cummins parts and support from Cummins for the mechanicals has pretty much ended. It seems to me that at this point you need to know what you need for Cummins more than Cat, but either way the expertise on mechanicals has moved away from the dealers and towards guys like @wore out and @OLDSKOOLERnWV.

With two B models and a 6NZ for truck engines I am biased, but that is the direction I would take.

 

@Big Road Skateboard

I changed my mind. You won’t ever beat an ol 4 a quarter.

The thing about the ol mechanical engines CAT or Cummins in my opinion is finding one unmolested. Once some misinformed Jack ### starts swapping parts to get him a hot rod or to save money not realizing they are not all the same it’s hard and expensive to get them back right. You find something of interest of any kind over on my side of state holler I ain’t doing much I’ll run over and take a look give an honest unbiased opinion before you drive over

 

There were way more Cummins sent out from the factory. That doesn’t necessarily equate to better. Me an Russ talked about this the other day. Mechanicals were great for simplicity, but they do require more attention. An n14, e model or a 60 series you can pretty much expect a million miles before needing any work. A mechanical? It’ll get there, but will need coaxing along.

imo both are great power plants, a cat is capable of more, but there have been a lot of hot 855’s. Cat probably has better support no doubt. And like Russ just said. A lot depends on what you are starting with. And where you want to finish.


ETA: cat is capable of more, easier. Cummins is just as capable but it takes a little bit more

 

Delivered a Case excavator to the dealer and seen this. I doubt one employee even knows Mr. Case’s actual name….

 

Thanks guys. I see more Cummins powered trucks for sale for sure. I'll ask for ser# and CPL if I see one that interests me, but would a good detailed pump side pic be enough for a knowledgeable Cummins guy to pick out exactly which model engine it is?

Thanks for the offer @wore out, there's definitely some hidden out your way. I know you get bombarded with B model questions, so I hate to even ask. I see lots of B's listed at 350-375, I assume these could be built to 400+? Are there any undesirable blocks?

 

Sitting in gwinner trying to enjoy my breakfast, think I need to change my view to something warmer in order to enjoy iy

 

Lol it's attitudes like that, that keep me up here, loads actually pay pretty good all winter because no one likes it up here, then we are back to sucking as soon as it warms up