mercedes and mack e7 engines

The E-7 macks are good engines as long as you dont care about power. Gutless compaired to other engines rated at the same power. Their only 728 cubic inch engines. Dont have nearly as wide of a torque band as the big Cat, Cummins or Detroit for that matter. They last good milage wise and were fairly reliable. They get the job done just not real fast.
The MBE 4000 on the other hand I've never herd anything good about. Even the mechanics at the local Detroit Diesel/Allison shop hate them. One mechanic told me he wouldn't even use one as a boat anchor because it would probibly only work half the time and his boat would get away.
Buy the Mack or find a truck with a Cat (15 liter), Cummins (14,or 15 liter) or at least a Detroit series 60. Both the 12.7 and the 14 liter were fairly reliable.
Buy the way how heavy will you be?

 

the Mercedes engines that are in our two freightshakers are junk, fuel leaks, water pumps, belt tensinors, turbos. The make lots of power, but always needing something worked on.

the Mack Mp8 motors in the new trucks are #### fine motors, there are a few recalls and TSB's for some issues, but otherwise excellent motors. the e7 was an okay motor, nothing to right home about, but properly maintained will last a long time

 

not a thing wrong with pre 04 E7 427 gutless, mine is not does everthing the 460 N-14 and 425 CAT Does they lug right down to 1200 just like a CAT more power at 1400 than the N-14 and run the same speed up the hills and gets the best fuel mileage

 

Of the two I'd pick the Mack over the Freightliner. The Macks are sturdy and will take more of a beating (well, the CH and R models anyway, I'm not sure the Vision series is quite as durable). Also I haven't ever heard anything good about that Mercedes motor so I'd have to give the nod to the Mack there too.

 

only diffrence between a vision and a set back CH is the hood and radiator same frame rails, susp., cab ect.

 

Not sure what years they were in but the early 3406's were white. I was told it was before they put the cac on them. But again I'm not sure on this.

 

It's the 3406A motor. It's the first ones that were built after the 1693TA. The 1693TA were the best. They ran forever BUT, smoke like a train when there were turn up and the fuel mileage wasn't great.

 

i drove a 1693 that was white. And as Dave said, great motor. My only complaint was no engine brake.