cat engines

My understanding is the big whoop on 6nz isn't what it is, rather than what it isn't, and that's an Acert or a bridge engine with 2 turbos and egr. It, from what I read, is not as good as a 3406e

 

The 6nz from what I hear was the best cat engine they made. It simple no emissions stuff and reliable. Cat went downhill with Acert. People say if you find a 6nz it's the egnie to have. Guys like Pittsburgh Power can turn the HP up to like 850HP because the engine and block are so over built. They are just built to last a long time. The problem is they not cheap for parts or rebuilds

 

My theory on expensive CAT parts is the reason they charge so much is because you never, or only rarely, have to buy any. In 8 years of owning a C15 I've never bought any of those expensive motor parts due to a failure.

One time though a spring in the pac brake broke and it cost about $40 in parts to replace all 12 of those plus labor which was as time consuming as an overhead adjustment. The inframes are outrageously expensive and I got the t-shirt on one of those.

C15 block design is better than the E model and doesn't leak oil. Nothing wrong with an Acert, in fact many will argue they are the best C15's. There is no EGR on a CAT. You really can't go wrong with an E model or a C15. Would avoid the C15 MBN (bridge) and SDP (DPF - spark plug) versions though if they were stock motors.

Truth be told though the most cost effective engine for an o/o is a 12.7L Detroit. But there's nothing quiet like the power of that CAT. Set up and driven right they aren't too bad on fuel either.

 

platinum kit $11000.00 . Core charge $8000.00 DIY or labor @ around $4000.00 +-..
https://parts.cat.com/en/milton/engine-parts/on-highway-precious-metals-kits/10R-9350
https://parts.cat.com/en/milton/engine-parts/on-highway-precious-metals-kits/10R-9349
hope the links work.

 

Even those of us who aren't Cat guys know about the 6nz, but maybe a few know what an mbn is, nor what a 5ek is. But we know the 6nz is the Cat's meow, because, well it's true, right?

Here is a thread where Cat guys spoke up about 6nz vs 3406.

https://www.thetruckersreport.com/t.../links-for-6nz-swap-in-3406-peterbilt.350124/

 

Labor is a lot more than than $4,000 for an inframe. $100 an hour is cheap most of the dealers are $135-$150 anymore. 42 book hours on a single turbo inframe and 47 hours on an Acert. Haven't heard of a platinum inframe costing under $18,000 before. Not from any dealer shops. And $18,000 would be a cheap basic platinum. $20,000 is the average platinum cost - not DIY. There is an operator on here that recently swapped a factory reman 12.7L into his Pete for less than $15,000 if I'm recalling right.

 

And a factory step one rebuild for non- egr 12.7 is under $8,000.

 

12.7s don't have the brute strength of a Cat, but if you're not doing over size, they do the job, and built right will get better mileage. I am getting better than 6.5 in a flat top W900L with a DDEC II.

 

I get 6.2 with an unbridged MBN in what's practically a flat top T600 pulling a reefer with side skirts. That's riding around 72-75mph all day and grossing on average around 70,000 lbs with minimal idle time. Excessive idling sucks a lot of fuel. Almost 2 gallons per hour @ 1,000 rpms.