cat 3406 pcta

I had a 3406A DITA, 400 that would run close to the 400Bs, but I couldn't let it pull down as much in RPM and stay with the Bs.
I run a BW177148 waste gated turbo on our 425Bs now and really like it, mostly because they spool up much more quickly and smoke less when shifting. I am not sure how they would do on an A, but they are supposed to support up to 550 hp.

 

In '86 I believe. My 85 was a JWAC 400 from the factory. My 86 is ATAAC from the factory 425hp. The biggest difference in those trucks that I remember was before I swapped the 85 to air to air it did not like a big grade near like the 86 does. I made lots of changes in the end but all it took was air to air to get it to pull with the 86.

 

That's exactly right. I had an 86 400B WJAC, my buddy had a 425 ATAAC, and although I had my 400 tweaked, I could stay with his ATAAC but i had to back out of it on long pulls due to exhaust temperature getting too high.
I'm just trying to get a little bit more out of it for the time being. The turbo on this one doesn't whistle like my other PCTA so I'm assuming that I should start there.
It's only temporary until i find a B to freshen up and stick in later.

 

Cat 3406b parts motor

 

I found a B...plug and play. Jake and all.
Gonna freshen it up and swap out the A when i get a minute or three.

 

I think you are on the right track. Was looking to add a few more horses to my small cam - exhaust manifold, turbo, injector work, etc. Was in the $2k ballpark real fast. Better to go to a better engine than to throw money away.

 

If I may, can I ask how you found it and what you intend when you say freshen it up?

 

@wore out how did you install the air to air - buy new parts or find a donor? I would like to be on the lookout for the same for my 78. A parts list would be great if you have one.

 

CAT wanted 2300 I think for just the jacket cooler in the manifold. I bought a radiator and air to air for 1800 from Detroit radiator then got an intake from a donar.

 

Does the air piping come over the top of a shorter radiator than the stock one? On my 78, with the stock radiator, the fan on the cummins is all the way to the top of the opening that was cut in an oval to make it fit. The truck had a 8v72 detroit originally. Don't see how the piping can all fit in there. Maybe a fan on a cat is lower on the block than a cummins.