Older truck opinions

To me there would be a few things I would consider before purchasing ether truck. How much money are you going to have to put into them.
You said the 9200 is turn key. So that tells me it is in top condition.
What is wrong with the Pete? How many miles are on it. What was it used for. Did the person or Company that owned it keep up with Maintenance on it? Now pulling a Horse trailer it will not be pulling much weight so thats a good thing. And I see it has fenders on it all ready which is good when pulling a goose neck in the rain. And if you want to take the time and can afford to spend the money on restoring the Pete as time goes by I'm sure you can make it a real looker. At the time I was looking for a S/A there just were not any nice Pete's for sale. But then on the other hand the 9200 has been a darn good truck. in the 2.5 years I have had it, The only problems she has given me are the Plastic tank on the left side of the Radiator got a crack so I replaced it with a all Aluminum one, And I just had to replace the A/C clutch. So these are things to think about.
Which truck will be the best fit for you. Which will be the most cost effective. And which will make YOU the happiest in the long run.

 

3176 is basically a C12, its a 12 liter engine, it was offered up to 410hp in the 3176 name though. It will out pull and and outlast the M11 any day of the week. Just because the cornbinder has had a dyno done dont mean you cant request one on the Pete, in fact every truck i ever bought i had a dyno done on. I would go for the Pete myself, not that im CAT biased but this engine will last a lot longer for you especially if you wont be running lots of miles. The M11 WILL leak oil and have lots of blowby eventually where as the Caterpillar most likley wont.

 

Thats not all ways the case 550.
I now have 732,000 on my M-11 and yes there is the normal oily dirt on the sides of the motor. But were I park it every night there is not a drop on the ground. And I have not gotten around to washing the motor for at least 6 mos. Never add oil between servicing, and the blow by is minimal till it needs to be serviced then you can notice more at an idle.
A lot has to do with the way it is taken care of and who drives it. I have seen fairly new trucks with so much blow by at a fuel island that that you would have thought 007 was using a smoke screen.
I did an oil analysis on the last oil change because I was thinking about getting the bottom end done, and Cumapart said it was not necessary yet. But that is somthing you can do is get a dyno on both and try to get and oil analysis done on both then make up your mind.

 

I wouldnt buy either. if he is looking for WOW factor, go find a single axle extended hood pete, with a 36" sleeper, an old california hay hauler setup.

 

I wouldn't buy a single axle truck personally!

 

I would buy a single axle, to pull my rodeo rig, and i would buy the pete over the international, i would just try to find an extended hood. they are all over CA
But after examining the picture, thats not a bad looking truck for a short hood, lots of potential. maybe see if they will dyno on your dime.

 

if money isnt an issue, go to truck paper, type in 1981 peterbilt 359, first one that pops up!! You need that to pull the horse trailer around!! nice truck!!
But if youre not sure about the 13 speed, you'll really wonder about the two stick 6&4!!

 

I know how you feel, I had my truck Dyno'd once a year when I had it, just to check it out.
And the dealer will tell you anything to get you out there hoping you have no choice but to buy it and go home.
And a lot of people are worried about shifting different trannies than they learned on, well I have learned they are all easy, if you can half way drive. You will fall in love with the 13, and will never drive anything other than a 13 speed or an 18 speed.