3406e S/N decode please

First post, thanks for the great forum. I recently purchased my first semi. 97 379, 5ek, 10spd double frame, 40k rears, 958k miles. I farm/ranch for a living and needed a lowboy to haul equipment and hay. We were killing out 1 tons and 5500's. I have been reading here for the past 2 weeks and have learned a lot. I can not find the SN on the block so I pulled the rad support and was disappointed to find it has a 355 hp rating. After some more digging it didnt make sense to me why it would have such low hp given the other specs (trans is rated for 1,650ft/lb). I called Peterbilt and the SN the truck came with does not match the one on the valve cover. A little more (sorry for the long post) details, i know the trucks history clear back to 06 and it never had an engine in it (talking complete removal, not inframe) unless it was between 97-06.

So, my question is, can someone please give me the breakdown of the SN 5EK 96930?

I'm not looking for crazy power but would like to know what it was set at when it left the factory in 97, and what I could safely bump it up to if it's not already maxed out.

Thanks for any help

 

I know the engine dropped a valve in 08 and was inframed. I'm wondering if the valve cover was changed then, why I wouldn't know. The guy I got it from (I've known my whole life) got it from another good friend in 07. I have looked and looked for the number etched in the block but can not find it. Probably just my ignorance. I am going to have the overhead done soon, maybe they can find the SN on the block for me or see if the pistons are steel top when they pull the injectors, or see what file is in it now.

The 475hp rating would match the 1650ft/lb rating of the trans at a roughly 1 to 3.5 ratio. Which is what I am hoping.

Thanks for the responses.

 

Good info. I'll try to find the number again when I get the truck back. Sorry to hear about your luck on that one. If you dont mind me asking what kind of $ did your 600hp rebuild cost? How many miles on the block?

I dropped the truck off late yesterday to have the overhead done today. The guy that owns the shop said he would plug into it and see where the hp is, trim files, etc.

I just so happened to have a buddy stopping by (he drives a 379 w 550hp 6nz for a living) and had him drive it to the shop for me. He said it wasnt building any boost (listening/feeling for it I dont think the gauge works) but also was not blowing any smoke. So it doesnt seem to have a boost leak and there is no waste gate on the turbo. It may just be actually be a 355hp engine. I'm hoping there is some small issue like the wrong file in the truck or something but either way I hope to find out today.

I dont know if it was clear in my first post but I did call Peterbilt and got the SN for the original engine. Thats where I got the 96930 number and 475hp rating. The one on the valve cover is the 355hp rating.

Thanks for the replies

 

Well the engine serial does not match the 96930. It is the one on the valve cover. It is set at 375/1450. Cat plugged into it today and pulled the info. He had another truck to do but was going to check his spread sheet to see if we can bump it up to 410ish 1650. He said if he couldnt bump the torque to 1650 it wouldnt be worth the time/cost but is going to let me know.

It is a bummer but if he can get me to 1650 then I do the fuel temp mod I will likely be happy. Either way I got a Pete with a Cat so I can always get rid of it if I want bigger power or could build that one. Actually had a guy at the truck shop that did the over head tell me to call him if I ever wanted to sell it.

Still open for any info/advice but I guess my questions have been answered.

 

Agreed. I really wasnt after big power. I would have been happy with 475ish. I know it has been inframed but I dont know with what parts. Has I have done it, it would have at least gotten steal pistons. I will only put maybe 10k miles a year on it so I dont see longevity being a problem. I will pick it up tomorrow and see what kind of notes the cat man left me. If I can bump it to 1650 I'll be tickled. If not I'll just pretty it up over the next year and try to sell it for a small profit or break even and get a truck with a true 475/550 engine OR build this on if it lets go. Again not after crazy hp, but if you're gona have a cat, it may as well be at least 475.

Also I wont be 80k very often, not even half the time. And only have to make 100 mile round trips so whatever I have will probably last me a lot of years.

 

I need 2