Best Engine for Flatbed and Heavy Haul

I am going to make a statement here... That is true you won't agree with it but. Motor makes very little difference.. Your drive train makes the truck.. The motor just pushes it.... and a Detroit will not make you any less money than a cat.. I love the old cat motor... the new c15's not so much.. they stink.. have a Detroit with 1.3 mil on it.... have only put rods and mains in it and it still gets the job done..and it will make a twin turbo CAT look like a kitten..

 

I agree driveline and suspension is most important. As far as the 1.3. And no trouble that goes back to been took care of as far as making a C 15 look like a kitten apples to apples driver I'm sure for enough money you can make it a goodin. But you won't step on a bone stock 475 C15 with a bone stock 500 detroit. Unless the kitty is sick. If you really want your feelings hurt holler out here kitty kitty when you see me coming in your mirror as I pass even you will say to yourself I wish I bought a CAT

 

I miss my C-15 in my long hood pete, it just sounded so mean with the windows down. Turbos screaming from the air breathers, exhaust note sounding like a symphony of amazingness haha. I can barely hear this ISX, its annoying, I like to hear my engine singing, not muffled

 

without even thinking about this.. cummins N14 preferably 1995 ( if you can find one BUY IT ) will be all the motor you need to pull a full load / 80,000 gross up any hill in this country only dropping 2 grears ( on a 13 speed ) and still capable of doing triple digits if you dare

 

Well if we ever go head to head up a hill, just be forewarned, my "twin turbo kitten" has some nasty claws.

 

The best? pre-2004 cat, hands down. Even better? C16 15.8L Cat. Good alternatives are N14, 14.0L PRE EGR (very hard to come by), 12.7L if not too heavy. After that? Twin Turbo cats or 14.0L that have been properly tuned and deleted.

 

Should I ever win a lottery or otherwise come up with money I think I'll try to buy a pre 2004 truck with a Kitty Cat. It would almost HAVE to be a Freightshaker FD.

 

to each their own. I ran a 96? freightshaker FLD with 60's Detroit in it, Dont know what it had for power but I walked all over everyone else, It was a farm truck they used for chopping corn and hay with. The only other truck that would been able to touched it maybe is the truck my dad ran and that was a Freightshaker with a N14 red top select plus. But my dad drives like hes going around a sunday drive... slow as hell in other words. the other trucks have 3406 cat's and older Big Cam cummins. 400-425 HP

The place my brother works at has gone to Glider kits, Petes with Detroit 60s because they got the best MPG with them.

 

This has been a pretty good read. However it's funny all these people wanting screaming loud engines. I must be odd man out. As I am tired of engine noise. I would rather be listening to the radio or talking on the phone and not saying "what?" all the time. Currently I have a Kenworth with a C15 cat in it. It pulls hills ok, but at times I miss how quiet of a ride my old Volvo had in comparison.

I read about how quiet the Maxxforce is, and wish they had gotten that engine right. Even though the new version that's coming out that has the new SLR CUMMINS exhaust attached to it looks promising.

As for why posts like this always turn to fuel economy? That's simple. Because as an owner operator fuel is definately our biggest expense. When it comes down to it. Fuel cost and reliability trumps all.