Cant decide on pre-emission truck or emission efficient truck.

Someone makes the upper hood skins to swap In so you can do the big hood grill with the little hood, it looks pretty sharp IMO, takes a little more taste to make a short hood look good, anyone can do it with a big hood though

you can inframe that Detroit for less then the cost of an apu to save maybe a quarter of a gallon of fuel an hour...
I would recommend an espar heater though, can #### near cook the Easter ham on the floor of my bunk In front of the vent

 

Get the pre emission truck

whatever you save with idle management you will spend that on def fluid alone . plus all the downtime and repairs for the emission stuff .

 

Go with truck #1. Old trucks can be made nice.
Number 2 is on the market for a reason. That engine is likely starting to burn oil and will need a rebuild.
Been there done that.

 

Prices for both? The old one you can work on yourself. The newer one should be a 1 mpg better. How do run miles? You doing deck or box?

 

Bummer

 

Not sure if you know, but Pete and KW stopped making wiring harnesses for the Detroit a couple of years ago, which will be an issue for the older trucks. I'm in the market as well. My mechanic who works on my stuff for over a decade, says Cummins is the best motor out there right now. Advised stay away from ISX unless it's already been rebuilt due to carbon issue. X15 Cummins is it if you can afford a newer truck. Good luck

 

It’s not just carbon issues on the ISX (a.k.a. “I SUCKS”). They’re also known for turbos failing and EGR valve issues. If you do get one or are looking at one get it checked out THOROUGHLY! My employer quickly got rid of ISX powered trucks and switched to the X15 economy engines on the KW and International fleets. The Freightliners went from ISX to Detroit.

 

I have been looking at newer W9's with a factory warranty, but all the sudden find myself thinking about purchasing pre emission iron to avoid any more issues with emissions. Detroit and the N14's were very reliable. Until they ban them outright, it's possible I might just get something pre-emission if everything checks out ok with the rig dig, paperwork, oil samples and the mechanic gives it a green light (family mechanic, not a stranger). Decisions Decisions.

 

The only downside (if you can call it that) with a pre emissions truck is most of them can’t run California (you’re not missing much). Other than that,I’d get one if I had the money.
This one I’m particularly fond of-nothing says “ol skool” like a cabover!
https://www.truckpaper.com/listings/trucks/for-sale/203694153/1985-mack-mh613