Caterpillar 3408.

Worst thing about the 3408 is it does not have an engine brake.

 

Big thing was making sure the valves and injectors were serviced annually. Pulled from a vehicle, you could actually feel the exhaust manifolds and tell which cylinder was "weak" and had an adjustment to look at. Needed to go on the loose end of spec for valve and injector clearance as when they warmed up under load, they got much tighter.

That's the biggest thing. If the drivers did the pre-checks on it, it worked great. Just like the trucks we all drive every day.

It's a mechanical devise. If it breaks early, it's because something got ignored or just overlooked too much.

I am real quick and easy to spend money on something before it breaks.

Belts, hoses and filters all get put onto a schedule with me. Especially coolant and power belts on the engine.

$100 preventive maintenance can save you thousands in down time.

 

I had one in a 79 freightliner in the 80s very reliable, but expensive like any cat to fix. I had a 13 speed with 390s on 24.5 tall rubber grossing close to 80k I got 4.8 to 5.3 on the average about the same as 3406b's back in the day but would out pull them all including 500 V8 macks.......back when fuel was less than $1 a gallon

 

the 3408 is a completely different animal than a 903 is or was. They (3408s) were monsters.they also ran a long time and are a little heavyThey will be ok if you consider No truck payment cheaper insurance and reliabilty as opposed to the newer emmision engines I would go with the 3408. I still run a 3406c myself and have been well pleased with it. Just remember if you hammer on it you will pay dearly in fuel but if you ease along it will out preform anything newer on the road today

 

actually when others say the go up hill as fast as they can you will be able to say you go uphill as fast as you want Big Difference but see earlier post

 

great motor, not to good on fuel. if your going to do heavy hauling get one with the cat retarder on it. thats the only type of engine brake you can get on it.

 

I drove one for two years in the early '80's on the route you're thinking of. Saskatchewan to Vancouver. Pulled B-train convertibles grossing 118,000 lbs. The only thing that ever passed me was a cabover Ford CP Rail truck pulling a couple of wobble wagons up Jack ##### mountain. I didn't give it a thought since I figured he would only have some light ltl on. Then he started talking on the cb to a friend explaining he was hauling beer and grossing 130,000 lbs! That's when he 'fessed up that he had a KT600 in it.

You're on the mark as far as mpg. I was always around 4.5 mpg pulling 118,000 lbs for a yearound average. Better in the summer and worse in the winter. Brakesaver worked great in the hills but had frequent leaking issues. Nothing like having a V8 though!