Idling with a Big Cam Cummins

I see three things.

One.

Hotels anyone? You can get a room in say Kit Carson (Wonder why I liked that one horse town...) for 122. I rather idle proper and rest really well for way less than that in fuel.

Two.

A properly idling truck blanked out and parking lights on says leave it. Im sleeping. And they generally do.

Three.

One issue. Post 2007. I don't know if that watered down fuel is any good to those old engines. I would want some of old greasy oily high sulfur stuff in it. If I can find some.

 

The first time they removed some of the sulphur, it caused some pump seal problems. All pumps had to be resealed after a few months, since then the fuel has not caused any problems with them. This was a cummins pump, I don't know about the cats, but do not recall any trouble with them.

 

I know where there's one that's supposedly extended hood and cowl with a 1693 and 2 sticks, a nice 1969 model w9.

 

How could it be both ex hood and cowl, did someone put the two together?
I would like it except for the 1693 part. I like my cats, but would prefer a cummins to one for a working truck these days.

 

I dont know if it is both but here it is.

 

1954 GMC COE for Sale on ClassicCars.com

Would this fit?

 

Fit WHAT, lol I actually have a pretty decent 56 pugnose jimmy, not like that it has a longer nose that the hood opens on the sides. it is still factory original with a 4 banger detroit too. lol
It runs good or did the last time I cranked it, and being a NM rig no rust other than some surface color, no or very minimal dings either.

That A model is ex cowl, and may be ex hood too, hard to tell at that angle.
It could be a nice truck but a little pricey.
I know where there is a nice, pretty much cherry A model 77 iirc, with a b model, with jake and retarder, 18 spd air ride susp and cab, new tanks new interior, new paint. that he priced at 25,000, before he started running it. It is short hood, but 300 in wheel base too.

I have an 81 or 2. which ever was the last year, short hood, 300 in wheel base that was fancy as they come when it was new, other than the hood. but it is cummins, originally it was a 5 and 4, air shift on the 4, that is pretty decent. Mine has pete air leaf with sshd's that has to go, I have some 46 rockwells with lockers on international air ride to run under it.
The body is in nice shape, the interior need s a little love.
I have to go look at one that is also 300 wb, but cracked aluminum frame, but it has the narrow nose.

 

My bread and butter comes from a truck powered by a Big Cam. What hurts me in cold weather times is the fact I run air to air on mine. I usually idle up about 1100 to 1400 when it’s cold. I find it odd that 30 some years ago I ran Small Cam/ Big Cams and 3406 all the time, some of the Big Cams were only 290 horsepower, but you hear some on this forum saying you can’t pull 80,000 with them smaller motors....... I did, what changed other than the speed limit?

 

Are you running N 14 manifold and turbo, hmm I may need to talk to you.
I never owned a 290, but drove a few. I drove a juiced up small cam, supposedly a 420, that was a tripple digit truck when you could get her in the big hole. it had a 9 spd with high gear turned around, so you needed to be on a slight down grade to get her in high, but hang on then. lol

I like the electronic motors in my trucks, but for my log truck, I still prefer a manual motor, cat or cummins, it makes no difference, mine just happens to be a cat, I am building another one with a big cam 1, so my swamper can run one himself. He is used to the cat, so I will likely run the cummins.

As far as 80,000 with a 290, I started this gig out pulling a 50 ton lowboy with a 318, so go figure, at the time I had a friend pulling the same at another company with a 671, we got her done.

 

More than that at times. They wont believe it and want to argue.

I put a early 90's about 330 cat through a 20+% grade in vermont 3 mile pull. 80000 perfect. Took a hour and change.

It did not ultimately hurt the engine but took hours for the gauges to return to normal.

Later that week in Kenly NC from Philly I discovered my water pump had failed when shut off, dumped all the coolant under the rig.