If you had to chose between these four trucks starting out...

12.7 , BW turbo, full tilt manifold, HP at 500, 2050 torque,

Changed rears from 3:70 to 3:55 - rebuilt 13 speed.

320” wheelbase with 120” ICT sleeper. 24.5 LP tires.

 

Leaning towards #1 Detroit 12.7 is an excellent engine. But it is essential that the bull gear was replaced on the rebuild. You need to ask. Easy to get parts for 3406. I would stay away from #3 because of the 411 gears. You will be running high rpms on the highway and burn a lot of fuel. #2 is over priced, #4 is WAY overpriced

 

why not, you would be surprised at what guys with money buy for tax write offs, not everyone needs to run the piss out of the truck to make money with it.

I would look at the western star or the w9, While it’s priced slightly high if that w9 is a single owner/driver truck I would absolutely look at that first if there haven’t been 6726379 monkeys bouncing around in it over the years, especially if he is just simply retiring. the star is also spec’d right and priced right.

also as someone who has rebuilt both my own and old trucks with family, they are all going to need something.... so keep that in mind. Also, which dealership is closest to your home location too? It makes a big difference when you can get parts in under an hour to go back to work if it’s something small

 

Was bout to say the same thing on the nickel and dime. Anything in the 15 to 30k price range, and the older model trucks, you better figure your maintenance expenses double the cost of what you expect.

 

Western Star would be on my short list. The rest no way.

Here is what I would do, dyno/blow by it, ECM dump and all the other stuff. I would look for every little problem and document it. I would offer $10 or $12k to start with.

Then I would plan on rear axle rebuilds and new trans with new other components like radiator and all new hoses.

 

I wouldn’t even waste money on a Dyno for a sub 20k truck, just do an oil sample when you change every fluid/filter before running it and plan on doing the motor and saving the money, all of those are cheap enough to rebuild (even that 5ek). You can still do the whole drive train and a DuPont overhaul for less then half the price of a new one and not get stranded by an emissions sensor or have a tattle box telling you when to drive

I paid $18k for my 97 w9 but I have a red top not a yellow motor. One owner one driver truck, but it’s all really what op wants to do with it. My local KW dealer also has pretty much anything we need in stock for the 76 on up to the 01, I don’t know about the star but freightliner parts are hard enough to get for newer trucks never mind ~25 year old stuff

 

My totally uneducated opinion is I like the W900 and the Western Star.

 

Everything I've needed for my 07 freightliner, if I called before 3pm they would have next day, fuse box to sleeper ac lines.

 

that classic is another 10 years older, But could be the dealer network too, not that they are impossible, just harder to find, we can still get parts for out LTL but it’s not as Easy as running 15 minutes down the road and back

 

W9 or the classic t600 looks like its been setting awhile and the western star well no really wants a star car do they?