low powered 3406E

Not a CAT expert anymore but used to be. The CAT 3406 A&B models weekness was always the rod bearings spinning destroying the crank.
The 2000 E-model I had was a 475/550 and never had a problem with it in 500,000 + miles set at 475. I doubt turning it up to 550 would have made any differance. I did alot of heavy-haul (100,000 lbs +) and it was a powerhouse at 475. Never thought I needed to turn it up. If yours isn't "pulling" then somethings wrong. Have someone run it on a wheel dyno. You ought to be getting at least 80% of rated HP. If it runs-out OK,,,then maybe the "torque-curve" thats programed in the ECM is wrong for the trans, gears, tire size, etc.

If some roadside poindexter-computer-geek has messed with the ECM in the past, then that's probably the problem.

 

if you have a lot of miles on the engine then I wouldn't worry about the crank breaking if you was to turn it up. just make sure whoever does knows what they are doing!

 

twolane you are correct, good job. if you get a wheel dyno dont stand in front of the truck and b a looky loo, rocks. the old 1693 ta had the same problem weak main rod bearings. you were really in trouble if you had a 1693 t , with the dealer installed aftercooler, to jump from 325 to 450 hp. the t main bearings were smaller than the factory ta engines. if your truck was a old fleet truck in the past you might want to check the torque maybe they had it set about 1400 and it was never changed lots of luck

 

Mr Haney look for posts by him and reply or pm. He's tuned a lot of ecm's for TTR members including mine. Sounds like you have other issues that need fixing before you tune it if you've only got 25 lbs of boost though

 

That model 5EK was notorious for having the lower torque setting in the ECM. I would have someone verify which torque setting is in it and set it to the highest. You aren't in the year group for the low NOX tune,. Another issue that that engine was notorious for was the injectors holes plugging up and no matter how much fuel you put to it "digitally" It wouldn't help. Check to see if the injectors have been previously replaced. Cat had a program out there that the ECM automatically bumped the fuel 10% if I remember correctly for the injector issue. I did a 475 and thru a lot of dyno runs and playing with fuel rates could not get it to run until we changed the injectors.