New to me 1693 Cat - looking for upgrades

They don’t make an engine brake for a 1693.... only retarder.....

 

Maybe a Pac brake after the turbo was added?

Not sure but I believe a b model retarder would fit the engine, but you would have to get an oil pan set up for a retarder.

It would be fun (but expensive) to try modern turbos on it. Maybe even a wastegate like a BW 177148.

I am just guessing at this stuff and have no experience with a 1693 other than having had the privilege of driving one.

 

Feeding an addiction can be costly $$$$$$..... I would just leave it original. Just to hear them idle and going thru the gears with that original 1693 rattling is priceless.

 

Same here,never owned one,but had driven a few. Just an amazing experience.Cold idle,the clattering sounds like the pistons are changing holes. Take off and slowly feed her the fuel,and it just smooths out like a sewing machine,nothing but turbo whine,and feeling the torque.
I owned nothing but Cummins my career,but I remember when these ruled the roost.Wasn't hard to identify when one passed you going up a grade. Just look under the back of the cab (cabover days) when he goes by,and you can see the back of that big overhead cam engine,nothing else looked like that. The big fast fleets used these in the pre 55 mph days,Carolina Western,Monfort,others that teamed cross country in 2 days. I remember them going by me in Arizona,New Mexico,like a bullet. Turned up 1693 TA,double 00 13 speeds. Sure there's stuff faster nowadays,but these were all mechanical,way before anything remotely computerized or electronic.
Just a different era....good luck to the op,great truck!

 

I just love old machinery of any kind.Trucks,tractors,cars,engines,etc. But I could just sit and listen to a 1693 Cat idle for hours. Nothing like the sound of a pre combustion,overhead cam,turboed diesel. I still remember the sound of them idling around the truckstops,watching them pull out on the road,big puff of black smoke at every gear change.
Almost bought one back in the day,wish I would have.

 

Something I've read for good homemade solvent is brake fluid, and atf fluid. The cheapest old styles.
And I thought the 1693 CAT were built up to 500hp??? No experience personally. Just a driver.