Opinions on '80s to '90s trucks

I am assuming maybe the cat price is for a newer computer engine with all steel pistons and or maybe reman rods. I did both a bc Cummins approximately 1800 and a 3406b roughly 2200 last year with mcbee parts and they were within 500 yes the cat was higher

 

That’s a low flow cooling system…just be aware

 

To base a decision off of which is cheaper to overhaul is setting yourself up for failure. There are lemons in all of them, however how they are taken care of and driven matter. How they are set and who does the work on them matter. I’m a stay with what you know fan, if you don’t know anything yet or have experience with one then whomever is gonna do your work find their preference maybe.


Down time is way more important than repair cost. I won’t take nothing from Cummins they are a good engine CAT however has been really good to me. Thing is people tend to think a 3406B is all the same. The B was offered from 285 to 460HP in on Highway applications. Though the only way to get a 460 was as a PEEC. You take a 285 or 310HP B that’s half spent and put it beside a Big Cam IV that’s been tore to the nub and converted to a Big Cam III by a sure enough Cummins man and you will call the CAT junk. However let a sure enough CAT hand take a 400 JWAC or a 425ATAAC and merely get do a tune up on it. Then you have a fair comparison. Let a Jack leg advance the timing on that same CAT and you’ve got holes in piston’s.


CAT runs a full range govnor. Another words they go to fueling before you move yiur foot. Cummins runs a PT pump and requires more of your foot the more ground pressure you run.
Cummins you can rebuild in a truck stop lot without having something to pull the head. Again using that as a deciding factor isn’t ideal. You get what you pay for, I won’t say Cummins is less than CAT. But I will say this, in the complete history of earth and engines the 3406C full mechanical is the only engine to be put back in production years after they quit making them because nothing and nobody could build anything close. In terms of reliability and fuel consumption granted not sold in the states but……

 

Yes
I was basing my decision off of the year of the truck. its pretty easy to spot because the hoses connecting the engine to the radiator are 1 inch not 2.5-3
Woreout has some good advice

 

As always, you make me realize how ignorant I am. As long as the ignorance doesn't turn into stupid, I'll live with it.