Pete 386 or 387

Well, this shows my ignorance on this. I drive an 2008 Pete, the one in my sig. I was thinking it was a 387, but this last week I had a newer Pete park beside me, and noticed that mine was skinnier. I know that BBC measurements are different, but haven't measured mine yet. When I go back on Tuesday, if I remember, I'll grab a measurement of it.

So is the 387 fatter/wider than the 386? I tried finding something in the owner's manual in my truck that would clarify this, but all I could find was the year and it's a Pete (duh). The VIN plate did not give any clue. I know that hidden in the VIN would be this info, however I don't know what digits would be the tell-tale model. Just curious so I know which it is..

 

Ok, thanks. That's what I thought, after seeing the one parked beside me. Until then, never had mine around anything other than 379s. I didn't think mine was that skinny until that day.

 

These have the Small ACERT engines with 13spd trans. Mine has 403k miles on it, and so far I'm only managing around 5.1 mpg. Part of that is me, still learning how to drive one of these "progressive shift" things. The other is due to the routes I have to run. A lot of start-stop, going through several small towns, having more stop-lights than they actually need. Most of the time I'm running around 65-68mph. Only when I'm dead-heading back from the K.C. area do I get to run the interstate. I will then run the thing against the governor at 72mph.

So overall I would say that getting much more than 5.5mpg is wishful thinking. The computer says I'm getting an average of 4.3 mpg. The Cummin's engine may do a little better on fuel. I also run with Jakes on when I can. It is equipped with the 3-level. I use the low jakes when I coming into towns that prohibit them. I'll run the jake right up to their ridiculous "Engine Braking not allowed" sign..

One thing I don't like about it, is the narrow walk way from the cab to sleeper. I'm by no means a wide-glide, (down to 187 lbs now) but almost have to turn sideways to get through.

We also have the Engine Idle shutdown. This is more of a PITA while actually working. What I mean is, since we run end-dumps, the truck needs to idle while raising and lowering the bed. The bed has an air vibrator to help shake loose the material. Never fails, when I jump out of the cab, go back and bang the tailgate to also help, the darn thing will shut down. So I have to run back up, re-start the engine, then go back and finish what I was doing.

Since we have the no-idle, they do have the bunk heater/ac. I can tell you the heater will run you out. I woke up one morning sweating my butt off. It was about 25 degs outside. The heater said it was 90 degs in the bunk. For some reason the temp just kept climbing. It also will have a problem with shutting down. I have also woke up freezing. When it shuts down, you need to manually restart it. This happens if something in the storage compartment shifts while driving and blocks the intake vent for the heater. So I have to make sure there's nothing in the way each night before firing it up.

Overall I think it's a pretty good rig..