What engine would you use if this was you?

thats actually a really respectable weight. I cant tell for sure but Im pretty sure this one isnt double framed, and wish it was. But over all it sounds about right. Ill be running at 40' long with a 28 foot steel / wood flatbed, so Id like to believe i'll be close to your number if not just a few K's heavier and Im perfectly happy with that.

 

Thats what I mentioned earlier lol. would be pretty legit if possible but would be tight

 

is the 8.3 cummins rebuild-able? I know the issue with the cat 3162b or what ever these had were the fact that they were not rebuild-able and are essential throwaway engines. If the 8.3 cummins can be rebuilt and can be ran at around 350 hp, that would be perfect. Plus it would be a direct replacement.

side note.. if the cummins would be a 99 or older, does that put me in the eld exemption territory? I honestly dont care either way but it would be nice.


Edit: some confusion here. The truck that Im looking at is the 5.7L. I know the 8.3 was offered in these and thats what I thought you were talking about, but then I realized you said 8.9. What is the 8.9 cummins? im trying to look some stuff up on it and Im mostly pulling stuff up about ISL cummins. Is that what you are referring too?

 

I just did some research and giving that the cummins 8.3 was offered in the FL series trucks, I used that as a base line for engine dimensions. Unfortunately the M11 is about 5 inches taller than the 8.3, id assume it would run into clearance issues. How ever, I did find that the Cat C10 is actually about the exact size as the 8.3 with just a few inch differences on all axis. And seeing as you can find those all day rating around 335 to 350 hp and around 1200-1300 ft lbs and for around 3 to 5K online, I feel like this would be the best option. Only question that I would have is that most of these are post 99 and have the 70 pin ecm on them. So how would that be mated to the truck its self. is the 70 pin standard for all trucks regardless of the engine it runs?

 

Good to know and I'll keep that in mind. So far tho giving that the 8.3 is hard to find with 300 or more HP, plus with the garbage torque ratings im finding, Im thinking if I go with the truck and chose to swap, that Ill put in the c10. Plus I know you can easily mate that to an eaton of any kind

 

eh ran into a snag. Looking further I have found that all the trucks that ran the 8.3 were Fl80s and had the raised hood and cab to accommodate the size. and the c10 is 2 inches taller. So even if I wanted too, I couldnt put either of those in the 60 since it is the standard hood and cab. eh. idk. I still need to go back and look the truck over some more any ways.