whats tbe best practical 450 hp and up

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4448606]I'd get the old 450 hp 1693 "Clatterpillar" motor. It was the engine to have in the '70's. Or maybe the old 450 hp V-12 Detroit, "The buzzin dozen". Another runnin' motor, if it stayed together, that is.:smt023[/QUOTE]

"The buzzin dozen"

Now theres a phrase I havent heard in 25 yrs or more.

Company I worked for when I got my first start had one, and for the life of me I cant remember what it was in. An old Marmon I think, or it could have been in an International. I heard it start and run once, they needed to move it from one side of the yard to the other to clear out for an expansion. "Buzzin dozen" is a nice term,.. that was a noisy beast. Had a blown head gasket and they just parked it. Said it was too costly to keep running. Most of the body and chassis was being stripped/robbed for parts. It had no working brakes LOL.

Hurst

 

You aren't gonna buy new and get a 500k mile warranty anymore. Those days are over. 250k is what they are comin with these days with the option to buy additional coverage

 

I don't necessarily agree with the "start your search at 500hp" With the right gearing and trans setup a 400-475hp engine will do just fine even on the hills. My dad had a 94 mack e7 400hp/1460 ft/lbs and that pulled like a freight train. Tall rubber 3.90 rears and a 9 over, he had no problems keeping up with 425 cats, 444 cummins. Even ran with my uncles 470 detroit on the hills. It's all about having the right set up.

Heres another example. my dads last truck was a vision w/e7 460, 13 over and 3.55 with tall rubber and that old 400 would run circles around it. Heck my dad used to have 838 315 cummins that was tweaked pretty good that would run circles around his buddies 444. All about proper set up

 

That's a load of garbage. You are tellin me that I go to a cat dealer and I can get injectors for a detroit?!? Nonsense.
I can can get just about whatever I need out on the road with my volvo as far as normal wear parts are concerned. Air compressor, wabco. Starter, delco remy. Alternator, same. Eation transmission, , Meritor driveline, all parts available at fleetpride. Good friend was in Ga a month ago and blew a head gasket on his Cat. Guess what, parts not available. Had to come from another dealer 180 mi away.

 

12.7 ser 60 can get real good m.p.g. & have the power you need if it's set right. reliable, inexpensive & parts available everywhere. some detroits, a lot of detroits do have oil leak problems. mine does. but adding a couple gallons between changes is worth the trade off.

 

Even tho im a mack guy, you really cant beat that 12.7, first truck i learned to drive had one set at 470, straight ten and 2.64s. That beast could pull thats for sure. In 10th lug it down to 1100 and she'd stay right there and keep humming up the hill

 

last year, at the petro in vegas. a volvo rolled in with a real bad leak from the front diff. driveline. needed a new shaft seal. truck got towed to salt lake. no volvo dealer or parts in vegas. AND petro didn't have the proper tools.

now i can't confirm the no dealer thing. but i DID watch the truck get towed away. the wrecker came from st. george, utah.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4448606]I'd get the old 450 hp 1693 "Clatterpillar" motor. It was the engine to have in the '70's. Or maybe the old 450 hp V-12 Detroit, "The buzzin dozen". Another runnin' motor, if it stayed together, that is.:smt023[/QUOTE]

I got one of those detroits in my barn. But it's closer 850 than 450. To bad it couldn't get 4mpg downhill with a tail wind or I'd be using it.

 

Whuddaya need brakes for? All they do is slow ya down!

 

No. I'm saying no matter where you are at, you can get parts for the big three. Jesus, even my local Napa can get me Detroit injectors. Truck parts stores such as truckpro and fleetpride carry parts for the big three. Volvo dealers have Cummins and Detroit's. Kw and Pete can get parts for cats and Cummins.

Got a Volvo engine, you can only get parts at volvo. Same with paccar engines.

Cats are getting harder tho, probably due to the fact they stopped making truck engines in north America several years ago.