"Cat Diesel" powered '94 Chev dually ? Need info?

[Pantera]

I am wondering if anyone has ever seen a Cat V8 Turbo Diesel in a Chev 1 ton Dually? I am looking at one and it is real nice and my buddy is all excited that it has a Turbo V8 Cat motor from the factory in it.

he says, it is the best Diesel motor that I could have for over the road use. Of course he is a over the road truck driver, so he feels that he really knows diesel motors. Of course after 26 years at it, I am not so sure that he not right.

This is a 118k mile unit and is clean as can be. I had my heart all set for a 2002-3 Dodge with the Cummings and a 6 speed but this is so clean that I am considering it instead. The price is only a little over $9,000 so that is also a big consideration after buying the Nova.

That is almost $17,000 less and it would also leave me more money to buy a new 5th wheel trailer. My current rig is a '78 454 Chev dually and a '78 Chapparal 32' dual axle trailer. I for sure want to get a triple for the safety of the extra axle.

Does anybody deal in these things and have a value that this truck might be worth?

I am a little concerned about the chev auto Tranny that it could give me trouble. I am sure that the motor can be repaired by any diesel shop anywhere in the country and with only 100k on it I would not expect to have too many problems with it for a year or so which is all I plan on using it. I am putting out too much money this year with the new garage and everything else I am trying to do.

I would like to try to try to buy this one so if you know anything about this special ordered,(COPO???) motor combo please let me know either good or bad? (Would this qualifity as a "Super Truck" I wonder..????) http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

Thanks to all, for your time on this mater.

Pantera
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Chevy454]

Unfortunately, not from the factory. In '94 the medium duty CAT diesel would have been the 3116, which was an I6. This replaced the 3208 somewhere around 1990(Moparts?), but it was a V8...but NEITHER of those went into a 1-ton.

I have heard of people transplanting 3208s into trucks, but I've personally never seen one. As for the auto tranny, being as the truck is a '94 it's gonna have the 4L80E, and I went through 2 of them in my '91...and this was PRIOR to my Paxton install. While the 4L80E is an electronic 400TH with overdrive, it's rediculously expensive to rebuild/replace if you trash it...trust me, 5 years ago when I went through it it was in the $2k neighborhood. I ended up going with a HD 4-speed with a gear splitter...

[GaryH]

Which Cat is it? The only V8 I can think of would be a 3208 and that one would have to be really shoe horned in there. They are big. Find out the model number, how many miles are on the engine itself, if it's been properly maintained including the proper coolant additive and cooling system maint. etc. The V8's are smooth but hard to get the torque of the inline 6. Fuel mileage may not be as good either. It depends on which Cat it is.

[Norm reynolds]

If it’s a cat it will most likely come with a Allison tranny
We had them in our fleet put over 300.000 miles and still running strong
I would take a cat V8 over a cummings any day and if it has the Allison trans you
Cant get any better than that That cat WILL out run the cummings all day long I know we had both of them
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[GaryH]

Just a pet peave of mine but it's Cummins. Not Cummings. One of these days we'll have to get together and I'll show you how bad a Cummins can kill a Cat. Much cheaper to opperate also. In any case, I can't imagine what V8 Cat is in this PU.

[Chevy454]

Hadn't thought about that, Norm. If it's the Allison, then you're golden...if it's the 4L80E, then you'd better know a good tranny shop...

We went from a Paxton powered 454 with a 4-speed/gear splitter with 3" dual exhaust w/headers, to a TopKick with a 3116 6-speed. I feel STUPID for not making the move sooner. I love that CAT...

[Norm reynolds]

I have a 4L80E in my 91 blazer never had any problem with the Trans
What I did when I first got it was first put in the biggest trans cooler you could get second thing I did was install a spin on oil filter kit on the return trans cooler line like the Allison trans has
And the third thing is I run all synthetic oil and fluids in it when I was working I
Towed& pulled in and out of 4x4 and really used her and as of today the tranny still works great at 150.000 miles
Every 5000 miles when I change the oil I just spin on a new filter for the trans fluid is still red This might sound like over kill but it works http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Chevy454]

Not to be argumentative as I honestly don't know, but I would have figured a Blazer would have came with a 4L60E as opposed to the 4L80E like the bbc & diesel got? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Norm reynolds]

Rob Your right my Blazer is a 4L60E me and my head injury all ways mixing up the numbers but Basic the guts is the same as a 80 What kills them is heat
I run the trans cooler with out going to the radiator

[mahoy78spyder]

I may be a little biased, but I would bet on the CAT motor any day over the Cummins. My bread and butter is the big truck market, and where I work, we actually hot forge all the crankshafts for the CAT motors that are assembled right here in Illinois. I have several friends who work at CAT as well and I can attest to the durability of their motors. (We also forge many Cummins crankshafts as well). As for the tranny, it's most likely an Allison auto. Both my Dad and Grandad (who was in charge of quality) both retired from Allison's in Indy and they really have the market on big truck auto tranny's - great track record. I grew up on Allison tranny's, and now I make my living off of CAT crankshafts, so pardon the bias, but if you've got a CAT/Allison combo, go for it! You won't be disappointed, even with the mileage. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Just my .02 worth... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif
Ken

[Pantera]

Oh boy did I stir up something with this one.

Boys I think I may have found a Copo for sure...!!!!

This is dam sure a factory setup. just too slick to not be one. It is a V8 and that is for sure. It is dam sure big too as it is a tight fit in this one ton Dually.

It even has a Powered by Cat, metal plate on the side of the front doors. It was obviousley put there by Chev when it was new.

The original owner special ordered it from Chevrolet. He worked at a disel repair shop and you can tell this truck has been well maintained. In fact it is still new looking.

The blower is a Hofmier or something like that and it has a long alum tube leading from the right side of the motor to the intake in the center of the motor. There is a long alum box like a aircleaner down the center of the top of the motor with this tube coming into it from the right exaust manifold.

I will run by and take some pic of it and post it later for you to see.

[GaryH]

I can't blame some of you for being Cat biased. They have made great engines over the years. Their mid range series are well built & run well. But, if you look at the market share, you will see the Cummins outsells that market by a long shot. I think that says something. Getting into the heavy duty engine, class 8 truck series, we can get more power out of the '95 and up electronic Cat's till the '03 emissions engine came out. Now they have problems. I talked to a guy yesterday that has 240K on his and he has had 5 manifolds and 6 turbos replaced all damaged by exhaust heat. I wonder what the pistons look like by now? There are more but I won't get into that here.

As far as the older, non computerized, heavy duty class 8 truck engines go, I'll take a Cummins. I have many 400's out there running well over 1000HP and have been out there like that for years. Ok, I'll get off my soap box now. It's the old Mopar, Ford, GM debate of the diesel market. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Larry, does this thing have a turbo or a blower? It seems real odd GM would use the competitions product. What year is it? If it's older they would have owned Detroit back then and I could see them sticking a V8 Detroit in there. I guess the stickers say it all though. Get the model number and let us know what it is. Hopefully it's an Allison trans. They are bullet proof http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

Do your homework too. If it's a 3208 I don't know what parts availability is like. I haven't worked on one of those for years. I do know the old Cummins V engines are almost impossible to get parts for and when you do get them you pay a big buck. I'm looking forward to seeing the pics!

[moparts]

I don't know of any factory cat installs......but I do know that there was some factory ok'ed installs using John Deere diesel engines......so who knows anything is possible. My dad and I had looked at some of the JD installs when they were doing them.....because of the weight and noise factor they could only run 4 cyl. with a turbo in the pickups and was installing the inline 6 in 2 ton trucks. It should be one mean son of a gun. Go for it and let us know how it works. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Chevy454]

Larry:

The "Powered by CAT" tag is a GM dealer item, BUT it is for the medium duty (TopKick, Kodiak, & 6500+) trucks...that emblem is on our TopKick. In fact, the medium duty trucks use the same cab as the regular 1/2 and up pickup trucks, which is how our TopKick became a crew cab. And, being a '94, GM would have been using the 3116 CAT by then (it replaced the 3208 around '90? in the GM medium duty trucks).

BUT, if you can come up with a window sticker or something, then I'd love to see it! As in the world of musclecars, I should never say never...

[BUIZILLA]

I'd REALLY like to see a picture of this truck and also one of the engine installation. I do this for a living and this setup is complete news to me...

J http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[Pantera]

Guys I think I have egg on my face on this one? I think we got excited by the sticker because it looked like it belonged on there. After looking at it in the daylight I can see the chev looking valvecovers down under all that mess.

Here are some pic's and I apoligize for getting everybody excited. The salesman it appears didn't know what he was talking about. I for dam sure didn't but then that is why I was using one of the best resourses I know of and that is this great bunch of guys that love this forum.

So thanks in advance and here is the motor.

[Pantera]

Turbo

[Pantera]

Door sticker

[Pantera]

Valve cover sticker

[Pantera]

Glove box data sheet

[Pantera]

data on truck

[Pantera]

last one.

Like I said it just appears to be a very nice and clean well maintained chev diesel 1 ton club cab dually. They have come down a grand on the price this morning, but I think I should pass on it. I will wait for a Dodge and that way I can get one with a warranty and buy the extended warranty and have something that will last me for a long time and not have to worry about repairs too much.

Don't want to have the Motions cars setting out on the highway somewhere with a sick tow truck.

[Vern B]

If there is a V8 in that truck, it was put in there by someone other that the factory, if it's a one ton. It would be the 3208, as that is the only V8 that Cat built that was put in the smaller trucks. Also used in some scraper, excavator and other equipment applications. The 3408 was used some in the big trucks, but not very successfully. I have seen a few 3208's put in one tons by guys, always with the Allison transmission. It was a decent engine, non sleeved, but cheap to rebuild. They used to sell for $ 5000 +/- with a core for the truck application.

As to what is the better engine, Cat or Cummins, I'm biased as I sell for Cat (Michigan Cat) and I would just refer you to the numbers sold and it's hands down Cat. I believe their market share is close to 60% right now. Everyone is struggling with the new emission rules right now. Cat is going a completely different direction than the others and they are betting it is going to pay off big. I was at Mossville (engine plant) a couple weeks ago and they are pretty positive with the new technology. I hope they are right, as they have put all their eggs in one basket.

As for the truck, I would drive it and look at the installation closely, as you should be able to tell a lot as to the quality of the installation. I wouldn't be afraid of the engine in that application.

Vern Bauer

[GaryH]

UGH! A 6.5. Run. As fast as you can... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif That's to bad. I'm sure you are disappointed.

[Pantera]

Thats what I get for not taking my glasses when I looked at that one.

Oh Well so much for that.

That answered my one burning question as to "why" would a cat repairman get rid of his truck for a Dodge Cummins rig? My heart just sank when I saw the valve cover decal. The Dodge will run off and hide from this truck too.

[55chevy]

Larry, you need me to come along and eyeball that stuff for ya? lol http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Pantera]

Amen buddy.... Amen to that...!

Did you get drunk on your birthday?

[Chevy454]

Larry:

What exactly are you looking for truck-wise? Price, size, brand, etc...

[Pantera]

I would like to find a 2001-03, Dodge SLT Ext cab, white/gray interior Cummins w/6 speed 3:55 gear that is not to high on miles and is still under warranty so I can get the extended program. Of course I would like to find one under $20k but that may not happen unless it has had some kind of damage. A rebuilder would not scare me if the price is right. I am just not in a big hurry right now but will need it by the end of summer in time to use it to go to SCR7.

I have been driving Dodge vans for years now in my business and they are reliable and usually cheap to purchace used.

I am watching the internet and ebay sales and I will find something. I am just trying to make what little I have in the budget to get the cars finished and a garage addition built to house them in at home.

I really need a better truck and would like to also get a larger trailer to haul both of them at the same time. I have always been a big dreamer and sometimes they come true.

I have a very modest inheratience from my Mother and need to cut every corner that I can to streach it.

Thanks for everything, to all of you on here. I just wish I had Charlies money then I would't have to worry about it.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[GaryH]

Keep your feelers out and something will turn up Larry. There are some nice trucks out there. Again, just be cautious about it. A sick diesel can be an expensive proposition. If anyone is interested in a hot rod PU diesel there is one for sale here: Twin Turbo Cummins (http://www.dieselpp.com) Click the pic of the pick up on the top left corner of the page. I can vouch for the truck. It got the best of everything when it was done. Don't try to open the PDF from the site. That wouldn't work for me. Download it to the hard drive first. Not good for towing though...

[55chevy]

[ QUOTE ]


Did you get drunk on your birthday?

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah I sure didn't.. My family was in visiting from PA and I had my daughter.. BUT I'm making up for it right now.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif