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

[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

[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?

[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

[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.

[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... 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