I'll agree the 350 diesel was a POS, but for it's time I happen to like the 6.2L, same with the 6.5L. The Duramax is 6.6L, and it has about 300hp(higher than PSD?) and 520ft/lbs(equal to PSD?). In my opinion a real POS is the 5.9L cummins, it needs to be a lot bigger, and in my opinion the design is getting too old, needs replaced. But, all the engines I listed have one wonderfull advantage, mileage.

 

I had a 350 diesel for a short time. Man was that ever a big mistake. The only good thing about themwas the fact that you could pull the Heads and intake off; Install the heads, intake, carb, distributor, fuel pump,etc. from a 350 olds gas engine and you had a rather hot engine. (Hot but what a hand grenade!) I have to agree with the milage thing. The duromax displacement was a typo on my part . dislike for it was simply in the fact that it seems rather high winding. It feels like it is making all of it's power on the high end. When I talked to the GM house about it they told me it did. I like the low end of the Navistars very much. Don't get me wrong on the 6.2s and 6.5s. They are a dependable motor just don't have the pull that the Navistars do. I compare the 6.2 to the 6.9 and 7.3 navistars. and the 6.5 to the 7.3 IDI turbo of 93 and 94. My Dad has a 6.2 in a half ton chevy. My 6.9 outpulls it regularly. This is simply because it is a bigger engine and the HP/ Torque numbers are higher. His 6.5 he had seemed to be a very weak engine for a turbo diesel. I fully agree with you on the cummins. I do not like it very well at all. It is slow winding, finicky to feed, and expensive to fix. It does make good power though. It is time for Dodge to come up with a new engine. Here is a little tidbit though. Ford bought the rights to Cummins a few years ago and agreed to let Dodge use it for 10 years. Time is running out for them. (2 years to go?) Dodge is talking of using Perkins the last time I heard. Perkins is a great engine. My Grandfather has used them in Massey-Ferguson Farm Equipment for as long as I can remember and then some. If he can't kill it, no one can. lol. Take care and talk to you soon.

Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6

 

Perkins hey ? whoa, they do make some ggod engines tho but also expensive to fix isnt perkins built in england ?

 

Just in my own opinion, Cat is the best way to go, I think they have great engines, and they probbably would be easy to fix. Almost every big truck uses a Cat, or Cummins, I haven't seen many Detroit engines. I never have heard of Perkins. Someone one told me the worst lie I had ever heard: Ford bought Caterpillar. Cat is a huge company, there is about the same chance of Ford going out of business as Cat.

Logan

 

Detroit 60 series powers more otr trucks than any other these are one of the best motors out there

 

I haven't heard that rumor yet. lol. Rumors fly about everything though. I noticed the other day that some of the case tractors are using Perkins in them as well. I know they did good in the 165 and 175 Massey's. Here is a Rumor I heard going around a while back for ya'all to gnaw on for a while. The powerstroke is supposedly CATs design. lol. I have no idea if there is any truth to it or not. I can find nothing to back it up though. Oh Well.

Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6

 

I don't know much about the 60 series Detroit. I know that the old 6 series would run like a scalded dog if you pinched off the fuel return line Fuel milage went into the toilet and it was rough on the engines though.

Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6

 

cant forget the venerable 71 series also, yeah and the 60 series has powered more class 8 trucks than anyone since its debut in 1989

 

Hey Otto,
Thats what i meant to say lol. I don't know where I came up with the 6 from. I have been having flatulance of the brain lately. not enough sleep.

Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6

 

yea i thought you may have meant the 671 or 6v71 series yea they were some rela good motors and thats all i still see in alot of real heavy equipment, 12v71 has to be a super power house and ya gotta love the look of the roots type supercharger on top of them

 

LAST EDITED ON 05-Mar-01 AT 07:41;PM (EST) opps

 

So far I only remember seeing one Detroit powered semi, and it had the series 60. Isn't Detroit owned by GMC?

Brad, the rumor I heard(which is far worse) was that the PSD has a Cat carbuerator, but the engine is fuel injected. I may be wrong(I'm quite sure I'm right), but the PSD mixes the air and fuel in the cylinder(?). Too make things worse, I was told this rumor through an E-mail by someone who owned a PSD equipped Ford.

Logan

 

Guess you havent seen many tracks lately, Detroit diesel is a Daimler Chrysler Company, http://www.detroitdiesel.com, A Cat carberator? Lol good owners these days

 

Here is some truth about the cat design. Cat and Navistar teamed up to build the huei(hydraulic unit electric injectors) injection system. I believe navistar builds 3 huei engines besides the 7.3, They are all straight sixes though. Cat also has a few huei engines but I am not sure on the size. I learned this last year when I was getting my associates of applied science degree in diesel tech.

Ben

 

Hey Logan,
That is a pretty good one though. You are right, diesels do mix air and fuel in the cylinder. I guess that is why Garages make so much money, working on trucks for people like that guy.

Dover,
That sounds more believable to me. Thanks for the info.

Otto,
I have to admit, I have seen more CATs that Detroits in the Over the Road trucks. I grew up around them and when my Dad was running Freightliners he always had a detroit. He has been running Peterbilts for the last 10 years or so and has always run CATs in them. Personnaly I like the 3406 Cat. I liked the A's because they were mechanical a couple of his trucks (as does his personal truck) have E's in them. The cruise control is nice but it seems like an electrical nightmare sometimes. lol.

Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6