Looking to Buy ..Couple of questiions

[Tuckster]

Is there an easy way to determine if an engine is a wet sleeve ??? I know the D 50 series is .. how about a Cat C-12 ??

Is a reefer unit worth the investment and if you think yes, how much to add a unit.

Whats a good price to figure adding a lift gate ???

Are generators good to have or are they kinda like a luxury ??


Thanks for your advice

 

[greg334]

Is there an easy way to determine if an engine is a wet sleeve ??? I know the D 50 series is .. how about a Cat C-12 ??

Someone like Piper can correct me, but I think a better question is which engines are dry sleeve engines? So far I would say the 3126/C7 for Cat, the ISB for Cummins. All are actually used in FL50-70s and other trucks. The ISB is a given, but the 3126/C7 makes no sense especially at the cost to repair it.

By the way, if I was going to look for an engine to put into a truck, Cummins or DD. I have had a lot of good luck with Cummins but the newer DD engines are just unreal to see being put together.

Is a reefer unit worth the investment and if you think yes, how much to add a unit.

NO, unless you get into a company that can leverage your equipment, you may not make the money back for PM, ect.. the other issue is up and coming emissions issue. California will be getting stricter on the issue of pollution controls on reefers and APUs, something I feel is unconstitutional because they are regulating interstate commerce … opps sorry about that… well anyway the cost is high when things break, I know this for a fact. The one thing that really gets me is many places like T/A will not even change the oil on the reefer but will on an APU, I have the same engine in my reefer that is used in many APUs – go figure.

Whats a good price to figure adding a lift gate?

I don’t know. I know there are a lot of lift gates floating around. Checking out truckpaper you can pick up a dry box and liftgate cheap, I been offered liftgates for nothing just to take them away. You may need to fix something or replace the power unit, no brainer there, any one can do that.

Are generators good to have or are they kinda like a luxury ?

I would say a generator is a need to a point. If you like to roast in the summer, don’t get one but if you like A/C, microwave and other conveniences, then I would say get one. I just got another Honda for $100 the other day it needs some work on it but I think it will go on the truck for a while as is. The point is you can find them all over the place, if you want just something that will run and cheap, pick up the $400 6500 watt gas generator from China, it is a throw away but if it lasts a year or so, $400 over a year is cheaper than say idling. Oh and got to add with the Gas solution is the added pain of getting gas.




Hope that helps.

 

[Tuckster]

It helps alot ... thanks a bunch for the info. One more question .... the wet sleeve engine is the easier/cheaper to rebuild correct ?? I know the 3126 is small and considered a throw-away. I want to be sure if I buy a used truck that I will be able to rebuild it when time comes.

 

[greg334]

It helps alot ... thanks a bunch for the info. One more question .... the wet sleeve engine is the easier/cheaper to rebuild correct ?? I know the 3126 is small and considered a throw-away. I want to be sure if I buy a used truck that I will be able to rebuild it when time comes.

Well it depends, easier yes, cheaper maybe. I think if you look at replacing a block (3126/C7 or ISB) which is now an out of frame rebuild (or replacing the engine completely) that involves a bit more labor compared to a rebuild that involves cylinder replacement, I would say it would be cheaper to go with the wet sleeve engine.

It is not a matter of being able to rebuild the thing when it comes time, no not at all. I have rebuilt Packard V12 marine engines where there are no parts at all available, that is not a real issue, the real issue is finding an engine that can last and taking care of it. 3126's are good engines, as are ISCs and other but it is like everything else, there is a bit of Luck with any thing like this. I mean that you can get a 3126 that will not give you a bit of problems but then again you can get the sister to that engine made on the same day on the same shift, sitting next to that engine in the dyno room and have nothing but problems from day one.

What matters is if the engine will last and how it is taken care of.

Now I tell anyone buying a used truck to get the truck dyno'ed with blowby (I found out some places don't do that), ecm dump, and Oil Analysis, VisCheck (for the chassis) to make sure that there are not any problems. This can run from $300 to $400 but worth it.