Caterpillar C-9 upgrades?

[AMcKee]

Hello guys and gals,

I am purchasing a Fleetwood motorhome that is equipped with a Cat. C-9 engine and Allison 3000 transmission. The manufacturer tells me it makes 400 horse and 1150 pounds of torque, not bad but she needs more. I have searches the internet, with no success, for performance mods for this engine/transmission package. Let me know if you guys know of any folks that offer performance enhancements. Thanks in advance.



Andy

 

[rotts4u]

I think the best thing you can do is to just sell it to me at about half price !! Thats not enough torque for you for sure !!



Actually I dont have a clue what to do but I would love to have the diesel pusher that you are getting. Some day !! Enjoy it.



Don

 

[DCaswell]

Check with your local Cat Dealer Truck Store, they should be able to help you or point you in the right direction

 

[dodge cummins]

doesn't tst sell cat upgrades

 

[AKAMAC]

The 1150#'s sound right but I think the HP rating is 350. A good diesel shop may be able to get a little more out of it. They are kinda doggie until about 1600 rpm.

The Marine version is rated at 510 HP.

Good luck, Mike.

 

[MMiller]

I work on CAT ag equipment and a lot of our product is equipped with the C-9. I have yet to have a customer complain about the power out put. They are pretty responsive and hang in there very well when pulling hard. Many of my customers have told me with a smile on their faces about how gutsy the engine is. I don't know the peak HP your C9 will be able to make, any CAT dealer can rerate it to the highest hp level for the iron(turbo, injectors), for about $800. I don't know what would happen to your powertrain warranty.



Apparently George's Diesel in Des Moines Ia has figured out, or has the ability to tweak these engines. My dad has a C-9 and George told my dad at his last visit that he can make it run better. Pittsburg Diesel can probably tune it too. You have to tie in to the electronics somehow. I have a laptop, and the com adapter to change the factory ECM but I need factory passwords to change anything fuel setting wise. If the factory says "nope" then I can't change anything. Even after warranty.



I say drive it a while, figure out where it likes to run and see what happens. Not to many years ago most over the road trucks didn't have that much power! My buddy's 3406 JWAC 400hp Cat will run past new trucks loaded up and he almost has a million miles on it!



Michael

 

[AMcKee]

Thanks for the help guys, keep um coming. .

 

[AKAMAC]

I'll have to ammend my last post. Seems that the C-9 is rated at 400 HP for the RV applications. Mr. Miller is right about the SW on Cats. They don't like us commoners fooling with "their" stuff.

Here is a link to info about the Marine version:



http://www.batborsen.no/news/2003/08/06152835.html

 

[MVieira]

AMckee, I've worked for a CAT dealer for going on 22 years and MMiller and AKAMAC are right but I think your barking up the wrong tree going to a CAT dealer for a rerate unless they can prove your engine is down on power. The dealer has to call CAT to gain a password each time something is changed in the personallity of the ECM and there is a logged tattletale of the event on the engine ECM and with Caterpillar. So a dealer is going to be reluctant to uprate the power beyond OEM specs. Unless you have a complaint of low power or poor performance. The C-9 is a fairly new engine and I'm not sure if anyone has any engine fooling chips for it yet. Someone mention TST and they did have stuff for CATs so you might call them. Like MMiller said CAT uses this engine in the MT765 Challenger and it is a torque monster with a deep throaty engine sound unlike the 3116, & 3126/C-7's. Sorry if I wasn't too helpful, I was just adding my $. 02 worth. Mike

 

[MMiller]

In the Challengers, I believe I have never heard a farm tractor with a sweeter sounding exhaust note then the the new MT's. I have been around a lot of straight piped work horses and those C9's make some impressive power and a beautiful tone from the exhaust.



IMHO Cat really stepped up to the plate when they had to build an engine to replace the ageing 3306. A 3306 IMO is a bulletproof, proven performer in AG and heavy equipment. It was definitely a hard act to follow. I have seen many old motor graders and ag tractors with over 10,000 service hours on original engines. So far I have been very impressed with the new C9's and I am certain you will too. Good luck with your new cat engine wrapped in a motor home.



I was certain there was more guys here with some CAT knowhow, just gotta drag them out . I myself have been working on Cats for little over 7 years. Don't know it all but I know enough that I have a field service truck. :-laf Dunno sometimes if it is something to be proud of or somewhat of a curse. Just depends on the day. After a 11 hrs of crawling all over a machine and 3 hrs of drive time, I feel like it was a curse today.



Michael

 

[MVieira]

AMckee, I think you're going to be hampered by the Allison 3000 transmission, they just don't accelerate that hard with the Allisons. If you pump up the engine alittle more it will be like whipping a horse on ice. A friend of mine has a 300 hp CAT 3126 in his motor home and it has impressed me going over the Sierra's. A 400 hp C-9 should be awesome. You might take MMiller's advice and drive it awhile and see if you like the torque of the C-9.



MMiller, I spent 4 years in a field truck, from 1991 to 1995 and I found it was more of a curse, worked too many hours, and missed too many peewee football games and little league games, if you get my drift. It was fun and I learned alot but I got burned out.

 

[CPjMech]

400hp @2100rpm/1150 @1400rpm ft/lbs is it for the C9. As of now I haven't heard of any after-market products for C9. The real nice thing with this eng is it only weighs 200 lbs more than the C7 and has replacable wet liners. Peak hp for C7 is 350 w/ 860 torque, and no liners. Be sure you have they latest flash file in the ECM, there was an update that delt with poor response at take off. I have been working with 265 new C9's for King Co Metro Transit in Seattle since May, and they have been a pretty reliable eng. If they hold up in a city bus they will hold up anywhere, man they are hard on stuff! Too bad you couldn't get the new C15 625hp/2050torque stuffed in there!

 

[AMcKee]

Thank you guys very much, you have been more than helpful. I think i am going to take you advice and just drive the rv for a while and enjoy it. Im sure I will eventually want to upgrade alittle, thats just me (and most of you too or else you wouldnt be members here). I mean my truck almost makes that much power Oo. Thanks again



Andy