How come CAT isn't involved in diesel pickups?

[Black Cloud]

Just curious as to why Caterpillar has not stuck their nose into the ever popular diesel pickup market. We have Cummins, International, Isuzu and a much remembered Detroit Diesel attempt. Has anyone heard if CAT is interested in producing a diesel for anyone in the future, seems like they have a good rep. A yellow and black engine would look nice tucked into a cab somewhere.

 

[Truckie]

I have asked this question to many different CAT reps and so forth and always got the same answer. CAT really don't to get in to that line of engines, and it really wouldn't pay off for them, they just don't want to be bothered with it. That is what I was always told.

I agree a big yellow engine sitting in a all black truck would look killer bad a$$.

Maybe someday CAT will change there mind.





MIKE

 

[GO 4LO]

Dodge had a Cat in one of their concept trucks in the mid-90's, if memory serves. Nothing production-wise, though.

Chris

 

[MKoth]

They had the Power Wagon concept truck, it had a 3116E or 3126 if I rember right. With a displacement of 7. 2 liters, and only making 300 HP, it wouldnt make much sense when the smaller ISB series makes the same amount of power.

 

[C. Harlan]

The 7. 2 is the 3126... I would love to see those in a truck one day! Oh wowy! I must say that would look cool, popping the hood, and seeing that Kitty orange under there, with lots of chrome all over it! hehe, just a thought!



-Chris-

 

[Jeff Clark]

I have a 3126 in my FL60. It may only be 300 horse, but it has 800 lbs. of torque. Pulls my trailer nicely.



It has already been mentioned avove, but it is the reason that I heard from many people, and that was that Cat didn't have an engine to use in that platform and it was too costly to try and develop one. Cummins and International didn't have to start from scratch, they re-vamped something they already had, and I think Isuzu re-worked much of what Chevy already had to get the DuraMax.

 

[KCJackson]

Not to mention, who would CAT sell to? Dodge is firmly entrenched with Cummins, but DC could easily go Detroit if they wanted to stay "in-house". Ford is locked in with Navistar. GM basically stays in-house - the Duramax is an Isuzu design but it's built right next door to where the 6. 5 was by the same line workers.



So who could CAT sell to that would give any return oon investment? Toyota and Nissan are still half-tons. No one else is in the full-size pickup market. That means no buyers for a new Kitty, so no need to spend the R&D money.

 

[RollOver_Pete]

With Cat power in heavy equipment/construction, class 6-8 trucks, marine, locomotive and gen sets, why would they want to bother with puny lil' pickup trucks? Besides, Cat prices would keep them out of the market. This week, we lost a 3406 in a Cat D8N dozer. The price for a complete recon motor, exchanged with a warranty... ... almost $30,000. 00 + down time:{

 

[bmoeller]

If couldn't have the B series in the Ram, I would put in a minimum of a 3116 Cat.

 

[JoshPeters]

I saw a Ford in a picture someplace with a 3208 Turbo in it. Looked sharp... . even for a Ford.



Josh

 

[MKoth]

Worst part about the 3116E, 3126, C7, is that they use the same HEUI style injector contol as the powerstroke. Very hard to troubleshoot if there is a problem, and there is an limit to the amount of power they can produce.



We have had a lot of trouble with a customer's C8500 Chevy with a 3126 in it. Lots of injector malfunctions and wiring harness issues.

 

[bmoeller]

True, but you can get a mechanical 3116 engine.



I know getting the fuel injectors set can be a pain if the #1 injector is messed with at all.

 

[MKoth]

Originally posted by bmoeller

True, but you can get a mechanical 3116 engine.



I know getting the fuel injectors set can be a pain if the #1 injector is messed with at all.

Tell me about it. Had to do it once at school.



Took a long time and about a three thousand dollar timing setup to do it.

 

[mcoleman]

Which Cat are they using in the F650 Ford trucks?

 

[supersonic]

The 3126B or as it's now called the C-7.



Caterpillar had alot to do with the HEUI injector design for their own engines and the navistar T-444E aka 7. 3 Powerstroke. and actually the first prototypes of the Powerstroke engine used a cat injector.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I head a friend go to work for CAT back around 1994 as a power plant construction manager, at the time he told me CAT was working with Dodge on some designs. This was before the Power Wagon debut so that was probably it, but it sounded like more. Unfortunately I have lost contact with him and have no idea what is going on now.

 

[MKoth]

Originally posted by supersonic

The 3126B or as it's now called the C-7.



Caterpillar had alot to do with the HEUI injector design for their own engines and the navistar T-444E aka 7. 3 Powerstroke. and actually the first prototypes of the Powerstroke engine used a cat injector.

Had a Ford salesman try and tell me it was Cat's fault that the 6. 0 was having so many injector troubles.....

 

[foxracer1]

I feel The pick up truck market should be like the comercial truck market. If you want a dodge with a cat 6spd or a ford with a cummins allison 6spd etc. just like kenworths, pete, etc just my . 02 how about a 9 or 10 speed behind one? air compressor where do i stop? Oo.

 

[DBogo]

yea it should

 

[CMBOld]

Don't know 'bout Cat but Nissan is talkin' the M word for their heavier trucks in the very near future... . M as in Mack, from what I read Nissan is hooked up to Mack because of Renalt (spel?) Gonna take a lot of work to make that one happen. Isuzu has a deal with Toyota for the next Tundra so why not a Mack in a Titan?