possible to do an engine transplant???

[APersondek]

Did anyone ever try to, or think about putting a Caterpillar 3126E series or newer C7 series engine in their truck? ~ (7. 2L I6 ~300 HP ~800 lbs of torque)

Don't get me wrong I love my CTD, but if I knew I could bolt a CAT to the NV5600 and get the front end (and chassis) to hold the additional weight of the engine, I would love to have 860 lbs of torque at my command. . as long as the overall operating cost is similar to the CTD..... Just thinking out loud... . thoughts? opinions? comments are welcome

 

[XcumminsX]

That would be cool



Nick

 

[RustyJC]

Won't a box give a 3rd gen engine 860 lb-ft of torque? Heck, my combination is good for 780-800 lb-ft (or should be based on comparable dynoed trucks - mine may hit the rollers this weekend).



A lot cheaper than an engine swap!



Rusty

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I've got to agree with Rusty, heck, you could go well over 1000 ft/lb with a B series Cummins for alot less money and still be dependable.

 

[CATCRACKER]

you can blow that over weight cat out of the water with the 5. 9B. it would look cool to have that yellow beast under the hood! i like cat but cummins is just as good but has a better weight to power ratio! all that without giving up realiability and power.

 

[bighammer]

You might void your warranty too.

 

[FATCAT]

Forget the Cat ..

... if your dreaming, why not have a TDR group project to do some type of Monster Garage thing with one of our older trucks.



See what it would take to shoehorn in a Signature 600 and an 18 speed Eaton. Now THAT would be worth doing.



Lets start the list of what is needed and from whom:

Axles: ????? Spicer/Meritor?

Trany: 18 spd. Eaton

XferCase: ?????

engine: old Sig. 600

Suspension: ?????





Com'on lets go guys ... . I'll even donate my old '97 for the project and a few bucks.

 

[APersondek]

I think you guys are missing the point (kind of) ya the engine weighs more... . but its stock... ... ya you would voild your warranty if you did the swap..... but if you bomb your CTD then you also void your warranty too. I would like to have oem out of the box power vs. bombing and voiding warranties.



Maybe there is smaller I6 that would be the same as ISB. One could always go grap a CAT 4 banger out of a D3 or D4 dozer and drop it in, though im sure the HP and torque would be lower then the our ISB CTDs.



if everyone recalls a couple of years back (2002) autoshow when dodge did the power wagon heavy duty truck concept it had the CAT 3126E in it.



to get to the point, If I knew it would work, and it didnt cost more then say 4 or 5k for the engine then I would love to be able to have CAT tags and pop the hood at a rally and show off the legendary CAT, and finally not to mention how fun it would be to drive around town and out on the road etc.

 

[RustyJC]

You're seriously thinking about doing this to a 2004 truck?



Hey, it's your money and your truck, but if you want a fresh out of the crate, fully warranted OEM Cat engine, you might want to bring a little more than $4000 to $5000!



Rusty

 

[APersondek]

Rusty,



I would only consider doing it if I can confirm three things.



1. Has anyone successfully done it to a 2nd or 3rd gen truck?



2. Maybe there is a CAT mechanic or engineer that reads TDR and knows for sure if it will or wont work, i. e. CAT will not sell me a crate motor if they know what it will be used for, or they void any and all future warranty claims because it would go into a regular truck instead of a medium duty truck or semi.



3. I know CAT is the most expenisive out of Detroit Diesel and or Cummins, but how much is a 3126E or C7 series engine? should not be more then say 5 or 6k... . if they want 10k then ya... . that is out of my range for sure.



again I was just thinking out loud... . although the monster garage idea is cool though.

 

[RustyJC]

I know on the engines our company would sell to packagers, in order for our engine warranty to apply, the packager had to conform to our application guide. This dictated such items as jacket water, aftercooler and lube oil heat rejection sizing, fuel supply and filtration requirements, piping practices, etc. Personally, I would be surprised if Caterpillar didn't have similar requirements you'd have to meet to keep a crate engine warranty in place.



Maybe someone who works for a Cat distributor will look in and have answers to your questions.



Rusty

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I think you'll be surprised at the cost of the engines. Here's an ad I found:

Cat 3126E diesel engine for sale. 2002 model. New take out, with less than 5 hrs on it. Currently set at 190hp. Includes flywheel and starter. Can hear it run. New cost over 20,000 will sacrifice for $9500 cdn obo

over $20,000 new! Granted that's canadian dollars but still way over your price range. Our 5. 9's new are almost $9k - you can occasionally find deals for $6500.

 

[FDavid]

I got a great idea, put a 1982 vw rabbit diesel in your truck

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I'm moving this to the conversion forum where it will get more exposure.

 

[XcumminsX]

I'd say go ahead and do it.



Caution to you : Some of the ******** on this website are probably going to start bashing you or already have for this idea... Dont take it personally. I learned the hard way when i had the idea of a ford transmission in our 3rd gens.



Nick

 

[1stgen4evr]

the idea of a ford transmission in our 3rd gens

Yep you can really get the fur flying here. But if Ford and Cat ever have the same thought on the same day, we will have the first real competition since the introduction of the Cummins in the 89s.



Cat is good stuff. They have always priced their equipment rather high. I have not seen any weight figures on their engines but if they really wanted to do it, Cat could give Cummins a run for the money. They would have to come prepared to lose however. Cummins has definitely done their homework.



Equally good are some of the John Deere engines. Again, I don't know the weight figures. Probably, the Cummins could be a tad lighter than it is. Perkins has a good deal of experience with automotive applications. Their new intercooled engines are nice as well. Prices aren't bad either.



So could you do it. Heck yes. But I never was a Cat man and still am not. C is for Cummins not Cat.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[Will24]

C7/3126/3116 whatever, all basically the same engine weighs around 1500 lbs dry, significantly more than an ISB/BT59 etc Cat parts also cost SIGNIFICANTLY more than equivelant Cummins parts. That being said, it would definitely be a cool swap! Not something I'd try but I'd respect someone that accomplished it, that little cat is a pretty cool motor.





On that ford trans thing... ehhh, nevermind... too big a can of worms for me

 

[1stgen4evr]

No diesel Poor College Student

How can you afford college if you can't afford the economy of a Cummins. There are first gens that are VERY inexpensive. They run cheap too.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Originally posted by 1stgen4evr

How can you afford college if you can't afford the economy of a Cummins. There are first gens that are VERY inexpensive. They run cheap too.



1stgen4evr

James

That is definitely a truth worth repeating. I have been finding the first generation dodges for as little as $3000. 00 lately. Most have autos in them, but thats an easy fix if you pick up a 2wd truck.

My neighbor is still beating one last life out of his '90 dodge ext cab 2 wheeler, the doors will barely shut anymore and a flat bed replaced the factory bed after its drivers side panel fell off a few years ago. The motor has over 680,000 miles on it with little more than a head gasket, main seal, and an injector pump for major repairs during its very hard ranch life. transmission is now a nv-4500, but I think its still on the second clutch!!

 

[RPainter]

Don't think you will get it to work. Had one in my FL 70 and that cat needs a BIG radiator to cool it. If you want a cat that bad, go by a FL 50 or FL 60 with one already in it. Alot of used ones out there comparable to a dodge truck with a cummins. They are alot more expensive to work on too. Had a new 2000 and got 110000 miles on it with out any problem before I sold it. regret selling it. Good luck if you do try the conversion.

Randy