Support your local fire dept. - by modifying their trucks!

[HoleshotHolset]

I cranked up the P-7100 on this (250hp) 8. 3L C-series Cummins powered rescue truck yesterday. It had a dead spot out of the hole... it doesn't anymore. :-laf



Since this truck has a pretty high CG, I only tweaked the AFC to prevent some drivers from rolling it during spirited driving maneuvers. (I also didn't want to let the EGT's get too hot since they put their foot to the floor and leave it there. Without a pyrometer to see how far I could push the camplate... I didn't want to take chances. )



They also have a 325hp C-series in a pumper and a 500(?)hp ISX in the tower. Not to mention my favorite noise maker - a 1987 vintage "Silver 92" DDEC 475hp 8V-92.



Matt

 

[Greenleaf]

Ohhh Yeah... ... just can't beat a Silver 92. For what I'm not sure, but you can't beat them. I have been 'round two stroker for a long time and they have their own place in history. It's probably the best place for them, in history

 

[DBogo]

at my dept we got a 92 IH 4700 with a DT466 i want to go in and tweek that pump a little bit but we are not allowed to modify our trucks at all

 

[wtfd6]

we have a 1997 pierce pumper with a series 40. i gets it already. our 1980 e-one on a ford chassis needs alot of help. but being a v8 cat without turbo, there isnt much hope for it.


mark

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

I wouldnt even touch an emergency-response vehicle..... even though all the guys on the FD know about me. :-laf :-laf I will do stock re-adjustments and usual repairs though.



Liability issue with an emergency rig is WAY too high to go fooling around with it.



Besides I support FD's all over the nation and world anyway... . If your department has a Seagrave aerial rig, I built it. (hydraulics, ladder loads, final setups)

 

[Skydiver]

I agree with EMD.

Our VFD is so poor they could not afford the extra fuel much less a chance at burning up a head.

But I agree that the 6v92 tanker could use something. It's slow.

Tim

 

[MontyDyer]

I agree, if something goes down in the middle of a call and they trace it back to you you can bet the NFPA book will be thrown right in your face.

 

[JSienkowski]

You'd be suprised at how some of these drivers forget they are not driving their 2-4000 lb. import when they get behind the wheel of a 45,000 lb. fire truck-I know I train them-You want to support your local Fire Department-join 'em, not your thing, support them at ANY town budget meeting or fund drive, not able to do either-just remember to pull to the right when the flashy thingys are in your rearview mirror or approaching you. Thanks. P. S. I've been doing my part for 18+ years.

 

[Cooker]

I'll save my personal feelings about whether or not I feel tweaking an engine is safe to do on a piece of fire apparatus. I will say that Cummins reprogrammed the ECM on our newest engine to give it a slight bump in HP.



I would also like comment about a point made in JSienkowski's post but I'm hoping he was just a little worked up when he typed it.



EMD,

We are ordering another new engine in 2006 and a bid sheet was sent to Seagrave, as well a few other manufacturers, last week. Seagrave makes a very nice engine but unfortunately I do not think our budget will allow for a Seagrave. I am guessing we will end up with another HME as they are local to us but personally they would not be my choice.

 

[SGibson]

All the fire trucks around here are Detroit powered, as loud from the front as they are from the rear. McDonnell-Douglas's fire dept. had a 12-71 powered salvage crane w/straight pipes. needless to say you didn't have to see it to know they were running around in it.

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

I'll save my personal feelings about whether or not I feel tweaking an engine is safe to do on a piece of fire apparatus. I will say that Cummins reprogrammed the ECM on our newest engine to give it a slight bump in HP.



I would also like comment about a point made in JSienkowski's post but I'm hoping he was just a little worked up when he typed it.



EMD,

We are ordering another new engine in 2006 and a bid sheet was sent to Seagrave, as well a few other manufacturers, last week. Seagrave makes a very nice engine but unfortunately I do not think our budget will allow for a Seagrave. I am guessing we will end up with another HME as they are local to us but personally they would not be my choice.

A point that should be taken here..... CUMMINS did the uprate so I would feel safe on this truck..... it's an authorized *tweak*



:-laf :-laf That isnt the first time I've heard that about our trucks Cooker... . Pierce is the same way on some of thiers too.



and Im a Pierce man myself too... . The hometown I'm from is got a couple Pierce in the fleet (100 ft platform and a commercial Pete 3500 gal. tanker)

They are looking to get a new heavy-rescue to replace the old current one... . but have no clue which way they'll go. Seagrave just started back into the heavy-rescues... . sooo who knows.



It all comes down to who can provide what you need... . when you want it... . at a decent price. Im not one that breaks knees because you didnt buy our trucks. :-laf :-laf :-laf I just break the sales dept. knees.

 

[JSienkowski]

Didn't mean to offend anyone, just providing food for thought. Not everyone is "Man enough" to do every job, and I've worked with some girls (ladies, Females, etc) who've kicked my butt. It upsets and angers me that the fire service keeps killing on average 100 firefighters per year, 50% of that number are heath related, about 25% are the result of vehicle accidents, either responding to or returning from a call. A good portion of these accidents involve inexperienced drivers and poor maintnance, so I guess I should be applauding those who at least know how to "look under the hood" and atleast do minor service, but it becomes risky when people start "hot rodding" equipment. In a society where Fire Departments' are mostly Volunteer and the people needed to respond to emergencies are not there during the daytime, it doesn't matter (in my mind) what your 0-60 time is if there is no one there to drive.

 

[Will24]

JS, I thought responding/returning outnumbered all other LODDs combined, it's been a while since I last saw the stats in EVOC though.





EMD, that's funny, you work for seagrave, but you are a Pierce guy



-Will

Vol ff/ VRT

Friendship Fire Company Morgantown, PA

92 Pierce Dash rescue (250 6ct, SLOW SLOW SLOW)

94 Pierce Lance 75' straight stick quint (450 6v92 silver )

02 Pierce Sabre CAFS engine 330hp "Series 40" aka DT466

 

[mattymac]

I did a truck the other day for the local fire chief, but it was his 04 dodge! I said I would tweek their 8. 3 they got but they said its fine (yeah right)! My local FF's have a few Macks in service that are really impressive, 450 HP to the tires with a set of Jakes that can lock the tires up on dry pavement! Also a new FL with a Mercedes that they are really learnin to love!

 

[cyborg]

Fire apparatus are suppose to be high performance vehicles. Whether pumping water, climbing a hill or chasing a wildfire. But you never sacrifice reliability. We had a matching set of Pierce COE 750s (DD) that couldn't go up hill. I remember being passed by a school bus full of kids on a call. Swapped out the injectors and YEEE-HAW, what a differance.



My current station has a Dash and an Arrow 100' Ariel.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I adjusted the AFC - nothing else.



If ya'all think that is going to sacrifice reliability on a horribly detuned C-series, I'll happily laugh in your face and then explain to you what this adjustment does.



Matt

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

I adjusted the AFC - nothing else.



If ya'all think that is going to sacrifice reliability on a horribly detuned C-series, I'll happily laugh in your face and then explain to you what this adjustment does.



Matt

Big difference between truly cranking up a P-7100 and monkeying with an AFC.



:-laf :-laf :-laf



BTW did you run the CPL on that C and find out that it was horribly detuned? Not all Cs have the same hardware in them for all ratings.



And an AFC just moves the point of initial boost up and down... has nothing to do with fuel injection, duration or timing.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I didn't run the CPL on it - I just looked at the tag and saw that it was a 215hp model. It has an HX-40W on it and a big air/air intercooler - so it has plenty of headroom for minor adjustments.



After adjusting the AFC, the dead spot in the pedal just off idle disappeared. It felt exactly like putting a camplate in a Dodge - if you don't adjust the AFC a bit... they're doggy off idle.



Like I said before, another truck in the department has a 325hp C-series - but that one had 'security' type torx bolts keeping you out of the P-7100. :-laf That truck runs just fine - no tweaking necessary.



Matt