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03 /29/ 24, 6:33amLogin ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1[2]345678910 ]
Subject: What engine??


Author:
Mike Stacey
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Date Posted: 11/ 27/ 09, 6:10pm

My wife and I are going to buy a Bluebird, mid 80s early 90s. I have seen coaches listed with at laest 3 different diesel engines, 8V92, 6V92 Detroits and 3208 Cats. Any better than the other? We will be towing a small pickup.

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Replies:
[> Subject: Re: What engine??


Author:
Shane Fedeli
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Date Posted: 11/ 28/ 09, 2:31am

Mike- I've been really pleased with my 6V92, but speed is limited to around 70 MPH tops. If you live in TX or the southwest and want to really fly- the 8V92 is a must. The Cat's are very reliable, but also limited to a maximum speed of around 65-70 without some "tweaking".

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[> [> Subject: Re: What engine??


Author:
Mike Stacey
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Date Posted: 11/ 28/ 09, 10:55am

How are the 6V92s for pulling hills?

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[> [> [> Subject: Re: What engine??


Author:
Shane Fedeli
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Date Posted: 11/ 28/ 09, 4:23pm

Mike- I've never met a hill that I could not get over. That being said- going through Yellowstone park at 8,000' above sea level, she's a little starved for Oxygen and slows to around 20 mph on some of the hills high in the Rockies. Traveling the interstates, we are never down below 45 MPH and can usually pass the slower trucks. The 6V's run nice and cool- same size radiator as the 8V.

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[> [> [> Subject: Re: What engine??


Author:
Ernie Ekberg
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Date Posted: 11/ 30/ 09, 5:37pm

I have a 6v92 with over 300k miles. I tow a 1 ton van on a large car hauler. I get 5 mpg and going up the mountains, I'm down to 20- but it is forward motion. I'm slow, but on the flats, I can do 75, easy. Ernie - no computers on my engine

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[> Subject: Re: What engine??


Author:
Bill
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Date Posted: 11/ 29/ 09, 4:35am

Check out the History on this Forum, A pretty close guess is the 8V's were 450/500 Hp, The 6V was 330 HP, both at about 45,000 lbs with tag axle, The Cats were 210, 225,250, & 300 Hp depending on the model year, at about 32,000 lbs, single axle.
They all travel highway speeds, some climb mountains a little faster , all are very dependable & will get you where you are going.

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[> Subject: Re: What engine??


Author:
Tom T
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Date Posted: 12/ 1/ 09, 7:06am

You can't go wrong with the 8v92. It is strong and when taken care of will give you many happy miles. Run, don't walk, from Cat engines.

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[> [> Subject: Re: What engine??


Author:
Bill
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Date Posted: 12/ 3/ 09, 5:13am

That's not nice , Cat Lover

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[> [> [> Subject: Re: What engine??


Author:
Mike Stacey
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Date Posted: 12/ 5/ 09, 3:26pm

What's the down side to a cat? I notice that most PTs seem to be Detroit and the FCs are cats. not sure we need one as big as a PT series but you never know.

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[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: What engine??


Author:
Shane Fedeli
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Date Posted: 12/ 6/ 09, 6:55pm

Mike- I don't think that there is anything "wrong" with the Cat's. It is simply a matter of speed and choice. If you want to fly down the highway, get a PT with an 8V92 pre-DDEC. If you are looking for a classic coach that's not going to go much over 65 MPH- get a mid-80's FC. The only "problem" that I've seen with the Cat engine is accessibility. There's a lot of stuff crammed into a small space. The SP's and PT's have engines that are exposed on 2 or 3 sides and tend to be much easier to service belts, hoses and pumps on.

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[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: What engine??


Author:
Bill
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Date Posted: 12/ 7/ 09, 6:17am

The Cat or DD are both reliable if serviced and maintained, The Cat 3208 is plentiful, lots available, heads mains, injection pump can be serviced in frame, complete overhaul out of frame, can be replaced plus or minus $10k, 7 to 10 mpg.
DD has more HP & more weight to push can be inframe repaired, minor to major overhaul $10K to $25K.
4 to 7 mpg. It depends on your needs and budget, and how the Bird will be used. Full time, weekends, short or long travel etc.....

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[> Subject: Re: What engine??


Author:
Don
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Date Posted: 12/ 9/ 09, 10:39am

Hi Mike,

Mostly what the others said. The PT's are much more intemidating size wise but less stressfull to drive, I found. Servicing a FC, while cramped, is no more challenging than a diesel pu truck. On a PT think in terms gallons rather than quarts and then multiply by the number of quarts you are now accustomed to.

On a PT I find that as you approach a bad hill on a hot day that you choose a reasonable spead that you can hold, and stick with that from the onset. It is easy to have the oil temperature shoot through the roof, and if that gets to hot, if you allow the engine to idle your oil pressure will drop to zero, alarms go off...! On a non-turbo cat, they are not being pushed to hard via the govenor, harder to destruct, uphill anyway.

For many, starting out with a FC would be a good learning experience, in prep for a PT. My past (people don't like the term "Old") FC1980 had a spring suspension, that worked pretty well on back roads, it was pretty short at 30 feet and you could get out of tight spaces. With any bird you have to ask yourself if you take that turn will there be an easy way out, and if you'll sink like a rock.

Unless the bird was very well maintaned it is probably not economical to think you will simply have local shops do repairs. Either buy one that is very well maintaned or plan on learning to do most of the work your self. A shop could easily spend an hour just looking for your battery chargers, let alone a relay.

What ever you get, you will hardly be aware that you are towing something.

As far as engines go, the 3208 is a basic four stroke diesel, the 92's are a less typical, now, two stroke supercharged engine. The 92's are much more substantial size wise, have replacable cylingers, so are more heavy duty. You can burn either engine up with poor treatment, neither were cheap in their day. Both have a tradition of going on and on if cared for.

Hope this helps,

Don
1987 PT40 8V92TA

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