'95 k1500 with caterpiller 3208??

[crazy-101]

What brings up this question and idea is my stock 350 is worn out and has failed me, so not wanting to sell the truck and having time, tools, and a steady cash flow coming in I have been researching and pondering the idea of putting a 3208 Turbo Cat into my '95.

The truck will be lifted solid axle in the front, new tranny, transfer case, rear end, drive shafts, fuel systems, and so on (a mud truck). The big question is will it even remotely have a chance to fit considering the size of the motor I know for a fact I would have to relocate the radiator and possible run a dual radiator set up, reinforce the frame like crazy, and rewire everything.

I have done a lot of looking and searching and haven't found much of anything along these lines the only truck i have found with one is a one tone ford. So it seems to be possible?

[A-B Slinger]

Possible ? Sure, anything is possible. Your name pretty much sums it up however.
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[86c20]

ok i know this well. a 3208 will fit i have seen it in a 85is C30 not a 1500 the 10 bolt wont take the 1500lbs nor will the ifs in a 1500 truck that is a hevy motor same as a detroit 8.2. you should look more for a cummins 4bt 6bt or detroit 353t 453n or t. percins or a cat 3116 or smaller and even that maybe a bit big. look uo the weights. plus a 3208 is 200hp and only 500tq

[Rubble]

If your going to all that trouble,put a better engine in than a 3208. Some of them didn't even have sleeves,basically a throw away engine....Like 86c20 suggested,put a cummins or small detroit in,you will be happier!!!
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[86c20]

3208 i dont think any had liners. i have see some really high milage 3208s that have had nothing done other then the routin matinace but i have see some with well under 50k and are junk. a nother thoought on a motor would be a v6 cummins i think it is a 348 or something like that NOT a 555.

and rubble i want your front bumber hahathat is it?

[andrewmp6]

I would do a 12 valve cummins you can buy bolt in motor mounts and they are easy to mod.

[crazy-101]

I am unsure on the motors problems I am more familiar with the c15 and c14. The weight problems I am not worried about since I going to fix and reinforce the frame regardless. I was looking to the cat motor since not many people I have found have do it. I may do a 12v but the cat seems a lot more interesting in my eyes.

[MTCK]

If you're actually going to use it in the mud, weight IS the problem. You will go straight to the bottom... Most of the guys with mud trucks I know up here shy away from big blocks because of the added weight and run some screaming mice.
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[Maxxd07]

C-14? Would like to see one. I wouldnt use a 3208 if some one paid me to in any project. Like others said its a throw away engine that has to be wound up tight to make its power. Once it starts to lug it falls on its face. I would think any diesel in a mud truck would be pretty heavy but i guess a 4bt cummins with some work done could make you some good power, and that would probably be the lightest diesel to make some good power on. Its your truck and can run anything you want too, this is just my opinion.

[special-K]

You can buy 3208s cheap. That kinda puts a lean to the decision process. They run a long time and would move that truck right along just fine.

[86c20]

if you are doing the frame work and the front and rear ends o take the weight and power then go for it. but be advised that it will take on hell of a shoe horn and i hope you know the 3208 well

[andrewmp6]

Why not a international t444e aka 7.3 powerstroke that would mess with peoples heads too.

[Mr. 250r]

I think for the most part most people don't take diesels mudding because their rpms and the weight although youtube will easily prove me wrong lol i would do an 04.5+ 5.9 24v with either 6spd for a tow truck but not a mud truck

[crazy-101]

Up here in illinois I have not found many bottom less mud pits. The truck would be for some offroad use but mostly for in the winter to have a better chance of getting around in bad weather. Yes, Special K that's why I was going for the 3208. I would do a cummis but the wow factor of a caterpiller in a pickup would be pretty cool to have. I think doing everything myself and learning along the way will give me enough experience to tear the motor down and rebuild it. And for the odd hard to answer questions I always have the forums here to get reliable answers. I will probly go for the 3208 once the asphalt season kicks off and money flows a little more thank you everyone for pushing me in the right direction and giving the pros and cons. You will be hearing from me again in the summer!!!
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[Mr. 250r]

Im not sure how far away lanark is from where i live but i got a bottomless mud hole if your interested =-p and have you been to buchanan's mudfest in missouri? i think there's another one in missouri and one of them has a money hole which i think someone finally got through which i think is a grand if you made it

[crazy-101]

Lanark is about 6-7 hours from missouri. I'm in mattoon, Il, about 2 hours from missouri, for school/work this week. But I have been lookin into going south for the mud parks but when the money came in the truck went down lol. But I will keep that in mind also.
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[americanmusc1e]

the 3208 is dang heavy if I remember right.

The cheapest diesel that I think you could swap with decent power and longevity would be an international 6.9 or 7.3 IDI out of a F0&D. you can get 200 horsepower of them pretty easily. its not much compared to modern truck diesels, but the fact quite a few came with a VERY GOOD ZF5 manual transmission (better than the nv4500 in my humble opinion) and you can find whole trucks on craigslist for less than $1500 makes them a winner in my opinion.

Before I found my beautiful 1969 K20 frame for my swap I was seriously considering dropping my 70 c10 body on a cut-down F0&D 6.9 IDI diesel frame. The guy wanted $800 for a fully functional truck. I was going to leave the motor without a turbo and add propane injection and cover the injection lines with wire loom and tell most people that it was a knocking gas big block

[dieseltech]

if you want an opinion from a CAT tech leave the 3208's where you find them. Not worth the headache although it would be cool to see. if your stuck on putting a cat engine in your truck go for the 3116 or the 3126. they came in a bunch of topkick and some of the ford 750/650 trucks. they already will have the tranny adapters. if you want huge power then drop in a cummins.

[burnin oil]

If you want the headache of a computer and all this hassle my vote is for a N14 Cummins.

[Rubble]

Originally Posted by burnin oil

If you want the headache of a computer and all this hassle my vote is for a N14 Cummins.

Had N14s in a 96 KW,put 600,000kms on it,no trouble and put 400,000kms on a 98KW N14, no trouble either....way better fuel mileage than the 3406E that I had too....maybe you didn't treat it right.
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[willett]

There is a '90? Crewcab on here somewhere with a 4-72. It's worth finding the build thread and having a look
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[burnin oil]

Originally Posted by Rubble

Had N14s in a 96 KW,put 600,000kms on it,no trouble and put 400,000kms on a 98KW N14, no trouble either....way better fuel mileage than the 3406E that I had too....maybe you didn't treat it right.
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Not bashing it. I love an N14 and would take it over a C15 any day! Just threw it out there as a rediculous option to a bad engine swap. Whats the N14 up to these days? 550Hp and 2k ftlbs of torque. Sure beats the 180HP naturally aspirated 673 in my Mack L model. Double over readlining at 62 MPH.

[Rubble]

Originally Posted by burnin oil

Not bashing it. I love an N14 and would take it over a C15 any day! Just threw it out there as a rediculous option to a bad engine swap. Whats the N14 up to these days? 550Hp and 2k ftlbs of torque. Sure beats the 180HP naturally aspirated 673 in my Mack L model. Double over readlining at 62 MPH.

No problem,I am a diehard Cummins guy,Cat was always more popular in my area though...Not sure about N14, but I think highest was 525hp. ISX replaced them a while ago,I been away from trucking industry last 5-6 years so a bit outta touch too...
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[crazy-101]

That you dieseltech for the tip will look into it. I was going for the 3208 because where I currently work we have 2 trucks with low mile crate motors in them and not being used due to the frames being shot. If I go the 24v Cummins, which is what we have a work in both of our pavers and we are starting a full rebuilt of them this month. I'm looking into motors that the mechanic at work and myself have some experience with since i will not have means or cash to take it somewhere is something goes wrong. Should be a learning experience so thank you so much for the input!!

[dieseltech]

Originally Posted by crazy-101

That you dieseltech for the tip will look into it. I was going for the 3208 because where I currently work we have 2 trucks with low mile crate motors in them and not being used due to the frames being shot. If I go the 24v Cummins, which is what we have a work in both of our pavers and we are starting a full rebuilt of them this month. I'm looking into motors that the mechanic at work and myself have some experience with since i will not have means or cash to take it somewhere is something goes wrong. Should be a learning experience so thank you so much for the input!!

no worries.... if you do decide to swap in a CAT engine take LOTS of pics and start a build thread. I would love to see a CAT in a square.

Diesel