Mechanical Cat engine for truck project?

Tags · Sep 19, 2017

I have a friend who is looking to build a rather largish "Rat Rod" and is looking for a reliable model Cat engine that is also preferably "mechanical". He asked about a 3126 and I said I would stay away for several reasons...Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

d9gdon · Sep 19, 2017

Either a 3304 or a 3306 would be a good candidate. 3306 will go to 300 hp in a truck application, maybe more. A 3406 is another one but may get a little heavy. Not sure what size of rig you're building.

Somebody has built one before.

Delmer · Sep 19, 2017

3116 will reliably go up to 300 HP in hotrod applications

Not as cool looking as a 3306, if you want large in a ratrod, then you need a V12...

Birken Vogt · Sep 19, 2017

3126 is electronic except I have been told there were an extreme few that were mechanical.

3116 is mechanical (or maybe I got it backwards and there were a few late electronic ones) but nobody really liked them, don't really meet your reliability criteria found above. Plus if you want to "turn it up" it does not have an injection pump, just these Detroit style injectors connected with a rack, and as far as I know no hot rod parts available because nobody ever thought it a good platform to hop up. Marine parts might make it work, don't know for sure.

Cat really did not make an engine that would be a great fit for a rat rod, the rest of them get much huger than the 3116. Unless you put a 3208 in it, should be able to crank up the fuel on one of those, the physical size is right, and the black smoke would be impressive, still not a real stout motor though.

DMiller · Sep 20, 2017

Personally, go Detroit, 8 or 12V71T SCREAMER!!

Use a Euc or Allis grill Twin Sticks!!

Cmark · Sep 20, 2017

The 1.1 and 1.2 MUI engines were/are very reliable. They got a bad name because, just like any diesel engine, special tooling is needed for the fuel settings and people would dick about with them in ignorance. I don't think I've ever come across a 1.1/1.2 fuel system failure that wasn't caused by either dirty fuel or someone tampering with the injector settings.

Tags · Sep 20, 2017

Thanks for the help so far! This is the truck he looking to put the motor in....

DMiller · Sep 20, 2017

Not many old Federals out there, why would he wish to destroy the mostly complete classic as this for a Rat Rod??

Would be worth the effort to find a derelict not this specimen.

Birken Vogt · Sep 20, 2017

Cmark said:
The 1.1 and 1.2 MUI engines were/are very reliable. They got a bad name because, just like any diesel engine, special tooling is needed for the fuel settings and people would dick about with them in ignorance. I don't think I've ever come across a 1.1/1.2 fuel system failure that wasn't caused by either dirty fuel or someone tampering with the injector settings.

Memory has faded a lot since those days but first off are you talking trucks or equipment?

Some problems I seem to remember

1. Injector cups
2. Weak bottom ends (may be caused by driver overrevving but maybe indirectly because they had to be wound up so tight to make power and did not have a lot of rev capacity left)
3. Fuel systems, even though it should not be that bad as you say there is hardly anyone left who remembers how to do them or has the tooling.
4. No real potential for hot rodding.

And of course if the OP is tempted to go for a HEUI 1.2 I thought those were even worse, shelling HEUI pumps for one thing.

mikebramel · Sep 20, 2017

I have a 3116, turned up enough it will blow through the clutch on 5th and 6th around 1500

repowerguy · Sep 20, 2017

1673 dohc maybe? It would weigh a metric ton, but the idle clatter from the gear train would be impressive.
Personally it would be a shame to chop up a nice original truck like that.

Tags · Sep 20, 2017

Now he mentioned looking for a motor for a truck, I thought I heard "rat rod" in the conversation, but he may have said for a project after the rat rod he's working on....I'm going to see him tomorrow and will see what his plans are....he's a character to say the least, so anything is possible.....thanks for all the help!

Junkyard · Sep 20, 2017

Nothin says "rat" like a Detroit screaming it's guts out and dripping on the floor!

Birken Vogt · Sep 20, 2017

If you really want to be practical a 5.9 Cummins fits the bill perfectly. But there is no originality in that I must confess.

The 8.3 Cummins is my favorite in this class of motor. Maybe a little bit cooler than a 5.9.

A 7.8 Ford would also be a pretty good fit I think.

Of course you could use a 466 International but again, zillions of them out there, no originality.

6-71 Detroit inline would probably fit OK and be nice and ratty and pretty good for hot rodding though. Lacks a little originality also, though.

3208 Cat is probably out of the running because it is too wide for that hood setup. But if you wanted to take the side covers off and let it stick out, it might look pretty cool.

d9gdon · Sep 20, 2017

DMiller, He said he wanted to hop it up, not slop it up!

Truck Shop · Sep 20, 2017

This Federal Is way too good to molest, there just aren't that many out there and 85% of them are damn near un-salvageable. IMO. Trucks like that are
great examples of trucking/transportation history. In any case screw the other choices- install a 5.9 or 8.3 Cummins IMO. And leave it looking original
on the outside as much as possible.

Truck Shop

repowerguy · Sep 20, 2017

Well now Birken if we really want to be one off, maybe one of our cousins across the water can hook us up with a TS-3 Knocker! Prolly need to stock up on the Whitworth wrenches though! I'm guessing Fastenal won't have bolts in stock

Birken Vogt · Sep 20, 2017

Truck Shop said:
This Federal Is way too good to molest, there just aren't that many out there

I agree with this sentiment entirely, I would much prefer to see it left entire as much as possible.

If he cuts it up and makes a rat rod out of it, it will give him some laughs for a few years and then go straight to the junk yard probably.

f311fr1 · Sep 21, 2017

I vote for 8.3 Cummings if it will fit with out cutting up the truck.

old-iron-habit · Sep 21, 2017

DMiller said:
Personally, go Detroit, 8 or 12V71T SCREAMER!!

Use a Euc or Allis grill Twin Sticks!!

A 16V-92 sold for cheap on a local auction recently. Had a clutch to. A friend was there and tried calling me to no avail. Damn. Nothing like 4 stacks blowing black and 900 HP.

Mechanical Cat engine for truck project?

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