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Memories for us old truckers

Crummy

Crummy

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2017
Messages
918
Location
Idaho
The concrete truck that delivers here is a Pete with a Silver Detroit. The first time I heard it I said "that's a Dee-troit boys". 7% 7 mile grade & when we hear it down in the valley coming up we know there's enough time to finish your cup of coffee take a leak and get ready, no hurry. He says he pins it at 2200 at the bottom and crawls up. I got behind him once in the mighty 36hp mini truck and had to slow down, but not enough grunt to pass.
 
B

Birken Vogt

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
5,323
Location
Grass Valley, Ca
I remember standing on a narrow side hill gravel road and the truck was coming up, steep grade, 6V92 could not see it but could hear it, I thought I better look for a place to escape they are flying up this hill and will not see me in time. When they finally came around the corner, you guessed it, low gear and lots of Detroit noise but not much else.
 
Truck Shop

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,989
Location
WWW.
Years ago no one really liked Detroits. If you were unlucky enough to go from a Cat or Cummins to a Detroit
it wasn't long and you were looking for something else to drive. Buzzing along with a Detroit 8V71 and a 10spd
you were in the gear box all the time on any small grade with 80,000 gvw. A 13 spd wasn't much better it just
prolonged the agony. By the end of 10 hrs at the wheel a driver was shot.

I can't understand the new found interest in Detroit two strokes that people seem to have these days. A bunch
of bs out there about 12V71's those were only 430 hp and never came from factory with turbos. With turbos
and 90 injectors they would run yes. But that cost. Like anything those engines were just {ok} in their day.
 
Crummy

Crummy

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2017
Messages
918
Location
Idaho
Coming out of the pit up the hill at 54k I can zip right up with the SC Cummins, with 6 yards in the drum he's pretty much the same crawling along and howling like a dog sh'n barbwire. Hard pass on the Detroit.
 
B

Birken Vogt

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
5,323
Location
Grass Valley, Ca
Truck Shop said:
Years ago no one really liked Detroits. If you were unlucky enough to go from a Cat or Cummins to a Detroit
it wasn't long and you were looking for something else to drive...I can't understand the new found interest in Detroit two strokes that people seem to have these days.
Click to expand...

I kind of wondered the same thing myself. The only thing I can figure is it is like the VW bug or similar cars, just nostalgia. They were the cheapest engine for a given truck, everything else cost extra. So that's what bean counter spec vehicles had, so they were common.

But the noise and smoke can be amusing. How can something make that much noise and go so slow. And they are so different from what is currently being produced.

Not a whole lot of nostalgia for a 14 liter 6 cylinder Cummins, the engine today is pretty much the same thing (basically) as the engine was 40 years ago except the incremental improvements and the junk they hang all over it.
 
5

56wrench

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2016
Messages
2,119
Location
alberta
but you have to admit, nothing idles smoother and than a 2-stroke detroit and can then scream to WOT in a heartbeat:D. i would like to have a 12V just mounted on a stand to fire up occasionally and drive my neighbors nuts to make up for their dogs barking:rolleyes:
 
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DMiller

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,579
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
I worked on far too many 4070A cabs 2050 Fleetstars, GMC short and long hoods(GULL Wing) with Driptroits, still trying to wipe those memories. Owned my Own 8V92 and wish I had not ever bought it ever time remember it, 79 K100C with a deep reduction 15 speed(Over glorified 10 speed).
 
Truck Shop

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,989
Location
WWW.
Hallback said:
You ever seen a Harley Davidson?
Click to expand...

AKA-John Deere with handle bars.

56wrench said:
but you have to admit, nothing idles smoother and than a 2-stroke detroit and can then scream to WOT in a heartbeat:D. i would like to have a 12V just mounted on a stand to fire up occasionally and drive my neighbors nuts to make up for their dogs barking:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Idling smooth is about all they do. Years ago after school job washing parts sweeping floors in two truck shops. I saw one {12V71} on a engine stand in one of the shops. I was also there the afternoon it was
test fired before setting between rails. New injector hung and no blower flaps to kill it, it died with two pairs of overalls. then tear down. Great engines they are, I've had my fun with them.
 
DMiller

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,579
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
My ego burner was a 6v53 on a Ag Pump stationary skid 20 feet above grade. Basic service run rack, everything was NORMAL until bumped it for a idle start, and it ran away. STUPID little engines, CO2 fire extinguisher shut it off. Tore it down, new bearings inspected internals, re-ringed it, NOT EVER finding a cause for runoff, second start absolutely normal. Typical of these V series grenades.
 
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