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OT: Engine for a glider kit truck

L

Lyndon - AB

Member
Last week Tuesday the Detroit DD16 in my Western Star decided it had enough and blew itself sky high. Around 265k miles on it. Cracked liner, dropped valve, broke head, cracked exhaust manifold, cracked turbo. So essentially, doing a full inframe with new head, manifold and turbo. Suffice to say, I won't be buying another new Detroit, that's for sure.

So, to stave off boredom, I was looking into options for my next truck. One of the options that came up is building a truck from a glider kit. What would you guys put in it for an engine? Looking at the late 90's, early 2000's engines, best mix of power and reliability. Keep in mind that I pull heavy all the time, around 137,000 lbs.
 
A glider is a new semi tractor without and engine. That way you can put in an older engine with out all the emissions that come on a new truck.
 
Ray, a glider kit is essentially a new truck minus the engine, transmission, and drive axles. The original intent of a glider was if you had a solid driveline, but worn out truck, you could give the driveline new life in a new truck via a glider kit. Recently, due to the issues with emissions systems, many have used gliders to build a new truck with a pre-emission engine. You get a new truck, with a much more reliable engine under the hood.

4520BW, I tend to agree with you, I think the red top N14 was one of Cummins best engines they ever built.
 
I work for a friend part time who has 60+ trucks of different makes and models. They have Detroit, Cat and Cummins engines. We do the least amount of upkeep on the Cat engines, they are almost bulletproof, some are well over 2 million miles of hard use with a couple of rebuilds. Actually the Detroits are pretty trouble free too as well as the N14 Cummins but neither compare to the Cat engines. The ISX Cummins are a different story, I would stay away from them. It's funny that the truck with the most miles is never in the shop, it's a 1998 Pete with a cat and over 2.5 million miles . He also has a 2015 KW with a ISX Cummins , it only has 190K on it and it's been in the shop for over 3 months.
 
Pair-a-dice, I certainly agree about the ISX, it's a common sight around our shop for there to be at least one ISX torn down for a complete overhaul. I liked the single turbo Cat's that I've driven in the past, only thing against them and in favor of the N14 and 60 Series is the initial purchase price and the cost of overhaul. The Cat is pricier on both points. But, it may run longer before needing an overhaul. Who's to say?
 
C-15 Cat turned up to 600 horses with an 18 speed, double over, or better yet a 6 and and 4 behind the big Cat, then put 3.33 rear gears in it. I know Jon says you can't
run triple digit numbers, but I think set up this way I think maybe you could.
 
Talking glider kit and an excellent setup - Fitzgerald Trucks. ALL free breathing engines - cat, DD, cummins N14 or ISX. They are not cheap but very well made. If I were trucking, that would be my choice.
 
Cummins N-14. My 98 Ford condo had 1.4 million miles on it when I did a inframe overhaul. Always used Rotella 15/40 oil. Used about a gallon
in 10000 miles before the overhaul. Good engine!
 
Still have the brochures from when I built my glider.One of the main reasons we did it back then,you essentially had a new truck,but no excise tax.It was bought through the parts dept.Built my 4300 double bunk Eagle glider in 1985.Also,if you wrecked a big truck,usually the driveline was intact,and a glider was a great fit.


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I'm with the C-15 as well, Mine was a 2003 just before the twin turbo bridge model. I think that they were known to be very trouble free.
 
Not sure about Canada but US Gov. has cracked down on glider kits now.
To many being used with older non compliant engines.
Now you can only order a kit to replace an existing truck with a Tier 4 engine.
Tom
 
3406B Cat. Very easy to work on, less BS
than a Cummins 855/N14. Don't get me wrong,
the Cummins are a great engine, but I've
always been more fond of the Cat, and would
rather work on one of them any day over a
Cummins. If you are forced to a newer engine
the C15's are also a great engine. You can
really jack the Cats and I've never had a
problem with them.
 
(quoted from post at 16:46:12 04/10/17) Talking glider kit and an excellent setup - Fitzgerald Trucks. ALL free breathing engines - cat, DD, cummins N14 or ISX. They are not cheap but very well made. If I were trucking, that would be my choice.
Click to expand...

It would be something similar to a Fitzgerald glider. I can't actually import a completed glider into Canada, due to government BS, but I can still assemble a glider here, at least for the near future.
 
(quoted from post at 17:33:34 04/10/17) 3406B Cat. Very easy to work on, less BS
than a Cummins 855/N14. Don't get me wrong,
the Cummins are a great engine, but I've
always been more fond of the Cat, and would
rather work on one of them any day over a
Cummins. If you are forced to a newer engine
the C15's are also a great engine. You can
really jack the Cats and I've never had a
problem with them.
Click to expand...

Ross, I did like the 425 Cat I ran hauling logs, but I would be a little concerned about longevity. To run Super B's comfortably, it would have to be cranked to the 500-550 hp ballpark. Not sure how long it would last pulling 137k lbs all the time.
 
N14 would be my preference.... although a 3406E would be high on the list. A Detroit S60 is going to be lacking in torque for your
application...

Rod
 
I do not know who told you that but,, not so.. at least the guy that I know building them is still getting new Pets and His in ever week. He builds 40 + a year.
 
I'd think they'd handle it ok. Just like
anything, gotta watch the EGT's. The C15 I
run in a W900 hauling logs was jacked to
about 650, but here in MI a legal load is
160,000. Had to watch it or you would scale
175,000. The DOT loves log trucks. Funny to
see those log trailers from down south with
the little short stakes about 4' high when
ours in MI are 8' or so.
 
The CAT, I've had 3 of them with no major problems. As for the engine with 137,000, not much weight the MI trains are in the 160,000 and I am sure if you were to look, the grain trucks and gravel trucks are closer to the 200,000 area if they are in area where they are not getting checked much.
I would worry more about the rest of the drive train holding up unless you spec it like a MI special. 18 front 44 or more rears and either double frame or the heavy frame 1/2 x 10 or more deep. Mine is the 3/8x10 with 40 rears and 12 front It is not a MI special. Is a 550 18 and 3.55 on tall 24's runs 60 at 1200. about 75 at 1500.
 
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