cummins vs cat

[cumminscowboy]

Howdy everyone. I'm looking at getting a fl50 or fl60. I'm a diesel mechanic by trade for chrysler so have alot of experience with the cummins. I've very rarely had any major problems or failures with the cummins and was wondering how you folks would think the cat 3126 would stack up. Thanks.

[Patrick]

I had a 300hp Cummins 8.3L. I was told the equivelent hp CAT was a smaller size w/ less torque. I was also told the Cummins has replaceable cylinder sleeves and that the CAT was in a sence disposable.

Good Luck!

[cumminscowboy]

I have only seen the cummins 5.9 6bta in the fl50's and 60's. Its the same engine that we use in our dodge trucks except the power is bumped up a bit. The cummins we use dosen't have liners, but once the cylinder wall size gets too large there is a repair sleeve kit. The cummins is fully electronic but i'm not too familiar witht the cat fuel system. I'm sure its reliable or it wouldn't be as popular as it is but I was wondering if any of you knew of any coomon problems maybe or anything else to keep a look out for. Thanks again for your help.

[cumminspuller]

Cumminscowboy........The cummins B series engines that are in the dodges in my opinion are and excellent engine. Now depending on the year will determine if it is electronic or not. The 8.3 Cummins is the same way. When cummins went from the 12 valve to the 24 valve in 98.5 is when the switch to the elctronics occured as well as the jump from 12 valves to 24. The same happened with the 8.3. It went from the 8.3C to the 8.3ISC(the electronic version.) The ISC engine has the CAPS fuel system. Regarded as not all that good. Both the 5.9 and the 8.3 when they went to the elctronic vesrions had troubles with the injection pump. But the previous versions or mechanical versions, pre-1998.5 had the Bosch P7100 injection pumps regarded as bullet proof.

I am in the same boat you are. I have found an FL-50 with the older non-electronic 8.3C Cummins in it with only 250,000 miles. The truck is, for a lack or a better word, AWESOME. And finding an FL-50 with that big of engine is pretty rare. Now the smaller cummins normally found in the dodges are actully run in some 69,000LB GVW trucks. What does that tell us? The dodge is grossly over powered with that little cummins in it. There are several or dozens of those little 5.9 6BT engines that have reached the million mile mark. With no overhaul. They are a dry sleeved engine, but if taken care of properly they will take you where ever you want to go.

Just my $.02

Jason

[KAYERIVERCITY]

....I own both....I never have/had any trouble with any of them. It's all up to the owner and his personal feelings as what to buy and what to use.....geof

[cumminscowboy]

Thanx for the replies folks. Well the the truck I bought was a 98 FL50 with 200,000 kilometers. Its got the 3126 in it and i'm quite happy with it. I find the torque better in the lower rpm than the cummins. Being a diesel mechanic for dodge i've seen the transfer pump ind injector pump problems on the isc engines that's why i wanted to avoid them. I was pretty lucky when I found this truck. Beautiful shape and very clean. Cloth interior, ext cab and all the power options, only $27,000 canadian. I think I stole it. Thanks again.